Reviewed by: Richard Boyce 

Date: 3-6 March 2025

Cruise line and ship: Fred Olsen Lines – ms Bolette

Year built: 2000

Year built: Fincantieri, Italy

Size of ship: 237 meters in length – 62,735 grt

Passenger capacity: 1,380 (Crew: 647)   

Where the ship cruises: Europe, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, World Cruise

Currency onboard: GBP – British Pounds Sterling

Check in and boarding – Joining the ship half way through the cruise presented no real issues as most passengers were ashore touring. I simply turned up, went through security and went aboard. After going through the short formality of checking in at reception, I was presented with my cruise cards and was soon in my cabin.

First impressions – Bolette is an older ship and my first impressions were that the ship is simply immaculate. Quite a feat for an older ship. Everything is fresh and smartly presented. As the former ms Amsterdam, there are plenty of touches that show her previous life with Holland America Line however, you would have to know this to even look for them. Fresh, bright carpets are everywhere and my cabin had been renovated with an entirely new bathroom. 

Cabins & Suites – There are inside and oceanview cabins, both of which are a similar size. They are well laid out with a small couch, table and desk/chair, safe and a small fridge. Balcony cabins are a similar size with the addition of a balcony that has two chairs and a small table. From here, the suites simply get larger with the addition of much larger lounge areas. All bathrooms are spacious enough to stow all your toiletries. An important note – some cabins feature a shower over a bath, so if access is important, you need to ensure you book one of the cabins with a shower only.

One slightly quirky grade of cabin are the Terrace Cabins. Located midship on Deck 3 these former Oceanview cabins have had large doors installed which open onto the Promenade Deck, allowing access to two reserved sun loungers. The doors have a reflective film over them to almost eliminate the ability of passers by to see in during the day – though this does make the room slightly darker than usual. These are good choice pricing wise, placing them somewhere between an Oceanview and Balcony cabin.

If you are looking for more space the 30 Premier Suites are all located on Deck 7 are very large with walk in closets and larger bathrooms. The balconies are enormous. Perfect for longer itineraries where you really want to spread out and the large seating area is perfect for entertaining friends. If you’d really like to live it up, the two Olsen suites located on this deck are almost 3 times the size of the Premier Suites and even have their own dining area!

Lounges – One thing I don’t like on some ships is that there are no lounges to meet, mingle or relax in. Bolette turns that on its head with plenty of places to do just that with no less than nine bars and lounges. This has one major effect on your travel experience on this ship – and that is not only space – but the ability to socialise with fellow passengers. You will never find this ship feeling full or busy – there is always somewhere to find a quiet seat to relax or join in on activities and fun. 

The Botanical Room is worthy of a special mention. This beautiful, light and airy room is not designed in any way for entertainment. It is a quiet area devoted to the love of botany, flowers and gardening with large beautiful picture books set out on tables. The cafe isn’t far away so getting a coffee or tea is easy. The room also features real plants!

Forward on Deck 9 is The Observatory. This large lounge wraps around the front of the ship providing spectacular views forward and over the bow. An extra tariff High Tea is served here every afternoon and is worth every cent (or pound). In the evenings, a pianist plays here for pre or post dinner drinks and even later a DJ plays music for dancing, much of it from the 60s to 80s. 

Entertainment & Activities – From the outset, I was struck by an excellent schedule of daily activities. There was the usual team trivia, deck games and even indoor shuffleboard.

The evening shows, presentations and movies are provided in the Neptune Lounge, the onboard showroom located on Decks 4 and 5 forward. This semi-circular tiered rooms offers fabulous sight lines from all seats.  The onboard production shows were truly excellent and I stayed to the end! There is a production team of singers and dancers together with the onboard bands and occasional feature entertainer. Some lectures and movies are also provided in the Auditorium – a small cinema like room midships on Deck 4.

There is an art studio on Deck 9 aft open each day from 9am with a range of materials and paints that would keep the creative type busy for many hours.

Your in-room TV provides a select range of TV channels including various news channels. It does however provide a reasonable range of on-demand movies. You are also able to access your onboard account through your TV saving time at Reception.

There is a large and well stocked library with plenty of novels and coffee table books available to borrow. The shelves are well organised and run through the Earth Room and Bookmark Cafe & Lounge. 

For those who love their cards there is a dedicated Card Room midship on Deck 5. Bridge was especially popular, with every seat taken for the sessions. At other times, this room is a quiet place to join friends for your own less formal card or board games, with several games available such as Monopoly.

Laundry – there are two passenger laundries onboard that charge a small fee for their use – located midships on Decks 3 and 6. Passenger feedback seemed to indicate that because of the small charge, there was never really an issue getting access to the facilities and no fellow passengers removing your clothes to get use a machine while you’re not there.

