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Fred Olsen’s Borealis is a smaller, adults-only cruise ship that spends plenty of time in Norway. Here’s what to expect from the ship, from cabins and dining to entertainment and the best places to enjoy the scenery.

If you’ve spent any time looking at cruises to Norway, there’s a good chance you will have come across Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

The British cruise line has strong Norwegian roots and its smaller ships are frequent visitors to the Norwegian fjords and Arctic Norway. Borealis is particularly well suited to scenic cruising, with a wraparound promenade deck, plenty of outdoor space and an observation lounge overlooking the bow.

I first sailed on Borealis on a two-week winter cruise from Liverpool to Northern Norway. We succeeded in finding the northern lights, but that cruise became memorable for another reason too.

It was the first cruise ship I ever worked on as a .

Since then, I’ve spent a lot more time on Fred Olsen ships, including returning to Borealis. The ship has changed during that time, particularly following recent refurbishment work and changes to the dining and entertainment offering.

So, what is Borealis like today, and is it a good choice for a cruise to Norway?

Watch my Borealis video

If you prefer video, I’ve produced both a to what you should know before sailing on the ship. Please enjoy!

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

Introducing the Borealis

Borealis joined Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in 2020 together with its sister ship, Bolette. Before that, it spent more than two decades with Holland America Line as Rotterdam VI. The ship dates from 1997.

That makes Borealis a very different proposition from the enormous new resort ships being launched by many cruise lines.

At 61,849 gross tonnes, the ship carries 1,353 passengers at standard occupancy, served by a crew of 642. There are 702 cabins and suites.

Those numbers make it relatively easy to get around. You don’t need an app to work out where you are, nor do you spend half your holiday walking from one end of the ship to the other.

The ship certainly looks and feels more traditional than the newest cruise ships. But that is partly the point.

Fred Olsen is much more focused on destination-led cruising, conversation and a slower pace of life onboard than waterslides, rollercoasters and enormous shopping promenades. For many people travelling to Norway, that fits rather well.

Borealis is now adults-only

One of the biggest recent changes is that Borealis is now an adults-only ship. Fred Olsen continues to welcome children on Bolette and Balmoral, but not on Borealis. In practice, this probably changes the atmosphere less than you might imagine.

Fred Olsen has never been strongly aimed at families. Across the many cruises I’ve taken with the line, children have been relatively uncommon except on certain school holiday sailings.

Nevertheless, adults-only status formalises what Borealis already does well: a calm, sociable cruise experience aimed at people who value space, conversation, traditional entertainment and the destinations themselves.

Cabins on Borealis

There is a broad range of accommodation onboard, from inside and ocean view cabins through to balcony cabins and large suites.

I originally sailed in an ocean view cabin towards the front of Deck 1, complete with two portholes. It was fairly traditional in appearance, but comfortable, practical and with plenty of storage for a longer cruise.

That last point matters on Norway itineraries. If you’re travelling into the Arctic in winter or spending a couple of weeks exploring the Norwegian coast, you may have a lot more clothing with you than you would on a week in the Mediterranean.

Balcony cabins and suites

Balcony accommodation is concentrated higher up the ship, including a range of Balcony Suites and Junior Suites.

These provide more living space as well as a private balcony. On a Norwegian fjords sailing, that balcony can become one of the best places on the ship.

There’s something quite special about waking up, opening the curtains and discovering that a wall of mountains has appeared outside overnight.

Even on my winter cruise, I could see the attraction—although stepping outside in Northern Norway in January required considerably more clothing!

The unusual terrace cabins

One of the most interesting accommodation choices on Borealis is the Terrace Cabin.

Instead of a conventional private balcony, these cabins open directly onto the covered Promenade Deck and come with designated loungers outside. It’s an old-fashioned concept that you rarely find on modern cruise ships.

There is an obvious trade-off. Other passengers will be walking past your windows, so they won’t suit everyone concerned about privacy.

But if you like spending time outdoors or walking the promenade, the ability to step straight outside is very appealing.

Dining on Borealis

Dining is one of the areas where Borealis has changed most since my first trip. Fred Olsen retains its traditional approach to dinner in the main dining rooms, but there are now more casual alternatives throughout the ship.

Aurora and Borealis restaurants

The two main dining rooms are Aurora and Borealis, which together form an impressive two-level restaurant at the aft of Decks 4 and 5.

Dinner here remains a traditional cruise experience, with a five-course à la carte menu and assigned dining arrangements. Freedom Fare guests can select their preferred restaurant and dining time when booking, subject to availability.

