Comparing a smaller cruise ship to the larger ones....it was surprising!

Our first few hours exploring the ship and tasting some of the food on offer! #fredolsen #cruise #scotland
0:00 CPS parking and embarking
2:00 exploring the ship
13:14 inside cabin tour
18:25 main dining room meal
24:04 first day summary

[@barbarapearce9738]

I've just had a marathon of watching four of your very well presented blogs on Bolette. She is my favourite and seeing your vids reminds me I've left a little of my soul onboard. Love the Atrium clock! The crew are brilliant and great to see some faces I recognised from last March. You did a great job in a warm, friendly and informative way, thank you! (PS Dave knows how to hold a wine glass properly, many don't 😊)

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

@barbarapearce9738 Oh I'm so glad you've enjoyed them. I'm only learning at the moment....so hopefully will get better. We loved the ship, the crew, the entertainment, the food...everything. I really enjoy watching vlogs before I travel so decided to give it a go. We have many more trips planned. We go on Ambassador Ambience later in the year, so are looking forward to comparing the two similar size ships. Thanks again for your kind comments. (I'll tell Dave haha...and that clock grew on me haha)

[@StephenSmith-ge1qf]

I'm glad I saw your video. I'm embarking on Bollette on the 19th. July for a 27 night cruise. And I've never been on a cruise before. The ship looks very nice, relatively quiet (which I like) and I think I'm going to really enjoy the experience.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

27 nights...wow, I'm so jealous. Any questions just ask. I've added 5 videos all showing different aspects of the ship. She never feels busy. I think you'll love it!

[@StephenSmith-ge1qf]

@@TasteTrekkerTales Thanks for the reply. I thoroughly enjoyed all your videos of the Bollette, and the only worry I have now is getting home 20 kilos heavier than when I started!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

That is a very real possibility haha. Have a great time

[@philipthompson7901]

Thanks for the very informative video. Good to see you enjoyed Fred Olsen's ship. We have been on Balmoral twice and really enjoyed it. Crew absolutely make a cruise . Food and choice also very good. Outside cabin comfortable and spacious. We are going on Borealis in August to Norway which we are looking forward to. Bolette is almost identical to Borealis, so your video was great to watch as we now have some idea of what to expect! Keep on cruising and continue with your videos, they are very useful and interesting.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment. We loved Bolette....I'm sure you will too. This will not be our last time on FO. We have a cruise on Ambassador coming up soon. Really interested in seeing how that cruise line compares to FO

[@philipthompson7901]

@@TasteTrekkerTales Thanks, but we are going on Borealis!! I spotted the deliberate mistake, must be the sea air!!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

😂😂😂 apologies. They are like twins, so I'm still confident you'll love her as much as we enjoyed Bolette haha

[@Northwestie43]

Great video. Im finding it really useful as sailing from Liverpool in the autumn. Ive not been on Bolette/ a Fred Olsen ship before so really helpful to see what to expect.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Aww I'm so glad. We have never sailed from Liverpool before...but it was so straightforward. We had a great time....I'm sure you will too. If you have any questions, please just ask

[@johnlunnun9769]

Looks a lot more welcoming than the new Queen Anne!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

I did love a large ship previously but this ship has really converted us to smaller ships

[@iloveanimals1662]

I'm going to book because of this vlog! 👌🏻

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. We tried to let people see the ship as we found it. We honestly loved it....I'm sure you will. If you have any questions just ask :)

[@iloveanimals1662]

Thankyou! We're boarding on the 27th June 🥳

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Oh wow....have an amazing time

[@mariasharp2334]

Great to see a proper old school promenade deck 👍

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Absolutely...and it was a complete wrap around too

[@FraserAtSea]

Have just found your channel - hello! Interesting to see you on Fred - I was talking about this cruise line yesterday, and it got me researching. Nice little cabin you had on there - thanks for taking us with you!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Aww thank you. I have a trip booked on Ambassador Ambience later in the year. I am interested in seeing how she compares to Fred considering she is a similar size ship. I'll vlog that, so people can see the comparison.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

I've just subscribed to your channel....looks just like the type of channel I love.

[@FraserAtSea]

@@TasteTrekkerTales thanks so much!