Casino – There is a minuscule Casino with the usual slot machines located on Deck 5. Fred Olsen has not traditionally had casinos onboard and has apparently added these machines due to demand. Having said that, I never saw a single person use them.

Sports and exercise – There is a gym, salon and spa located forward on Deck 9. All the usual machines are available together with hot beds. The are two large pools both located on Deck 8. The midships one is covered by a glass roof that can be rolled back when the weather is nice. It has a lovely bar and seating area at one end and the Poolside Cafe forward. The Aft pool has The View Bar and covered outdoor seating, which is very popular almost all day.

Dining – Unlike many larger ships of today, there is a limited number of dining options – but that doesn’t mean you will go hungry. Quite the opposite. To start with there is the large, two level dining room – named Bloomsbury (upstairs) and Terrace Restaurant (downstairs) – located aft on Decks 4 & 5, with large windows on three sides making the room light and airy despite it being decorated with blue hues. This is an elegant place to dine with generous menus and plenty of options. Servings are well-sized and often feature a theme. Unlike many other cruise lines the ship does not offer open seating, with traditional assigned early or late sittings provided. I did note that there were plenty of tables for 2 or 4. One quirky feature is that the kitchens are located forward of the restaurant on Deck 4, meaning to access the remainder of that deck you needed to go up and over, or under, to move forward in the ship.

Just forward of the main restaurant on Deck 5 are two smaller side dining areas – the Australia Room and Orchid Room. Generally used as part of the main restaurant, these can be closed off for group dining or special occasions.

Colours and Tastes is the extra charge fine dining restaurant, located on Deck 4. This bright and elegant space has plenty of tables for 2, 4 and more. The menus here feature Asian ‘Fusion’ cuisine. For those who love their spicy food, you will need to request it to be made that way. I would recommend you book well ahead for this in-demand venue and perhaps eat a little less than normal before attending to get the most out of your meal.

The View (buffet) located aft on Deck 8 is well laid out and provides a great range of dishes almost all day. Breakfast has everything you could possibly wish for including an omelette station where it’s cooked to your liking, loads of bakery items, sausages, meats, fruits, cereals etc. For lunch you’ll find hot international dishes, Pizza, a large salad station, sandwiches, cold meats, cheeses, fruits and loads of desserts. Dinner is similar however each night features at least one station offering a theme, such as Asian night. The Beef Spare Ribs were simply the best I have eaten anywhere. Period.

Part of the buffet each evening opens as Vasco – an extra charge Indian Restaurant. Reservations are encouraged though you may be able to just turn up if there are tables available. 

Adjacent to the Lido Pool is the Lido Cafe which serves light and easy options such as fish and chips and a ploughmans lunch (which was amazing).

Deck 5 features the Bookmark Cafe & Lounge. Every Aussie will be heading here for real coffee served just as you like it. This is also where you will be tempted with the huge range of cakes and handmade chocolates which start at as little as £1.

Finally, there is the Oriental Tea Room also located on Deck 5 opposite the Bookmark Cafe. This pretty room offers extra tariff tea tastings and service for those who would like to try out some of the rare and unusual blends on offer.

Drinks – There is a large range of beverages on offer, so you are unlikely to miss your favourite drink. However be prepared. Everything onboard is in GBP though the drinks are very reasonable. A large wine is £8. If you’re not a big drinker then this won’t be of concern; however if you do like a couple of wines then consider a drinks package to minimise the damage to your credit card!

Staff and service – Not once did I come across a crew member anywhere onboard who was anything less than cheerful, polite and super friendly. In fact the staff could easily be the most friendly and professional I have come across on any ship for some time. The staff seemed to somehow soon know your name and your preferences. Never once did I have to ask again for what I had just ordered.

Shopping – The shopping area is not large but does include two boutiques selling watches, jewellery and fragrances. There is a separate shop featuring a range of Fred Olsen logo wear. A note here that I was unable to find larger sizes for bigger men, so if that’s you, you may be limited to a cap or bag as a souvenir. There is a generous range of perfumes (though I noted some brands curiously missing) and even a small dispensary should you need sun tan lotion, pain killers and the like.

Children – There are simply no children’s facilities onboard. If you wish to bring children they would have to be very self sufficient and happy to join in on whatever activities might be on offer. In fact one of Fred Olsen’s ships is soon to be adults only.

WiFi – Fred Olsen do not have an onboard APP. Wifi is available in a range of packages even for one day which is easily arranged by attending reception. Passengers advised that the reception was pretty good if occasionally a little spotty, depending on where the ship was. 

Final thoughts – ms Bolette is like travelling in a large English country house. While there is a distinct British feel to the onboard product, Aussies won’t feel left out – though you won’t find Vegemite onboard so bring your own! Overall, if you are looking for a lovely, quiet, friendly and elegant cruise experience without masses of bells and whistles, ms Bolette is definitely for you.