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Fred Olsen’s Bolette is a smaller, traditional cruise ship that’s especially well suited to scenic itineraries in Norway. Here’s what to expect on board.

If you’re considering a cruise to the Norwegian fjords, there’s a good chance you will come across Bolette.

The largest ship in the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines fleet is nevertheless small by modern cruise ship standards, carrying just over 1,300 passengers. There are no waterslides, rollercoasters or enormous shopping promenades.

Instead, Bolette offers spacious lounges, traditional dining, a wraparound promenade, plenty of open deck space and an onboard experience where the destination remains firmly in the spotlight.

That makes it particularly well suited to Norway. I first sailed on Bolette on a winter cruise to Northern Norway, just a couple of months after taking a similar trip on its sister ship,ÌýBorealis.

Since then I’ve returned several times, including while working onboard as a guest speaker and, most recently, on a summer Norwegian fjords cruise. So, what is Bolette like today, and who will enjoy cruising on it?

Watch My Bolette Video

If you prefer video, I’ve produced a recent guide to what you need to know before sailing.

For much more detail—and plenty of photographs—read on.

Introducing Bolette

Bolette joined the Fred Olsen fleet in 2020 alongside its sister ship,ÌýBorealis. Before that, it spent two decades sailing for Holland America Line under the name Amsterdam. The ship entered service in 2000.

´¡±ô³Ù³ó´Ç³Ü²µ³óÌýBolette is the largest Fred Olsen ship by overall size, that description needs some context.

It is 62,735 gross tonnes and carries 1,338 passengers at standard occupancy in 690 cabins, with approximately 645 crew. By the standards of the modern cruise industry, that puts it firmly towards the smaller end of the scale.

For me, it occupies a useful middle ground. It is big enough to have several restaurants, numerous bars and lounges, a theatre, an art studio, spa, two swimming pools and plenty of different places to spend your time.

Yet it remains small enough that you quickly learn your way around. If you’re nervous about trying a smaller or older cruise ship, don’t imagine something cramped or basic. There is far more space onboard than you might expect.

A traditional British cruise experience

One of the most important things to understand about Bolette is what it is not. This is not a floating theme park.

Fred Olsen occupies a particular corner of British cruising, focusing on smaller ships, regional UK departures and destination-led itineraries rather than onboard spectacle.

The pace tends to be calmer and the passenger demographic generally skews older than on the big international resort ships. But that certainly doesn’t mean there is nothing happening.

There are quizzes, bingo, gameshows, karaoke, live music and activities such as indoor bowls and putting. Afternoon tea remains part of the routine. Entertainment is geared predominantly towards British tastes.

Conversation is also a surprisingly important part of the experience.

On a smaller ship, you start recognising people very quickly. You may bump into the same passengers at breakfast, at a lecture, while walking around the promenade and again over a drink that evening.

If you enjoy that sense of community, it is one of Fred Olsen’s strengths.

Why Bolette works so well for Norway

Some cruises are primarily about the ship. People book them for the restaurants, nightlife, waterparks and entertainment, with the ports almost becoming secondary.

Bolette works the other way around. The ship is comfortable, but on an itinerary such as the Norwegian fjords, the real attraction is what’s happening outside.

There are fjord sail-ins, long summer evenings, waterfalls, mountains and hours of scenic cruising along the Norwegian coastline.

You don’t need dozens of headline attractions when the scenery is the attraction. What you do need is somewhere to see it. That’s where Bolette really shines.

Excellent outdoor space

The covered promenade deck runs around the ship and is one of my favourite features. It gives Bolette that classic feeling of actually being at sea rather than being sealed inside a floating resort.

You can walk laps, stop to take photographs or simply pull up a chair and watch the coastline go by. Because much of the promenade is sheltered, it remains useful when the Norwegian weather inevitably decides not to cooperate.

There is plenty more outdoor space higher up.

Deck 9 has extensive open areas along both sides of the ship, while there are viewing positions towards the front that can be superb during scenic cruising when weather and operational conditions allow.

A small deck immediately below the bridge is another favourite of mine. On a summer cruise, it offers a terrific forward-facing view.

