Bolearis - Full trip report Liverpool Madeira - Canaries Oct 18 - Nov 2

[ighten]

Excellent cruise - Was unsure what to expect as it was our first time on Fred.. Can't praise the service and staff enough..

 

Full illustrated report on the usual pages.. www.cruisetravelreviews.com

 

Or use this link to go straight to day 1 - https://www.cruisetravelreviews.com/2021/10/fred-olsen-borealis-oct-2021.html

[portofrome]

Great photos and review! Thanks for posting.

[rkacruiser]

On 11/5/2021 at 3:04 PM, ighten said:

Excellent cruise - Was unsure what to expect as it was our first time on Fred.. Can't praise the service and staff enough..

 

What an excellent review!  Well written, interesting, very good photos, and food porn!  I am glad to learn that Fred. Olsen has decided to use the Observatory for a music venue.  HAL could never decide how to best use the Crow's Nest in the evening.  When I sailed on the Rotterdam, the Crow's Nest was the B.B. King music venue.  Popular, but, due to the low ceiling (I think), it was loud!  The more that I learn about Fred. Olsen's product, the more I think that this American would enjoy their cruise product.  Thank you so very much for posting your review!  

[Britboys]

Many thanks for the excellent review and photographs. The one very strange idea (to me at any rate) is that the two speciality restaurants both feature cuisine that tends towards spicy. I feel it would have made much more sense if one was either steak, seafood or Italian. Personally, I would be unlikely to book either Vasco or Colour and taste... 

[ighten]

10 hours ago, Britboys said:

Many thanks for the excellent review and photographs. The one very strange idea (to me at any rate) is that the two speciality restaurants both feature cuisine that tends towards spicy. I feel it would have made much more sense if one was either steak, seafood or Italian. Personally, I would be unlikely to book either Vasco or Colour and taste... 

 

I agree Andrew and did mention this in my comment card - which resulted in several visits from the maitre d asking for more details.. That - and the fact Vascoes really does need a proper venue rather than just how its positioned at them moment which I touch on on the blog( it has the harsh lighting of The View). Still it was free on our cruise - oddly C&T didnt open till the 2nd week though

 

I think Saga may have got the balance better here(we'll find out next year) having one spicy/one grill type or seafood - though they have new purpose built ships.

Edited November 7, 2021 by ighten

[Britboys]

7 hours ago, ighten said:

 

I agree Andrew and did mention this in my comment card - which resulted in several visits from the maitre d asking for more details.. That - and the fact Vascoes really does need a proper venue rather than just how its positioned at them moment which I touch on on the blog( it has the harsh lighting of The View). Still it was free on our cruise - oddly C&T didnt open till the 2nd week though

 

I think Saga may have got the balance better here(we'll find out next year) having one spicy/one grill type or seafood - though they have new purpose built ships.

Strangely, Fred's Balmoral & Braemar both have Grill Restaurants...

[tring]

The Forest Room, which is yet to open on both ships, is a steak type restaurant.  The name appears to imply it will feature produce from the Olsen owned Forest Estate in Scotland, so will have things like Venison as well as steaks, lobster etc.  The prices for there will presumably be a fair amount, more like the £20 for the Grill on other ships or quite possibly more. 

 

They are certainly looking for feedback on the current extra restaurants and the chefs go around talking to the customers about the food later in the evening, but I would not say Colour and Tastes is spicy at all.  In fact Allan was not at all happy with the lack of spice in Vasco on our first cruise (but felt that had been addressed by our Bolette cruise).  Items are very hit and miss up until we last disembarked early October, but changes will hopefully be made according to the feedback.  The chefs seemed to have the idea that the British do not like spice, which resulted in completely tasteless items in some cases.  It was difficult to explain that we do want spices to add taste to the food, and that any dislike is, of course, large amounts of chilli, which is not appreciated by many.  Vasco served an array of condiment type items to accompany bread which were very nice indeed and advice is available for the main items.  Goan food is not generally very hot cuisine and they are well used to tourists of course.

 

We have just returned from a non Fred cruise, so can I offer a belated thank you for the review ihgten,

 

Barbara

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by tring

[Britboys]

16 hours ago, tring said:

The Forest Room, which is yet to open on both ships, is a steak type restaurant.  The name appears to imply it will feature produce from the Olsen owned Forest Estate in Scotland, so will have things like Venison as well as steaks, lobster etc.  The prices for there will presumably be a fair amount, more like the £20 for the Grill on other ships or quite possibly more. 

 

They are certainly looking for feedback on the current extra restaurants and the chefs go around talking to the customers about the food later in the evening, but I would not say Colour and Tastes is spicy at all.  In fact Allan was not at all happy with the lack of spice in Vasco on our first cruise (but felt that had been addressed by our Bolette cruise).  Items are very hit and miss up until we last disembarked early October, but changes will hopefully be made according to the feedback.  The chefs seemed to have the idea that the British do not like spice, which resulted in completely tasteless items in some cases.  It was difficult to explain that we do want spices to add taste to the food, and that any dislike is, of course, large amounts of chilli, which is not appreciated by many.  Vasco served an array of condiment type items to accompany bread which were very nice indeed and advice is available for the main items.  Goan food is not generally very hot cuisine and they are well used to tourists of course.

 

We have just returned from a non Fred cruise, so can I offer a belated thank you for the review ihgten,

 

Barbara

 

It will be interesting to see how they take things forward Barbara.

[lovetocruise1953]

Glad you enjoyed your trip we are on Bolette on 20th the the canaries so it was an interesting read.

Do they actually look at your PLF before your return to the UK?

[LifeonMars]

Vasco and Colours & Tastes are excellent alternative venues experienced on Bolette.

Edited November 20, 2021 by LifeonMars

[ighten]

On 11/16/2021 at 4:23 PM, lovetocruise1953 said:

Glad you enjoyed your trip we are on Bolette on 20th the the canaries so it was an interesting read.

Do they actually look at your PLF before your return to the UK?

No they just check it with a glance before you leave - I wouldnt stress about it too much. Follow the ?s one by one and it kind of makes sense.. I just noticed for our next cruise that Fred now actually give you every answer in a list which makes it even easier.

[tiggertom]

On 11/5/2021 at 7:04 PM, ighten said:

Excellent cruise - Was unsure what to expect as it was our first time on Fred.. Can't praise the service and staff enough..

 

Full illustrated report on the usual pages.. www.cruisetravelreviews.com

 

Or use this link to go straight to day 1 - https://www.cruisetravelreviews.com/2021/10/fred-olsen-borealis-oct-2021.html

Doing this cruise in February. We have sailed with Fred many times, our last cruise was December 2019 on Boudicca in the Indian Ocean. From your report it sounds like there are improved menus and more alternative dining options which we have booked on line. Thank you for your review. We are looking forward to cruising with Fred and trying out one of the newer ships.

[ighten]

I totally forgot to finish this .. may apologies.. It seems we havent stopped last year..

 

I promise to catch them all up including the most excellent Faroes cruise..

 

In the mean time a little teaser from a meeting of two Freds that happened on this one.

 

 

I see the Bollette seems to be getting quite a lot of repositioning next year both out of Newcastle and Liverpool so we may end up on her.. Is she significantly different to Borealis