As a 150-year-old Norwegian family firm that caters to a largely middle-class British clientele, Fred. Olsen operates a fleet of four mid-size ships (450-900 passengers) and will add a fifth in the first half of 2008.
Fleet
The 900-passenger Black Watch and Boudicca were both builtin 1972 as Royal Viking Line ships and later stretched by RVL. The412-passenger Black Prince, built in 1966, is a converted long-distance ferryliner, and as the oldest ship in the fleet, she is due to be retired before2010. The 916-passenger Braemar, built in 1993 as the Crown Dynasty, isscheduled to be stretched in 2008 to increase her capacity and public roomspace. A fifth ship, the former Norwegian Crown, built in 1988 as the CrownOdyssey, will be added to the fleet in early 2008.
Itineraries
Most cruises leave from Britain for ports in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Islands and the Mediterranean, and some venture much further.The company’s newest ship, the Balmoral, will offer some cruises from the U.S. in 2008 though most of the passengers will be British.
Dining and Decor
The food is good British fare and an afternoon tea forms bean integral part of the day, all in British hotel-style surroundings.
Programs
The onboard enrichment program and special interestlecturers are of a high standard.
Onboard Experience
Most passengers are near to or at retirement age and preferlow-key traditional cruising in comfortable rather than flashy or high techsurroundings, and with the entertainment geared to middle-class British tastesand humor.
Competitors
The closest equivalents to Fred. Olsen would be SagaCruises, a British company that caters to mostly Brits age 50 and up, the QE2when based in Britain and P&O, though the latter’s ships are larger andcarry a wider age range.
