This Christmas, the www.CRUISE.co.uk Team set off to Liverpool to board Fred Olsen’s Boudicca for a 3-night mini cruise to Dublin. We were all excited to try the food, the ship’s facilities and, of course, try a cocktail in the bar!
Once we got home we asked several of our Specialist Cruise Consultants to give us the low down on what they thought of the overall experience.
Read on for our exclusive insight into life on board Boudicca…
Overall Experience
We asked our specialist cruise consultant, Lee, what he thought of the ship and experience overall:
“Having travelled on Fred Olsen’s Balmoral on two separate occasions, I was looking forward to getting on board Boudicca. It’s a relatively small and traditional ship, with what can only be described as a “real cruise ship feel” that you sometimes lose on the larger vessels. From our jolly cabin steward, right down to the bar staff, each crew member always seemed happy to help. I will always remember how good the food was on the Balmoral, and Boudicca definitely reinforced that – the steak served on the last night got top marks around our table!”
Click here to find out more about Lee!
Cabins
We pulled aside our specialist cruise consultant Jo to see what she thought of her accommodation for the three nights:
“The cabin seemed smaller compared to the likes of P&O’s outside cabins, but this is to be expected on a smaller ship. The cabins were kept very clean with a great range of toiletries. It was lovely to be able to have tea and coffee in the room. I did notice that I had a lot more cupboard space, compared to many other ships I’ve been on. I also really liked the fact that two cabins could be next door to each other, as though they were almost interconnecting!”
Click here to find out more about Jo!
Dining
We asked our specialist cruise consultant Dee what she thought of the food on board, and how it compared to other lines she’d sailed with:
“I found that the Main Dining Room was very similar to MSC. The portion sizes were good, with a wide choice of five courses every evening. The buffet was really good, and had a great selection of dishes to choose from, alongside salads which were very tasty. Breakfast was fantastic, with a choice of hot and cold dishes, and plenty of options even for the fussiest of eaters! The crab claws at lunch and the Bailey’s Ice Cream Cake were definitely my highlight of the cruise. I also particularly enjoyed a yummy chocolate éclair when relaxing in the Neptune Lounge. After sailing on Balmoral last year, it was great to get an insight into another, smaller ship in the fleet…”
The Bars
We got the low down from Owen and Sean as to what their thoughts were on the range of bars found on board!
“It was my first time sailing ona Fred Olsen ship. The best of the bars was the Lido Bar, which was a nightclub style bar, along from the two casino tables situated at the aft of the ship. Although it was a mini cruise, this bar did manage to get going at times throughout the night. The Observatory Lounge, which was smaller, had only one bartender who managed to do great. This Lounge also had a Piano with live music played, which would be enjoyable for those who like to relax with a drink, and listen to some music when sailing away. Fred Olsen is definitely a line for those that want a variety of relaxed and light entertainment with the option of a livelier scene if preferred…”
Click here to find out more about Owen!
“For the size of the ship, I thought there were enough bars and the sizes of these were quite good. The smaller bars are hidden near the restaurants, so are great for a few pre-dinner drinks. I found that the Observatory Bar on Deck 9 was a good space if you wanted a relaxing drink away from the music and hustle and bustle”
Click here to find out more about Sean!
Port Day
We found out what our first-time Dubliner Declan got up to on his day in port!
“Dublin had so much to offer. I had a fantastic day exploring the Capital City of the Emerald Isle. I started the day with a city bus tour, taking in all of the main sites, such as the famous Guinness Store House, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Trinity College, Phoenix Park and more! After our whistle stop tour, I opted for a quick browse around the shops on the famous O’Connell Street for my Christmas Gift shopping! Next stop was an obligatory pint of Guinness and a bite to eat in the “Dubliner Bar”, which is located in the lively and vibrant Temple Bar Area. Dublin really is a treat for all the senses, from the delicious food and beverages to the sights and sounds of traditional Irish music around every street corner!…”
Click here to find out more about Declan!
Would you ever sail on the Boudicca, or are you more of a Balmoral fan? Have you sailed with Fred Olsen before? Does the sound of a Christmas mini-cruise tempt you? Let us know in the comments!