On my winter northern lights trip, it had another advantage: it was one of the darker places on the ship at night, away from much of the exterior lighting.

There are also little terraces and viewing areas tucked away around the aft of the ship that are easy to miss.

Bring layers and a waterproof jacket, because on a Norway cruise you may find yourself spending far more time outside than you expected.

Bolette has two swimming pools

This is one of the most significant differences between Bolette and its sister ship Borealis.

BoletteÌý³ó²¹²õÌýtwo swimming pools, along with two hot tubs. Borealis has just one pool.

The main pool sits beneath a retractable roof. That makes the area surprisingly useful on a Norwegian cruise. When the weather is poor, the roof can remain closed, creating a bright indoor pool space. In warmer conditions it can be opened up.

This is also one of the social hubs of the ship and is often used for sailaway events.

In Norway, I particularly like the way passengers can gather around the pool while others stand on the deck above. You can choose whether to watch the entertainment or turn around and watch the fjord scenery instead.

The second pool is outside at the aft of the ship. Even on my winter cruise to Northern Norway, it received more use than I expected. There always seem to be a few hardy souls willing to go swimming regardless of what the thermometer says.

Cabins on Bolette

Accommodation ranges from relatively compact inside cabins all the way up to large suites.

On my first sailing, I stayed in an ocean view cabin towards the aft of Promenade Deck 3.

The decor showed the ship’s age, but I found the cabin spacious and comfortable enough for one person, and I would have had no concerns sharing it with someone else.

Storage was particularly good. There was plenty of hanging space, shelving and drawers, while a suitcase could be stored beneath the bed. That becomes useful on longer cruises when you may be carrying clothing for several different weather conditions.

The bathroom was also a decent size for a cruise ship. Fred Olsen confirms that the tap water onboard is safe to drink, and cabins include tea and coffee facilities, a cooler, safe, hairdryer and television.

Think carefully about paying for a balcony

One consideration with an older ship is the relatively limited number of balcony cabins compared with a modern vessel.

That can make the jump in price from an inside or ocean view cabin to balcony accommodation significant. On a Norwegian fjords cruise, a balcony is unquestionably nice to have. But I wouldn’t regard it as essential on Bolette.

The extensive promenade and open decks mean there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenery without paying for private outdoor space. Personally, I spend relatively little time in my cabin anyway. Your priorities may of course be different!

The unusual terrace cabins

One of the most distinctive accommodation options is the Terrace Cabin. These are located on Promenade Deck 3 and have sliding glass doors that lead directly onto the exterior promenade, with two designated loungers outside. It’s a cabin style you rarely find on modern cruise ships.

Some people absolutely love them. You can step straight outside, enjoy the fresh air and immediately join the promenade without going anywhere near a lift or staircase. Others dislike the fact that fellow passengers regularly walk past their windows.

This is one cabin category where I would definitely recommend doing some research before booking.

Useful cabin details

µþ±ð³¦²¹³Ü²õ±ðÌýBolette dates from 2000, some aspects of the cabins reflect a different era of ship design. There generally aren’t convenient USB ports and plug sockets beside every pillow in the way you might expect on a new cruise ship.

On the cabins I’ve used, there has been a mixture of British, European and other power sockets around the desk area.

Bringing a European plug adaptor can therefore be useful, although you should always check Fred Olsen’s current electrical and prohibited-items guidance rather than bringing a multi-socket extension lead.

There are also guest laundry rooms around the ship, which become particularly useful on longer voyages.

The cabin television is more practical than exciting. As well as entertainment, it can be used for things such as viewing your onboard account and accessing useful cruise information.

You’ll also receive the printed Daily Times each evening outlining the programme and important information for the following day.

Dining on Bolette

Dining onboard remains more structured than you’ll find on many modern cruise ships. That’s worth knowing before you book.

If your ideal cruise involves choosing from 15 restaurants and deciding where to eat five minutes before dinner, this probably isn’t the ship for you. But there is more flexibility than there once was.

Bloomsbury and Terrace restaurants

The main dining rooms are Bloomsbury and Terrace, arranged across two levels at the aft of the ship.

