Sister ship to our flagship Bolette, our adults only ship, Borealis, joined the fleet in 2020 and is ideally designed for scenic cruising along the world’s lesser-explored waterways. From sailing past spectacular landscapes and historic landmarks to admiring the beauty of the natural world, guests can enjoy exceptional views from the well-appointed Observatory.
Refurbished and redecorated on joining our fleet to meet the Olsen family’s style of cruising, Borealis offers a wide selection of lounges and bars, elegant restaurants, spacious open decks and 702 comfortable cabins and suites. Throughout your cruise, our warm and attentive crew will be on hand, delivering the friendly, personal service for which Fred. Olsen is renowned.
Our adults only cruises provide a relaxed and welcoming environment for couples, friends and solo travellers, inviting you to explore at an unhurried pace, so whether you choose to socialise and form new friendships or savour peaceful moments to yourself, you’ll enjoy the freedom to unwind aboard Borealis as she sails the world.
- Size medium
- Style Premium
- Type ocean
- Year of launch 1997
- Year of last refit 2022
- Gross tonnage 61849t
- Length 238.0m
- Width 34.0m
- Speed 22kts
- Decks 10
- Language English (British)
- Currency Pound Sterling (£)
- No. of passengers 1353
- No. of crew 642
- No. of cabins 702
- -wheelchair access 21
Mediterranean Moments at Fresco
We’re delighted to introduce Fresco, a brand-new open-air venue debuting on board Borealis. Inspired by the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean, Fresco will serve a tempting selection of light bites. It’s the perfect place to enjoy laidback snacks in the sunshine, and is occasionally open in the evening as an inviting lounge deck under the stars.
We know from the kind feedback we receive just how much our crew contribute to your time on board.
To make things simple, gratuities are included in your cruise fare. This covers everyone from your cabin steward and dining team to bar staff and more, so there’s no need to budget for or calculate tips during your holiday.
There is no expectation to tip beyond what’s already included. However, if you feel you’ve received exceptional service and would like to show your appreciation with an additional voluntary tip or gift, you are very welcome to do so. This can be given directly to the crew member or via your on-board account.
At a glance
- Gratuities are included in your cruise fare
- No expectation to tip beyond what’s included
- Additional tipping for exceptional service is always gratefully received
You’ll find a range of cabins and suites on board our ships, so you can choose the cabin type, layout and price to suit you. Much of the accommodation has been refitted as part of our extensive, fleet-wide refurbishment programme making the stylish, comfortable cabins even more of a home from home.
We've thought of everything to ensure your time on board with us is as enjoyable, relaxing and carefree as possible.
All of our cabins are equipped with climate control, an interactive smart TV, hairdryer, desk, phone, fridge (which can be stocked as a mini-bar) and tea and coffee making facilities as standard.
Our SUITE DREAMS PACKAGE
Offered with our compliments in all our Suites, our Suite Dreams package includes a few little luxuries to make your customers time on board Bolette even more special.Dedicated check-in on cruises departing from the UK and a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival will ensure they are perfectly relaxed when they are first welcomed into your suite. Daily canapés and a fruit basket are also available, as are comfortable bathrobes and slippers. Binoculars are on hand, along with a world atlas for guests to use as they marvel at the beautiful islands, lochs and seascapes Borealis will cruise past.
Dining is an important part of your cruise with us and there is always plenty of variety for you to enjoy: Delicious five-course dining in our main restaurants; speciality Asian, Italian and Grill dining at our signature restaurant, Colours and Tastes; our casual, self-serve dining restaurant; and, on Bolette and Borealis, there’s a menu of light bites at the poolside during the day.
All our food is freshly prepared on board, including our mouth-wateringly delicious homemade bread.
Our restaurant teams take great pride in the food they prepare for you, and they love nothing more than to chat and share their passion with you.
And, of course, our warm and attentive waiting team are always on hand to assist you.
Our on board dining experience
Each of the main restaurants on our ships are beautifully decorated, where we know you’ll enjoy sampling outstanding food created by our talented chefs, who take great pride in making tasty meals using fresh ingredients, and for our Treats of the Region, they’ll source local ingredients to prepare dishes that are popular in the destinations you’re visiting.
We have two dinner sittings, first sitting is at 6.00pm and second sitting is at 8.00pm*, which you request when you make your booking, and our Maitre’D is more than happy to meet with you to discuss any special dietary requirements you may have.
*Please note second sitting dining time in the main restaurants on embarkation day and on formal evenings will be at 8.15pm.
