Fred. Olsen Cruise FAQs

When you book a One Traveller cruise holiday that sails aboard a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines vessel, you will be invited to add an additional premium pre-departure service to your holiday at no additional cost. You can choose from the following options:

• A door-to-door chauffeur service from home to the departure port listed for your holiday*.
• A pre-departure overnight hotel stay close to the departure port, with either a taxi transfer to the port the next morning or port car parking included.
• A flight from your local UK airport to an airport closer to the departure port (subject to availability and timings).

*Chauffeured car service is included for mainland GB addresses and journeys of up to 100 miles. Additional mileage supplements apply.

• In advance of your holiday, we will arrange a suitable collection time and location (the default is from your home address, but you can request collection from elsewhere if you so wish). Upon arrival, your chauffeur will load your luggage and take you to your destination – in good time, great comfort and style*!

*Chauffeured car service is included for mainland GB addresses and journeys of up to 100 miles. Additional mileage supplements apply.

• The service is available to and from mainland addresses in England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain) only.
• The One Traveller door-to-door chauffeur service will include one (1) outbound and one (1) inbound car journey to addresses of your choosing. Any additional transportation you require outside of this allowance is to be arranged by you and at your own expense.
• One Traveller holds no responsibility for any missed connections if these were incurred as a result of a request by you to amend the collection arrangements from those organised and notified to you by the chauffeur service provider.
• If you request, live close to or live conveniently en-route with another One Traveller guest and both parties are happy to share a vehicle, this may be accommodated by the chauffeur service provider. If the journey will be over 100 miles both parties will be contacted and must agree to share any additional mileage costs.
• For safety reasons, the maximum luggage allowance for your chauffeur journey is two pieces at 20kg (44lb) each.

The pre-departure hotel will be close to or in the same area as the port you are sailing from. This will be on a bed & breakfast basis and where possible we will try to include dinner also (please note that some hotels do not offer an inclusive dinner option).

If you choose the overnight hotel stay, you may also choose either:

• a complimentary taxi transfer to the port in the morning (to be shared if there is another One Traveller guest also staying at the hotel) or
• if you wish to drive yourself, we can include port parking for the duration of your cruise.

• If you do not wish to choose the chauffeur service or pre-cruise hotel option, you can opt instead for a flight from your local UK airport to another UK airport close to the cruise port (flights are subject to availability). You’ll need to make your own way to and from the airport, but we’ll arrange convenient flight times for you to do so comfortably.

• Yes, you can select more than one option. In this scenario you will need to decide upon a complimentary and a paid-for service. Our team will be happy to help you with this to ensure you get the best value.

• Our cruise holidays include pre-booked excursions as set out in the holiday's advertised itinerary. These are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you do not wish to join a particular excursion, please inform your Tour Manager as soon as possible. Our excursions are carefully researched and have been chosen for their suitability for our mature solo travellers, as well as their timings, duration and particular content, offering a variety of activities to help you get to know and enjoy each port of call.

  
  

• Want to explore at your own pace? During longer shore visits, Fred. Olsen will often provide a courtesy shuttle bus service into the nearest town, allowing you to pound the streets and explore the sights by yourself or with new friends.

• Additional and / or alternative Fred. Olsen excursions you may wish to book yourself that are outside of the One Traveller programme are optional and made at your own expense directly with the ship’s crew. You will not be refunded for any missed excursions.

  
  

• Please note that One Traveller guests are invited to enjoy their evening meal together each day in a specially reserved area. If you book an excursion which overlaps with our allocated sitting, you may be sat alone or with other ship's passengers for your meal.

• All shore excursions are subject to local weather and sea conditions and may be cancelled or changed at late notice by the ship's crew or shore-based excursion operators. Your Tour Manager will keep you fully informed of each excursion, including updates on timings, meeting places and other useful information.

• Due to maritime laws, a passport will always be required to join a Fred Olsen cruise, regardless of where your cruise is travelling. Your passport must have a minimum of six months remaining validity on the day after your cruise concludes. Please see your holiday’s Essential Info tab for more important information regarding passports, visas and travel essentials.

• Yes. One Traveller will require your insurance policy details in advance of your holiday departing. Fred. Olsen ships all feature modern medical facilities, but these operate outside of the NHS and all appointments, consultations, and services are chargeable. Please ensure you bring sufficient supplies of any medication you require and that you have cruise cover included with your travel insurance policy.

• You will always have your own cabin throughout your holiday, with either a twin or double bed, en-suite bathroom with a shower or shower over bath, tea and coffee making facilities, TV, hairdryer and plenty of storage space.
• Cabin grades can differ from ship to ship. Grades are likely to be spread across different decks and may be located towards the front, middle, or rear of the ship. Please see the Accommodation tab for your chosen holiday for more specific details, deck plans, images and prices. The following general information will usually apply.

  
  

  • Grade BS – Balcony Suite with floor to ceiling windows
  • Grade B – Superior Ocean View with a picture window
  • Grade C – Ocean View with a picture window
  • Grade D - Ocean View with a picture window
  • Grade E - Ocean View with a picture window
  • Grade F - Ocean View with one or more port holes
  • Grade K - Superior Ocean View with a picture window
  • Grade L - Ocean View with either a picture window or port holes

• Yes, you can request a different cabin grade after you have booked your holiday however this is subject to availability and additional charges. Please contact us if you wish to enquire about availability.

