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 four 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 and Southampton.
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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Ships
More about Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
STARGAZING CRUISES
Fred. Olsen is proud to work in partnership with Go Stargazing, a diverse group of amateur and professional astronomers, instrument scientists, dark sky consultants, education providers and tourism experts with a shared passion for enthusing public interest in astronomy. Their team of astronomers deliver practical stargazing sessions across the United Kingdom, showcasing the incredible dark skies throughout the UK, from Northumberland Dark Sky Park to the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve.
Viewing the night sky is a remarkable experience, but doing so away from light pollution on a Fred. Olsen cruise takes it to a whole new level. The night sky viewed from the middle of the ocean is breathtakingly beautiful, with a vast expanse of stars twinkling brightly in the darkness.
In August 2026, a team from Go Stargazing will be on board our fleet of ships to share their insights and knowledge with you about the fascinating solar eclipse phenomenon. Don’t miss the chance to experience this celestial event with us!
STARGAZING SESSIONS
The stargazing sessions that Go Stargazing astronomers hold on deck will be informal, informative and entertaining. You will enjoy laser-guided tours of the constellations, learn how to identify planets and view deep-sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae using binoculars. You can take home this knowledge and share it with family and friends.
Guests will enjoy stories of legends and mythology using the starry skies as a backdrop, just like our ancestors once did. Exciting topics such as ship navigation using stars and nautical folklore will give you a unique perspective on the relationship between seafaring and the night sky.
There may also be the opportunity to take advantage of astronomical events such as meteor showers, which occur regularly throughout the year, solar eclipses and conjunctions where celestial objects align to create a fantastic view.
Witnessing impressive night-time views and using incredible facts and figures from astronomical distances to the sizes of stars, our on-deck stargazing sessions are designed and delivered in a way that makes them unforgettable.
ORCA CRUISES
PROTECTING THE WORLD'S WHALES AND DOLPHINS
As part of an official partnership, Fred. Olsen are proud to be working with marine wildlife charity ORCA, who will be sending teams of volunteers on a selection of Fred. Olsen sailings.
The conservationist team's objective will be to locate whales and dolphins, observe their behaviours, and to provide guests with a unique experience, offering you the opportunity to take an active role in marine science and conservation. The cruises will also enable ORCA to collect vital data on the species and numbers of marine life sighted and identify wildlife hotspots, feeding directly into the charity’s Cruise Conservationist Programme and its conservation work.
Pop along to one of their guest lectures, or find them on deck to ask them any questions you may have. With the help of ORCA, you may be lucky enough to spot several whale and dolphin species, whilst learning more about ORCA's conservation efforts.
184 Cruises ·
3 Ships
Cruise Regions
Mediterranean
N Europe
Western Europe
Arctic
World-wide
Caribbean
Africa
Mystery
N Europe/Med
Repositioning
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Reasons to Book
At Fred. Olsen, we’re a little different to the bigger cruise lines, and proudly so. Cruising, to us, is about enjoying the journey and seeing the world in comfort and style. It’s also about choice – the freedom to explore your way. It’s travel at its most rewarding: unhurried, carefully considered and full of character.
Always in the best of company
Our story began in Norway, where time on the water is part of daily life. It’s a heritage we’re proud of, one that shapes our respect for the sea, our love of exploration and the warm welcome you’ll find on board. We live by the saying ‘I det beste selskap’ – ‘in the best of company’, and that’s precisely how we want you to feel when you sail with us: relaxed, valued and part of something truly special.
Smaller ships, refined traditions
Our ships are smaller, warmer and full of charm. With space to relax and thoughtful touches throughout, they offer a more personal way to cruise. We’ve preserved the timeless pleasures of sea travel, but shaped them for today, with comfort, character and a relaxed sense of occasion.
Curated journeys, not just cruises
We design our itineraries to blend iconic destinations with lesser-known gems, creating journeys that enrich and inspire. Whether you’re seeking famous sights or quiet corners, our sailings are carefully curated to help you explore the world in a more thoughtful and rewarding way.
Your cruise, your way
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.
Service with genuine warmth
What sets us apart is our crew. From the moment you step on board, you’ll be greeted with warmth, care and a level of attention that feels refreshingly genuine. They take the time to get to know you, from your name to your favourite drink.
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.
Members Club
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 know 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.