First ever cruise Bolette

[david63]

The first cruise is always something special and having done it hopefully it will be the first of many.

Now not wanting to be pedantic but how can it be the "first of many first cruises"?

[oldbluefox]

The first cruise is always something special and having done it hopefully it will be the first of many.

Now not wanting to be pedantic but how can it be the "first of many first cruises"?

There's never a mod around when you want one!!!

[Manoverboard]

The first cruise is always something special and having done it hopefully it will be the first of many.

Now not wanting to be pedantic but how can it be the "first of many first cruises"?

There's never a mod around when you want one!!!

You don't need a mod ... a nit picker will do nicely

[Stephen]

The first cruise is always something special and having done it hopefully it will be the first of many.

Now not wanting to be pedantic but how can it be the "first of many first cruises"?

There's never a mod around when you want one!!!

They’re like hens teeth Foxy…..until you make a slip up yourself

One rule for one……

[oldbluefox]

Now not wanting to be pedantic but how can it be the "first of many first cruises"?

There's never a mod around when you want one!!!

You don't need a mod ... a nit picker will do nicely

Give him a warning Mob......go on!!

[Dairbear01]

Will do, hopefully be back with nothing but positives about our first trip

Kenny

[Dairbear01]

Thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the Bolette, ship was perfect, just the right size with plenty of space to get involved or relax with a drink.
Exceptional staff who couldn't do more for you.

Wife's gluten free was catered for brilliantly, so much so that We only ate in the view restaurant as the chef and the staff there were like family after a day and made sure she felt comfortable and relaxed at every meal.

Nice destinations and great shuttle buses available when we were a little bit away, to make the experience easier to enjoy.

Plenty to do with a nice variety of shows and plenty of nice places to sit watch the world drift by

Only downside is, we would like to cruise again on the Bolette, but they are sailing out of Southampton instead of Newcastle which would be awkward from Aberdeenshire.

[Happydays]

We're going on Bolette on Friday (first time) from Newcastle for five nights. Have been on Borealis twice and really enjoyed the cruises and the ship. Our other FO were on Braemar which was one of our favourite ships.
FO is convenient for us as we can go from Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth although both times we booked ones from Rosyth they got cancelled due to the dreaded big "C"

[Manoverboard]

Thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the Bolette, ship was perfect, just the right size with plenty of space to get involved or relax with a drink ... we would like to cruise again on the Bolette, but they are sailing out of Southampton instead of Newcastle which would be awkward from Aberdeenshire.

Pleased to discover that you enjoyed your cruise.

My advice is not to restrict yourselves to the one ship, Fred has a number all as good as each other and some will surely sail from Newcastle.

[Dairbear01]

Thanks for that, we thought as the Bolette worked out so well and we ended up on speaking terms with a few of the staff in the view restaurant, it would have been nice to replicate it with a different itinerary.

We were unsure of my wife's gluten being handled as well on a different shp

[kaymar]

Delighted you enjoyed your first cruise, Dairbear01, you'll never forget it. Time to start planning the next one, using all that new-found knowledge.
And I don't think you need worry about the gluten issue - I believe that every cruise ship afloat will be very familiar with it and deal with it equally well.

[Mervyn and Trish]

A friend of ours in gluten intolerant and has sailed with P&O, Princess, Cunard and Regent and there was no problem with any of them. Our daughter has a serious peanut allergy and P&O were great with that.

[Dairbear01]

Hope your trip on the Bolette goes well, we weren't into eating at 8.30 in the main restaurant, so used the view restaurant and if you use that , hopefully you bump into the wonderful mikee and daisy from the Philippines, lovely ladies.

One other tip , hopefully they haven't yet changed the entertainment, if they mention a Martini experience, it wasn't well advertised, it's the entertainment team singing James bond themes in the ocean bar, well worth catching that.

We spent a lot of time in the observatory bar , brilliant panoramic views and a nice environment for a drink or to chill.

[Portsmouth]

Just found some notes I made about 2 years ago when I was on the Bolette about some noise issues outside cabins. Wandering along deck 1 it was noticeable that noise could be heard opposite some cabins. These are cabin numbers I would be cautious about before booking.
1916,1918, 1962,1836 ( very bad noise ) 1855.
Now onto deck 2 ....2631,2640,2628,2626
The actual cabin I had on that cruise had no noise issues and for my first cruise with Fred Olsen it was a great experience which I enjoyed

[Portsmouth]

Fred Olsen cruise lines ship Bolette is going to appear in a channel 5 show with presenter Susan Calman starting later this month.

Its a Norwegian Fjords 8 night cruise visiting Norwegian ports including Olden, Ålesund, Åndalsnes, and Geiranger.
She also has a behind the scenes tour that includes food stores, galley and laundry and meets up with the crew that run them which should be interesting to watch.

[Stephen]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Portsmouth]

Whoops have a feeling I may have missed it.....this might have been on Friday 17th on Channel 5 at about 8pm.
Did anyone see it ?

[CaroleF]

Yes I saw it. I was surprised that neither the name of the ship, nor Fred Olsen was mentioned. You could see by the badges that the crew wore that it was FO. Susan was in what I assume was the Owner's Cabin, it was huge. It was interesting but it would have been more interesting to see more of the other aspects of the ship, more about the dining areas and other cabins. I think the name of the ship could be seen when there was a shot of the outside. I don't know whether it would have attracted say P&O stalwarts to go with Fred Olsen. I expect other members will have seen it, what do they think?

[david63]

Having watched a couple of episodes (not this one) of the Susan Calman series it is not one I can take to. It is all about her and not the cruise.

[oldbluefox]

I was ratther interested in seeing Bolette and thought of getting the programme on catchup. However since I have heard it is Susan Calman I don't think I'll be bothering. I find her rather irritating, silly and too daft to laught at.

I do however agree with Carole. Whenever you see these programmes they are invariably none to keen to give neither the name of the ship nor the cruise company, although you can usually work it out, but always place the celebrity in the top grade cabin they have. Jane McDonald always waxes lyrical about her plush, roomy cabin but what she doesn't tell you is that unless you are wealthy enough you won't be travelling there, you'll be in steerage with the rest of the rabble. Whilst their cabins are indeed absolutelyt beautiful it doesn't give an accurate account of what you can expect.

[Stephen]

Having watched a couple of episodes (not this one) of the Susan Calman series it is not one I can take to. It is all about her and not the cruise.

Agree David. Just can’t take to the woman.