Dinner is a traditional five-course affair with two sittings. You are allocated a table and dining time for the cruise, although preferences can be requested when booking.

Some people love this. You have the same table, often the same waiting staff and potentially the same dining companions each evening. Over the course of a longer voyage, that becomes part of the social experience.

For anyone accustomed to completely flexible dining, however, it may feel old-fashioned.

Breakfast and lunch are also available in the main restaurant if you prefer table service to the buffet.

The View buffet restaurant

The main casual option is The View. It opens throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with afternoon tea and late-night food.

I’ve eaten many meals here on several Fred Olsen cruises and think this is an area the line quietly does rather well.

It is not entirely self-service. Eggs can be prepared to order at breakfast, while lunches and dinners often feature freshly cooked stir-fries or a roast being carved by a chef.

At busy periods, members of the crew will often help find you a table.

That may sound like a tiny detail, but anyone who has wandered around an enormous cruise ship buffet carrying a plate of rapidly cooling food while desperately searching for somewhere to sit will appreciate it.

Poolside

Poolside is one of my favourite casual options onboard.

Located beside the covered swimming pool, it serves straightforward dishes for breakfast and during the day.

I somehow managed to overlook it on my early Fred Olsen cruises, but once I started eating there I became a convert.

It’s particularly useful when you want something more substantial than a snack without committing to the full restaurant experience.

Colours & Tastes

One major change since my original Bolette review concerns speciality dining. The former Vasco restaurant is no longer part of the current offering.

Instead, Colours & Tastes is now effectively three speciality dining concepts in one, with Asian fusion, Italian and grill menus rotating during a cruise.

The restaurant itself also received a complete interior refurbishment during Bolette’s early-2026 dry dock. So if you have sailed on the ship before, this is one area that may look and feel noticeably different.

There is a supplement to eat here, but it provides a useful change from the more traditional dining elsewhere onboard.

Overall, though,ÌýBolette remains a ship where dining is relatively straightforward rather than being one of the headline attractions.

Bars, lounges and quiet corners

One of the things I like most about Bolette is the number of places where you can simply sit. There are 11 bars and lounges onboard, remarkable for a ship carrying little more than 1,300 passengers.

The Morning Light Pub & Lounge is one of the main social spaces and hosts quizzes, games and live music.

The Ocean Bar and Piano Bar provide other options for pre-dinner or evening drinks. Bookmark Café serves premium coffee and tea and has comfortable seating nearby. But there are also quieter spaces that give the ship much of its personality.

The Botanical Room was added to Bolette in 2023 and quickly became one of my favourite spaces onboard.

Decorated in greens and yellows and surrounded by books and magazines about plants and gardening, it’s a lovely place for a quiet morning or afternoon. Next door, the Serenity Tea Room, serves speciality loose-leaf teas, infusions and tea-inspired drinks.

Together with the nearby Bookmark Café, these lounges form one of the most relaxing areas of the ship.

The Observatory

At the front of Deck 9 is the Observatory. As you might expect, this panoramic lounge wraps around the bow and offers some of the best indoor views on the ship.

On a Norway cruise, that makes it an especially useful space. When rain, cold or wind eventually drives you back inside, you can still watch the scenery go by through the large windows.

Later in the day, the atmosphere changes, with music, dancing and other entertainment regularly taking place here.

Look out for the art

Another thing worth doing aboard Bolette is simply wandering around. There is an impressive amount of artwork throughout the ship.

Some of it is obvious, but paintings, sculptures and decorative pieces also appear in corridors and stairwells far away from the main public spaces.

The most spectacular feature is difficult to miss. The multi-level atrium is dominated by a huge clock tower, a relic of the ship’s Holland America days and perhaps Bolette’s most distinctive interior feature.

Don’t just walk past it. Spend some time there on the hour and watch the mechanism come to life.

This artwork and traditional decor means Bolette sometimes feels dated, but it also gives the ship character. Not everything needs to look like it was designed last Tuesday.

Entertainment is improving

This is one area where my impression of Fred Olsen has changed.