• Fred. Olsen will send your luggage labels by post in the weeks before you travel. These will have your cabin number written on them. Please attach the labels to your luggage before arriving at the port as the ship's porters will quickly collect your bags ready for loading. Your cruise tickets will be sent to you by One Traveller and may arrive separately to your other pre-holiday documents.

One Traveller will ensure you are fully prepared for your cruise and that you know when, where and who to meet on the big day. The following information will help to set the scene a little more.

• We will advise you of what time to arrive at the port to meet your Tour Manager in your final pre-holiday paperwork. If you have booked our chauffeur service, your driver will be aware of the meeting time and ensure you are present.
• When you arrive at the port, your One Traveller Tour Manager and ship’s crew will be there to greet you and take your main luggage to your cabin. You will need to keep your carry-on bag and any other smaller items such as suit or dress bags with you. Please ensure you keep hold of your passport and cruise ticket!
• You will need to have your cruise ticket and passport ready when you embark the ship. Fred. Olsen tickets and luggage labels are colour coded according to cabin grade. You will be called to embark according to your ticket colour. Your Tour Manager will gather the One Traveller party to board together. If you wish to board individually, please inform you Tour Manager in advance.
• Check-in for embarkation generally closes at 16:00. Arrival after this time may result in refusal to board.
• When checking in, you will receive your cruise card. This is your key to open your cabin door. It will also be used to disembark and re-embark the ship at ports of call during your journey.
• Subject to local conditions, the ship will usually set sail at 17:00.
• There will be a drinks gathering on board on either the first or second evening. This is generally known as the Captain’s Welcome Party.

For more information regarding embarkation day, please visit What happens on embarkation day?

• No. Please ensure you have a credit or debit card with you. Cash may be accepted during shore excursions in ports of call but Fred. Olsen ships operate on a no cash policy. Your payment card will be linked to your cruise card when checking in.

• Dress on board is generally casual, except for any formal evenings. There may also be some stipulations for dinner. Please refer to the Essential Info tab for your chosen holiday to see a more specific overview. Suggested clothing requirements will vary according to the time of year, destination, included excursions, and any pre-planned cruise theme or themed events due to take place. A Daily Times newsletter will be placed in your cabin each evening with itinerary details for the following day. This will also stipulate any particular dress code. For more information, please visit What Is the Dress Code for Cruise Ships? | Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

• You can see more images to help you get to know your ship, take an interactive tour, and see some of the main facilities available on the Accommodation tab for your chosen cruise holiday.
• For a more in-depth look at onboard facilities please visit Life On Board Our Ships | FAQs

• On sea days the ship travels between ports. There are no shore excursions or dockings. Afternoon tea will be provided exclusively for the One Traveller group, serving as a nice focal point for the day and a chance to gather with your fellow solo travellers. For extended periods at sea, your Tour Manager will suggest alternative activities, talks, games and structured walks to join, as stipulated in the Daily Times newsletter that is placed in your cabin each day. The important thing to note is that it is your holiday and you can do as you please – resting, relaxing, getting to know your solo companions, making use of the facilities, attending performances...there's always something new to do.

• Fred. Olsen offer two sittings for dinner. We will always strive to book the first sitting which is usually at 18:00. You will be notified of the exact time in your pre-departure paperwork. Our party will dine together, with a pre-dinner drinks gathering hosted by your Tour Manager. We will always dine as a group on specially reserved tables. Should you wish to explore the alternative dining venues, you are of course welcome to do so.

As part of your One Traveller holiday, your cruise includes a premium drinks package. Subject to availability and the time of day, this will generally include:

• All cocktails and mocktails
• Soft drinks
• Liqueurs and speciality spirits
• Lager, ale and cider
• Red, white or Rose wine
• Sparkling wine by the glass
• Alcohol free spirits and wines by the glass
• Spirits and mixers
• Whiskey and Brandy (excludes premium brands)
• Sherry, madeira, port and vermouth.

In addition, tea and coffee are generally readily available throughout the day.

• For the final evening of your journey, you will be asked to leave your packed suitcase outside your cabin door by 02:00. Porters will collect it to store in a luggage area ready to be unloaded from the ship the next morning when you dock back home.

• On your return to the port at the end of your holiday, you will disembark at 08:30 with your One Traveller group.
• If you have booked our chauffeur service, your driver will collect you from the port at 09:00. If you have opted for the pre-cruise hotel stay, your holiday will conclude at the port, ready for you to continue your journey home.
• If you have asked us to arrange a domestic flight from your local UK airport, you will already have flight information to help you time your onward journey to the airport terminal. You will need to make your own transport arrangements to the airport.

Fred. Olsen has three cruise ships in its fleet?

1. Borealis
2. Bollette
3. Balmoral

One Traveller sails aboard all three.

How is your nautical lingo? Test yourself with these marine terms to help you find your sea legs!

• Starboard – Right hand side of the ship
• Port – Left hand side of the ship
• Amidships – Middle of the ship
• Bow/Fore – Front of the ship
• Aft – Back of the ship
• Gangway – This is where guests board and disembark
• Tender – a small boat used to ferry people and goods from ship to shore
• Muster – Your mandatory safety briefing
• Captain’s Welcome / Farewell cocktail party– a formal onboard event, usually one of the stand-out evenings of your cruise.

For more general information about your One Traveller cruise holiday with Fred. Olsen please visit Frequently Asked Questions or call us on 01760 722 011.