If you enjoy getting to know the same waiting team and perhaps the same fellow passengers every evening, this style works very well.

If you prefer to eat whenever you feel like it, you now have more alternatives than in the past.

The View buffet restaurant

The View is the ship’s casual buffet restaurant. I ate most of my meals here on my first sailing and continue to think Fred Olsen does the buffet experience surprisingly well.

Although there is self-service, some of the food is prepared or served for you. At breakfast, eggs can be cooked to order. At lunch and dinner, you may find freshly prepared stir-fries or a roast being carved.

The biggest difference compared with some enormous ships is simply the atmosphere.

At busy times, staff will often help guests find seating rather than leaving everyone circling the room carrying a tray and desperately searching for a table.

The View also serves afternoon tea and provides a casual alternative to the main dining room in the evening.

Poolside dining

Beside the covered pool is another casual dining option, Poolside. This serves the sort of food you might want for a late breakfast or relaxed lunch, from egg dishes to burgers and fish and chips.

The retractable roof over the pool is particularly useful on cruises to Norway. Even when the weather outside is doing its best impression of November, this central pool area can remain a pleasant place to sit.

Fresco

One of the newest additions to Borealis is Fresco, an open-air Mediterranean-inspired venue at the aft of the ship. The menu includes pizza alongside smaller dishes such as charcuterie, salads and crostini.

This is exactly the sort of casual option I felt was missing from Fred Olsen ships in the past.

Of course, how often you fancy alfresco Mediterranean dining while approaching °Õ°ù´Ç³¾²õø in February is another matter! But on a summer fjords cruise, this will surely be a terrific location.

Colours & Tastes

Colours & Tastes remains the speciality restaurant on Borealis, but it has changed considerably from its original Asian-focused format.

Menus now rotate between Asian, Italian and grill concepts, with a supplement payable.

I enjoyed eating here on earlier cruises and the small size makes it feel noticeably different from the main restaurants.

The former Vasco speciality restaurant, which served Goan cuisine when I first sailed on Borealis, is no longer part of the current dining line-up.

Drinks with meals

Another significant recent change is that selected drinks with lunch and dinner are now included for guests booked on a Freedom Fare.

That includes selected house wines, beer and draught soft drinks when served by a waiter in participating dining venues. Gratuities are also now included in the fare.

It doesn’t turn Fred Olsen into an all-inclusive cruise line, but I think it strikes a sensible balance for anyone who enjoys a glass of wine or beer with dinner without wanting to buy a full drinks package.

The heart of Borealis: Decks 4 and 5

Although there are public rooms throughout the ship, Decks 4 and 5 contain much of the action.

At the centre of the ship is the attractive multi-storey atrium, built around a striking clock tower. Nearby are guest services, shops and several smaller seating areas.

One thing I appreciate about Borealis is that the ship contains lots of these little corners. It rarely feels as if every passenger has been funnelled into one enormous public space.

Neptune Lounge

The Neptune Lounge is the ship’s main theatre. It spans two levels and hosts the main evening production shows as well as visiting comedians, singers and other entertainers.

During the daytime, it becomes one of the main venues for enrichment talks and other presentations.

As someone who regularly speaks onboard Fred Olsen ships, I’m perhaps slightly biased here, but enrichment is an important part of the experience.

Talks about history, culture, nature and the destinations are generally well attended. On longer or destination-heavy itineraries, they can add useful context to what you’re seeing outside.

It reflects something I like about Fred Olsen: the line assumes its guests are curious.

Entertainment is changing

Fred Olsen has sometimes been criticised for a limited entertainment programme compared with bigger cruise lines. That is now changing.

The cruise line began introducing a new entertainment programme in partnership with RWS Global during 2026, with refreshed daytime events followed by new theatre productions and other live entertainment across the fleet.

On my most recent time aboard Borealis, the difference was already noticeable. Performers appeared more frequently outside the theatre, with smaller cabaret shows and events taking place around the ship.

Nobody is going to mistake Borealis for a party ship, but that isn’t the objective. The changes add a little more life to the evenings without fundamentally altering the relaxed nature of the ship.

Bars and lounges

Borealis has an impressive number of lounges for a ship of its size.

The Morning Light Pub & Lounge has the feel of a traditional British pub and hosts quizzes and other activities. The Piano Bar is exactly what its name suggests, while the Ocean Bar becomes livelier in the evenings with music and dancing.

The Bookmark Café is another favourite of mine, particularly during the daytime. Premium coffees and teas are available here, and the neighbouring library makes this one of the quieter corners of the ship.