The cruise line began introducing a new entertainment programme in partnership with RWS Global during 2026, including new daytime experiences and theatre productions.

Bolette’s 2026 dry dock also brought significant upgrades to the Neptune Lounge, including a new LED wall and equipment capable of supporting aerial performances.

The difference was noticeable on my recent cruise. The production shows felt more polished and visually ambitious, while performers were more visible elsewhere around the ship.

Events such as Secret Garden and Gin & Jazz added more variety outside the main theatre.

There is generally a little more energy around the ship than I remember from my earliest Fred Olsen voyages.

But importantly, Bolette hasn’t suddenly become a high-energy entertainment ship.

You can still find somewhere quiet to read a book, listen to music or simply have a drink.

It feels like an evolution rather than a change of identity.

And for returning Fred Olsen regulars wondering about one important tradition: yes, the crew show is still very much a thing.

Enrichment still matters

Perhaps unsurprisingly given that I work onboard as a cruise ship speaker, I think this deserves its own mention. Enrichment is taken seriously on Fred Olsen cruises.

Guest speakers, destination talks, lectures and demonstrations aren’t simply tucked away as filler.

They form an important part of the sea-day programme and can be extremely well attended, particularly on longer and destination-focused cruises.

Obviously I’m not a neutral observer here!

On several Bolette cruises I’ve been one of the people standing at the front of the Neptune Lounge giving those talks.

But from the passenger perspective, the important thing is that Bolette assumes its guests are interested in the places they are visiting.

On a Norway itinerary, you may find talks covering everything from history and culture to wildlife, exploration and life in modern Norway.

There are also arts and crafts sessions in the excellent Olsen Art Studio, a bright room tucked away high at the aft of the ship.

It’s another example of the sort of activity Bolette does well: something engaging to do without needing a rollercoaster bolted to the top deck.

Bolette or Borealis?

If you’ve already sailed on Borealis,ÌýBolette will feel instantly familiar. The two ships are sisters and share a broadly similar layout, style and atmosphere.

Both started life with Holland America Line before joining Fred Olsen together in 2020. There are differences, though.

Most obviously, Bolette has two swimming pools compared with one on Borealis. Borealis now has Fresco, the outdoor Mediterranean dining venue, while Bolette does not. Borealis is also now adults-only, whereas Bolette continues to welcome families.

Otherwise, choosing between the two would not be a major factor for me. I would choose based primarily on the itinerary. And that perhaps tells you everything you need to know about Fred Olsen cruising.

Who will enjoy Bolette?

Bolette is best suited to people looking for a calmer, traditional, destination-led cruise.

It will appeal particularly to travellers who enjoy:

• smaller ships
• scenic cruising
• plenty of outdoor deck space
• traditional dining
• quizzes, talks and enrichment
• live music and theatre
• a predominantly British onboard atmosphere
• getting to know fellow passengers and crew

I also think Bolette can be a good choice for a first cruise. If the idea of boarding a ship carrying 5,000 passengers feels overwhelming,ÌýBolette provides a gentler introduction to cruising.

On the other hand, it won’t be right for everyone. If your dream holiday involves dozens of restaurants, spectacular nightlife, waterparks, enormous production venues and non-stop activities, there are far better choices.

The ship also dates from 2000. Some of the cabin decor and public areas reveal that age, even following refurbishment. Personally, that doesn’t bother me.

My verdict on Bolette

After several cruises aboard Bolette, I’ve become very fond of the ship. It’s easy to navigate, comfortable without being flashy, and there are enough different public spaces that it rarely feels crowded.

Most importantly for ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ readers, it is a very good ship from which to see Norway.

The covered promenade, extensive open decks, forward Observatory and relatively small passenger numbers all work particularly well when the journey itself is part of the experience.

On my winter trip, those decks became places to hunt for the northern lights. On a summer fjords cruise, they became somewhere to watch waterfalls, mountains and villages slowly pass by.

That is where Bolette makes most sense to me. It isn’t a ship trying to distract you from the outside world. It gives you plenty of places from which to enjoy it.

Have you sailed on Fred Olsen’s Bolette? What did you think of the ship? Let me know in the comments below.