There's no better way to see Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords than from the deck of Balmoral, sailing with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for 7 nights from Rosyth. The Balmoral makes 3 port calls on this voyage, weaving through Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords with stops in Oslo, Copenhagen, and Gothenburg. The mix of port visits and leisurely sea days makes this 7-night itinerary ideal for both first-time and seasoned cruisers. From £972 per person, you could be stepping aboard the Balmoral and heading for Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
With more than 175 years of know-how behind it, this heritage brand has the expertise to deliver quality cruising with strong, customer-friendly value. It's known for its ideally sized ships and caters to a broad range of guests, including couples, solo travellers and families. It also offers a wide selection of carefully curated itineraries, from no-fly mini cruises from the UK to mystery cruises in the Mediterranean.
Oslo, Norway's capital, echoes with the footsteps of Vikings and boasts a maritime legacy dating back centuries. Cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean embrace Oslo's waterfront charm, docking near iconic landmarks such as the Akershus Fortress and the Oslo Opera House. The city's temperate maritime climate provides mild summers and relatively mild winters, offering travelers comfortable exploration year-round. As a gateway to Norway's natural wonders, Oslo presents a genuine Scandinavian experience, showcasing authentic Nordic cuisine and local craftsmanship. Don't miss the Viking Ship Museum, home to remarkably preserved vessels from the Viking Age, revealing Oslo's rich seafaring past.
Oslo, Norway's capital, echoes with the footsteps of Vikings and boasts a maritime legacy dating back centuries. Cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean embrace Oslo's waterfront charm, docking near iconic landmarks such as the Akershus Fortress and the Oslo Opera House. The city's temperate maritime climate provides mild summers and relatively mild winters, offering travelers comfortable exploration year-round. As a gateway to Norway's natural wonders, Oslo presents a genuine Scandinavian experience, showcasing authentic Nordic cuisine and local craftsmanship. Don't miss the Viking Ship Museum, home to remarkably preserved vessels from the Viking Age, revealing Oslo's rich seafaring past.
Our smallest ship, Balmoral, is a classic gem, offering an intimate cruising experience. She has wonderful facilities - five beautiful restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools and lovely wide open decks which are perfect for when Balmoral is scenic cruising.
I recently went on a 5 day cruise, with Fred Olsen on the Borealis. We went to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The whole experience was great. Loved the sea days. Especially the 10am craft classes. The lady leading the class really knew her stuff. I did my own thing in Rotterdam and a Fred Olsen excursion in Amsterdam. Again very well organised and a knowledgeable guide.
Fabulous, only slightly spoiled by a faulty mooring line capstan winch that had inadequate maintenance resulting in horrid noises late at night when the sea conditions got rough, also the Portuguese dock workers strikes at the time that meant we had a day at Queta instead, which was a fabulous alternative.
The cruise was a little pricey compared to our usual Ambassador Cruise Line, and missed out on offers from FOCL of £200 per cabin free OBC by just a week when they started extra promotions to sell remaining cabins.
Our next cruise will be back with ACL as they are better in Customer considerations of the need for my wife to take a small mobility scooter on board, to enable getting about easier at the ports of call.
Most aspects of the FOCL cruise were absolutely superb, however both ACL and FOCL could improve significantly if they really looked at each others operations with little or no extra input.
Lucky we were on this ship, the weather wasn’t brilliant on this cruise to the Canaries but we were well looked after, food good (especially Colours & Tastes Asian Fusion), good shows. Fireworks in Lisbon worked better than the previous year on a different ship.
As with all cruise lines the staff were mainly very friendly. Food ok though often lukewarm. All inclusive drinks very limited although that will have changed with FO's new policy. Cabin was frankly shabby but functional. Be prepared for a very senior demographic.
I Visited the fjords with my children, 7, 16, 18 and 22, we saw some some breathtaking views, shared lots of laughter, and memories to cherish forever.
The landscape's scale and beauty was captivating .
We cannot wait for our next adventure! which is in 2 days time on Fred Olsen's Balmoral 5night Christmas Markets cruise
