The 2023 No-Fly European Christmas Markets

If guests test positive within 14 days of departure they are to contact Fred. Olsen to discuss their booking and their options.

Fred. Olsen wants you to have complete peace of mind when booking a cruise with us. That's why all new bookings for cruises in 2022 come with their ‘no-risk deposit’ as standard.

This means you can move your deposit to any other cruise within 12 months of your original sailing - with no transfer fees. All you have to do is let us know before your final balance has been paid (or before your interim payment on a longer cruise).

Yes, you will need to be fully vaccinated, including your booster dose, with the last date of your last dose administered at least ten days prior to sailing.

• Guests aged 12 and over are required to be fully vaccinated, including a booster dose. Your booster dose must be administered at least 7 days prior to embarkation. 
• Children aged 12 and over will be required to have both of their vaccinations, with the last administered date a minimum of 14 days prior to embarkation
• If more than 9 months have passed since the second dose, a booster vaccine will be required at least 7 days prior to embarkation. 
• If you have had your second dose less than three months before your cruise departs, you will not need a booster dose. Your last administered date will need to be at least 14 days prior to embarkation. 

For cruises departing in 2022 the following will apply:

• All guests will be tested on their arrival at the port, prior to check-in, before joining the ship.
• Whilst it is not a requirement for you to have a test prior to your arrival, Fred. Olsen recommends that you follow the Government’s latest guidance on taking lateral flow tests regularly at home.
• If you receive a positive lateral flow result in the days leading up to your cruise, please do not travel to the port.
• If you need to notify Fred. Olsen of a positive result, please contact the Guest Services team on 0800 0355 145.

From 8th July - cruises L2218A, T2215 and S2218 onwards; in order to offer a quicker and more enjoyable check-in experience for guests, Fred. Olsen will no longer carry out pre-departure Covid-19 testing as part of the check-in process.

All guests are now required to take their own Lateral Flow Test at home within 24 hours of the departure date of the cruise and bring the proof of a negative test result to show at check-in. Accepted proof is the test cassette showing a negative test result or an email, letter or text confirmation from the test kit provider confirming a negative test result. 

Lateral Flow Test kits are readily available at most high street chemists and online.You can also order a Lateral Flow Test via our test kit partner Bupa at https://bupatesting.everythinggeneticltd.co.uk/index.php and record your result at https://my.everythinggeneticltd.co.uk/self_reporting

If you arrive at the port without confirmation of a negative result, you will be asked to complete a test at the terminal, which will result in a delay at check-in. Testing at the terminal will be charged at £25 per test and will be added to your on board account.

A small number of guests will be randomly re-tested at check-in. These guests will not be required to pay for their tests and their testing will be prioritised.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offer incredible value via inclusive fares. The following will be included in the price of your cruise: comfortable cabins with tv, hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities and individually controlled air conditioning, tempting cuisine, self-service tea and coffee at selected venues, in-room sandwiches and snacks, evening entertainment, Captain’s Drinks Party and Gala Buffet, use of leisure facilities including pools and gym, a vast range of on board activities, all UK port taxes, luggage porterage at embarkation and disembarkation and flights (as part of fly-cruises).

There isn’t much Fred. Olsen doesn’t include in the price of their cruises! But do bear in mind the following (unless stated otherwise): travel to/from your port or airports, car parking, all drinks on board, Shore Tours and RIB Tours, hairdressing, health & beauty treatments and selected fitness classes, personal laundry and dry cleaning, WiFi, passport and visa costs, holiday insurance, discretionary gratuities, evening dining in premium restaurants, premium Traditional Afternoon Tea and games of Blackjack and Roulette.

Yes, there is a dress code on board. Most evenings, your chosen ship will have a smart casual dress code. For men, trousers, chinos or smart dark jeans with a shirt or polo shirt are required. For ladies, outfits range from tailored trouser suits/casual separates to stylish dresses. Depending on the length of your chosen cruise, there may be one or more formal evenings. On these occasions, men wear either a dinner jacket or dark suit and tie while ladies may wear cocktail-style dresses or full-length ball gowns.

Upon arrival, you’ll find a Restaurant Seating Card in your cabin which will detail your evening dining time and allocated table number for the duration of your cruise. Dining times consist of two sittings; First Sitting (18:15) and Second Sitting (20:30). For guests on Freedom Fare, you will be offered the choice of your preferred slot at the time of booking, subject to availability. While guests on Saver Fares can select their dining time for a nominal supplement in advance of sailing. Informal open seating is offered to evening diners in Palms Café on Balmoral and Braemar. On selected evenings, The Grill restaurant offers premium speciality dining (for a small supplement) in exclusive indoor or al fresco locations. Here, expect to dine on succulent steaks and seafood as well as world cuisine inspired by the waters you sail in.

Yes, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offer an All Inclusive Drinks Upgrade package. From only £24.99 per person, per night (£35 per person, per night on cruises of five nights or less and Speciality Sailings), you can enjoy selected white, red and rosé wine by the glass and selected house beers, house spirits and soft drinks all day, every day throughout your cruise. This package also extends to the restaurants on board where you can choose from a selection of soft drinks, a choice of wines by the glass and selected branded beers in cans.

Each evening you can enjoy a live show after dinner courtesy of resident and guest entertainers. From music to magic, cabaret to comedy, there’s so much to keep you entertained during your time on board - all you need to do is sit back and enjoy it all with your tipple of choice.

Gratuities (applicable to youths aged 12 to 17 and all adults) will be applied to your on board account. The amount (around £5 per person, per night) is not compulsory and can easily be altered by visiting Guest Services on board. You are welcome to tip personally if you prefer. You can also pre-pay gratuities before travelling (please ask at the time of booking).