Our main restaurants are:
- Borealis | Borealis & Aurora Restaurants
Casual dining
Our casual, self-serve dining experience on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral offer a feast of delicious dishes for each meal every day, making it incredibly difficult to know which appetising dish to choose! Select from a variety of salads or stir fries, catered to your request, or sample dishes at our Destination stations, where we'll feature meals related to the lovely ports of call you're visiting. They also provide a huge spread of complimentary afternoon tea options, including warm scones with jam and cream, tasty sandwiches and delectable cakes, all freshly baked on board.
Our casual dining restaurants are:
- Borealis | The View
Booking ahead is highly recommended for all our Speciality Dining options, and reservations can be made using the pre-book button in your 'My Cruises' account from 13 weeks before and up to 1 day prior to departure. Please note, there is a £20 per person supplement for Colours & Tastes. Speciality dining booked on board is chargeable at £25 per person*. Our Traditional Afternoon Tea Service is charged at £13 per person.
Whether you prefer a peaceful spot with a good book or a full day of activities and entertainment, life on board offers plenty of choice, all in the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our smaller ships.
Once on board, you will find a copy of the Daily Times in your cabin every evening. This will tell you all about the activities and events available on the following day. But in the meantime, here is a taste of what you can enjoy.
Enrichment at Sea
Feed your curiosity with inspiring enrichment talks, arts and crafts workshops, cooking demos and dance lessons. Join behind-the-scenes ship tours or learn from our officers about navigation and chart-reading.
On selected cruises, you can stargaze with astronomy experts from Go Stargazing or look out for marine life with nature specialists ORCA and Ocean Wildlife Encounters, who join us on board to record sightings of the world’s ocean wildlife as part of their vital conservation work.
Time to Unwind
Life on board can be truly relaxing. Take time out on our open decks, enjoy a dip in the pool, unwind in our Jacuzzis where, on Bolette and Borealis, our retractable roofs ensure you can do so all year round, or indulge in a treatment at The Atlantis Spa with our specialist beauticians, hair stylists and therapists.
Each ship also has a quiet library – perfect for catching up on the latest read from our Book Club – and cosy corners for coffee and conversation. For active relaxation, try yoga or Pilates in our ocean-view fitness centres.
Moments of Entertainment
The entertainment on board is varied, vibrant and thoughtfully designed with our guests in mind.
By day, you can take part in guest speaker talks, quizzes, deck games and card tournaments.
In the evening, experience spectacular shows, performances by professional artists, comedians and illusionists, or classical recitals and live music from soloists, singers and bands.
For those who love to dance, we hold plenty of classes. Our Dance Hosts are on hand to accompany the more proficient or teach steps for those keen to learn.
Learn Something New
Your days at sea, especially on longer voyages, are the perfect opportunity to try something you haven’t experienced before.
Learning to play the ukulele, learning to dance or singing in a choir with your fellow guests are not only enriching experiences but fun and sociable too.
On every ship, we have a beautiful, purpose-built studio space dedicated to art and craft, which is fully equipped with easels, paints and art materials.
Here, the lighting is excellent, and you will find it the perfect environment to take part in drawing and painting classes and learn crafts like block printing.
You'll find that there's plenty to keep you entertained during the day on board Borealis, whether you prefer to while away the hours relaxing or engaging your body and mind. The ship's facilities include two swimming pools, two jacuzzis and an impressive spa with a Thermal Spa, Aroma Room, Hydro Pool, two saunas and nine treatment rooms, while there are tennis and basketball courts and a Culinary Theatre – which hosts fantastic cookery classes and demonstrations – too.
We believe that a cruise is very different from a holiday. A cruise is about being out there on the ocean, exploring the world from the vantage point of the sea, enjoying the journey itself, not just the destinations. We like to focus on that feeling of boarding your ship for the first time, the excitement of visiting new places, and the warmth and conviviality of our on board teams, ensuring you are valued and well looked after - as we say in Norway, 'I det beste selskap' - in the best of company.
On board every cruise, and alongside all the lovely food, drink, entertainment and activities you'd expect, you can enjoy some of our Signature Experiences.
Learn Something new
Your days at sea, especially on longer voyages, are the perfect opportunity to try something you haven’t experienced before.
Learning to play the ukulele, learning to dance or singing in a choir with your fellow guests are not only enriching experiences but fun and sociable too.
On every ship, we have a beautiful, purpose-built studio space dedicated to art and craft, which is fully equipped with easels, paints and art materials.
Here, the lighting is excellent and you will find it the perfect environment to take part in drawing and painting classes and learn crafts like block printing.