The Serenity Tea Room and Botanical Room both have strong themes and are two of my favourite lounges on the ship.

Observatory Lounge

High at the front of the ship is the Observatory Lounge. On almost any cruise ship, the forward observation lounge tends to be one of my favourite places, and that is especially true when sailing around Norway.

Large windows give excellent views over the bow, making this a comfortable place to watch the scenery when the weather isn’t cooperating. Fred Olsen itself highlights the lounge as one of the ship’s key scenic cruising features.

During the evening it becomes another venue for live music and drinks.

On my winter northern lights cruise, I also used it as somewhere to warm up between spells standing outside in the Arctic cold.

A ship made for being outside

One of Borealis’ strongest features is its outdoor space. The covered Promenade Deck wraps around the ship, so you can walk laps while remaining relatively sheltered from wind and rain. On a cruise along the Norwegian coastline, it is wonderful.

You can move from one side of the ship to the other as the scenery changes, rather than having your view dictated by which side your cabin happens to be on.

There are also outdoor viewing areas higher up the ship and a small forward deck beneath the bridge. That particular spot became one of my favourites on my northern lights cruise because it was relatively dark at night.

The large aft deck is another excellent place for scenic cruising.

In the Norwegian fjords, these outdoor spaces matter far more to me than many of the headline attractions found on modern mega-ships. The scenery is the attraction.

Swimming pool, spa and fitness centre

The central swimming pool has a retractable roof, allowing it to remain usable in considerably less-than-tropical weather. Fred Olsen also lists two hot tubs, a fitness centre, spa and thermal suite among the ship’s facilities.

I was surprised by how much the pool was used during my January cruise to Norway.

It did occasionally have to close because of rough seas, however. Watching water slosh violently from one side of a swimming pool to the other is usually a good indication that this is not the moment for a relaxing dip!

The Auditorium and Olsen Art Studio

Away from the main theatre, the Auditorium hosts cookery demonstrations, presentations and other smaller events.

There is also a dedicated Olsen Art Studio, used for painting, crafts and other creative activities.

These spaces underline the fact that daytime life on Borealis is quite different from that on a resort-style cruise ship. There are things happening, but they tend to be talks, demonstrations, games and classes rather than amusement park attractions.

The art around Borealis

Something I paid much more attention to on my recent visit was the amount of artwork throughout the ship.

Paintings, sculptures and decorative pieces appear not just in the main public rooms but in corridors, stairwells and little corners that are easy to walk straight past.

It gives Borealis a surprising amount of character.

The ship feels less like a purpose-built floating resort and more like somewhere that has gradually acquired layers of personality.

Take some time to wander around and you will keep spotting things you missed before.

A very British cruise experience

Anyone accustomed to American cruise lines should also be aware that Fred Olsen feels distinctly British.

The food, humour, entertainment and general rhythm of the day reflect that. There are quizzes. There is afternoon tea. People queue. Conversation is part of the experience.

Prices onboard are in pounds sterling rather than US dollars. The pace is generally slower and more understated than on many international cruise lines.

For some travellers, that will be precisely why they choose it. For others, it may feel a little too traditional.

Is Borealis a good ship for Norway?

I think Borealis makes particular sense for a cruise to Norway. Fred Olsen has more than 170 years of maritime heritage rooted in Norway and continues to place the country at the heart of many of its itineraries.

The line also makes extensive use of scenic cruising through fjords and coastal waterways rather than simply moving between ports as quickly as possible.

But the ship itself also suits the destination. You have a covered promenade, large open decks, an observation lounge, relatively few passengers and plenty of places from which to watch the scenery.

That matters whether you are passing waterfalls in the fjords in July or staring into a dark Arctic sky in February hoping the northern lights appear.

Who will enjoy Borealis?

If the ship itself needs to be the main attraction on your holiday, Borealis may not be for you.

There are no waterslides, go-kart tracks or enormous entertainment complexes. The ship dates from the 1990s and despite refurbishment, you can tell. But that isn’t necessarily a criticism.

If you want a smaller ship, a calmer atmosphere and a cruise where the emphasis remains on the places you are visiting, there is a lot to like.

I’ve now spent a considerable amount of time sailing with Fred Olsen, but Borealis will always have a special place in my memory. It was where I first stepped onto a cruise ship not simply as a passenger, but as a speaker.

More importantly for readers of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, it remains a ship that seems particularly at home on the Norwegian coast.

Have you taken a cruise on the Fred Olsen Borealis? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.