
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
As a family-run cruise line, we really take your experience personally. While the cruise industry has gone for bigger ships, brimming with more and more people, we have always believed that smaller is better. We treat passengers as guests, we dock at smaller ports in more interesting places and we avoid overcrowding both aboard and ashore. At capacity, our smaller ships will only ever sail with between 900 and 1,400 guests.
We have a small team of specialist itinerary planners. They take great pride in handcrafting each journey, to ensure we show you hidden gems as well as highlights on each of our sailings. It is a passion that has won us the Cruise Critic award for Best Itineraries for five consecutive years.
Cruise from six regional UK ports to hundreds of destinations worldwide in the classic style and comfort of our smaller-sized ships. For most of the year, the ships are based in Britain, with cruises departing from Rosyth (Edinburgh), Newcastle, Liverpool, Dover, Southampton, and Portsmouth.
We believe smaller is better
We are incredibly proud of our fleet of smaller ships. Each has been elegantly designed and they all look and feel like ships (not hotels or holiday resorts); with wide open deck spaces as well as lounges and restaurants which have been meticulously planned to ensure you have a wonderful experience.
With fewer guests, our crew can really get to know you and what you like. And the atmosphere on board our ships is always warm and civilised.
The smaller size of our ships also allows us access to more interesting places, such as Norway’s lesser-known Fjords as well as European cities with narrow waterways and size-restricted bridges. It also means we can dock in the heart of some of the world’s most fascinating cities.
What to expect from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
On a Fred. Olsen cruise, we channel all of our 175 years of experience sailing and discovering the world into making every single day special for our guests.
Our unique maritime heritage and knowledge of British cruising tastes means we perfectly serve our discerning and valued guests, and provide unrivalled cruise holiday experiences creating memories that will last a lifetime. Our Journey Planners put incredible consideration into creating innovative and exciting itineraries each year, ensuring you are always in the very best places at the very best times.
Fred. Olsen originated in Hvitsten, a small town on the shores of Oslofjord, Norway, in 1848 when three Olsen brothers – Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas – bought their first ships and began an international shipping company. 175 years later, and now into the fifth generation of the family, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines operate cruises from the UK and inspirational Grand Voyages aboard three smaller, intimately-sized ocean-going ships and sail to some of the world's greatest and most authentic destinations to provide guests with simply unforgettable holiday experiences.
Alongside Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the Fred. Olsen group also operate a variety of other companies, including Fred. Olsen Travel, and Fred. Olsen Express ferries in the Canary Islands, and has interests in the luxury hotel, aviation, estate management, electronics and offshore energy industries. Fred. Olsen offices are spread throughout the globe, although the group's main headquarters remain firmly in the family's hands in Oslo and Tenerife. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is based in Ipswich, the county town of Suffolk, England.
There are five levels of Oceans Club membership – each with their own fantastic benefits* to take advantage of – and your Membership Level is determined by the number of cruise points you have. So, the more you cruise with Fred. Olsen, the more benefits you will receive.
One cruise point is awarded for every night you have spent on board Fred. Olsen cruises that have departed since 1st January 2000, with the exception of a few exclusions. It’s worth noting that points will be added to your membership total at the end of each cruise and that points become void if there is longer than five years between the end of one cruise and the end of the next.
You will automatically become a Bronze member after spending your first night on board with us; then after 31 nights on board you will be upgraded to Silver membership. Gold membership is given to guests that have spent 101-250 nights cruising with us. Our most loyal guests will be awarded our Platinum and Diamond Elite memberships. Guests who have spent 251-500 nights on board become Platinum members; those who have spent 501 or more nights on board become Diamond Elite members – the highest level of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Oceans Club membership. For more information about each Oceans Club Membership Level and their benefits, please click here.
Your Membership Level
If you have cruised with Fred. Olsen within the past five years, you will have automatically become an Oceans Club member. To find out more about your Membership Level and your exclusive benefits, please click here and log in to your 'My Cruises' account.
Introduce a Friend Programme
As an Oceans Club member you kn ow how relaxing, rewarding and enjoyable cruising with Fred. Olsen can be. We're sure you would want your friends and loved ones enjoy the experience too, so why not take advantage of our fantastic ' Introduce a Friend ' programme?
Introducing a friend to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines couldn't be easier, and for every friend you introduce you'll be rewarded with a On Board Spend voucher by way of thanks. Click here to find out more about the programme, or to register your friends details.