[@bettycollins3960]

Glad to now see Bolette, as I have just done a week on Borealis. Very similar/familiar bars, etc. My daughter and I were very impressed with everything, especially the wonderful crew members who were all welcoming and efficient, and I am pleased to say we experienced very few delays in service, in fact, hardly worth mentioning. I will not hesitate to go with Fred again in the future. Only in future we will go from Dover instead of Southampton - nightmare getting there on motorways (we live in Kent)!!!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Oh its good to know that the Borealis is a similar ship. We loved Bolette. We are from Manchester so a Northern port works better for us and they sail from Liverpool and Newcastle...which is a massive plus. The crew are amazing...I totally agree. Glad you enjoyed your cruise :)

[@user-nx7py1zg7e]

came all the from Canada for a Bolette cruise 3 weeks ago best trip ever!!!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

@user-nx7py1zg7e Wow....that says it all. So glad you had a great time 😁 x

[@user-vl8vd4ii2r]

We did Bollette three weeks ago, couldn't fault anything. Value for money was incredible.

[@laalratty]

Bookmark cafe was my favourite place onboard Bolette - those chocolates are amazing. Having sailed from Newcastle it was great to see the processe of embarking from Liverpool. Great video.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Thank you very much. Oh we loved it there too....chilling with a coffee and a macaron and truffle...bliss. We are looking at maybe doing a Fjords Fred cruise from Newcastle. I'm loving sailing from the North

[@laalratty]

@TasteTrekkerTales It was a Norwegian Fjords cruise I did, I absolutely loved it and am going on another one in August (this time on Balmoral). I can highly recommend it. Was it you who posted in the FO FB group? If so I searched for this video based on that post.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Oh I'm going to book it. We loved the ship so much...and I can just imagine standing in the forecastle as you cruise into port. Yes it was....glad you found me haha

[@lailaolson3319]

Just got off Bolette a few days ago. We pleased with everything on board so we booked again for next year.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

We loved her too! We'll definitely travel FO again. I've booked Ambassador Cruise Line in a few months....am interested to compare the two cruise lines.

[@Midlander1956]

Was that to Norway? We were on that.

[@Midlander1956]

Seeing the staff on board who were there when we cruised last week was so interesting, felt as though we were back there!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

They were amazing wasn't they. They are the ones that really make a cruise

[@FPL-Tiger]

Great video

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Thank you very much :)

[@Starmongoose]

Great video! Very helpful for my upcoming cruise. Thank you. Random question, do the TV's in the rooms have little usb ports I can plug a USB into? Was planning on loading up a USB with some movies for some relaxing at night :D

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Thank you very much. I have quite a lot more content to upload....so hopefully you'll find a few more tips :). Apologies, I didn't notice. There is a good selection of movies and box sets, plus a couple of news channels. Maybe reach out to Fred Olsen. They are really good at replying to questions like this.

[@maureendawson7866]

Did Fred once about 6 years ago and said never again, ship was so dated, but looking at your blog we think it's time to give FO another look .

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

I believe they have bought two ex Holland America Ships in September 2020...Bolette and Borealis. The were previously HA Amsterdam and Rotterdam....this might be the difference you notice x

[@user-nx7py1zg7e]

I am very picky, and I would never do a 2000+ ship again.just finished a17 cruise on Bolette. Booked two more. superb service and wond😅erful staff. IF you are looking for glitz and gaming, Fred would not be for you. If you want a classic cruise experience with great excursions, super r le tures, etc.try Fred.

[@michaelbacon561]

Does Fred Olsen pay its crew properly yet? I went on a cruise on Boudicca (now scrapped I believe) some years and back and I certainly did not appreciate the emotional blackmail to leave large tips in brown envelopes for the room service and waiting staff etc. It was quite openly stated that the crew was not being paid enough! A disgraceful state of affairs that cruise companies get away with because they don't have to comply with any country's employment laws.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Hi Michael, I'm not 100% sure. It very clearly states that your gratuities (which are added to your bill on the last day) are shared between your cabin steward and the wait staff in the main dining room. No brown envelopes were left...so hopefully that means it has now been sorted and these hard working guys are paid properly

[@barbarapearce9738]

​@@TasteTrekkerTalesBrown envelopes are optional from the guest services desk only if you want them to give a little extra for whoever you feel has gone over and beyond to look after you. Otherwise the £5 daily gratuities (also optional) will suffice. BTW the envelopes are available after passengers requested them to be there.

[@barbarapearce9738]

There is no emotional blackmail. Crew are not paid according to Western rates of pay but are paid above their country of origin rates.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

I gave extra money to a few staff and went to guest services to ask how to pay them....and they gave me the envelopes. Some cruiselines leave them in your cabins and I think maybe some feel pressured . The staff deserve every tip they get...they were outstanding

[@michaelbacon561]

@@barbarapearce9738 Well, it certainly felt like emotional blackmail to me, announced by Fred Olsen in an almost tacit admission that it is not paying enough. I'm sure it is a cynical ruse to keep the advertised price down and recoup the difference by a another method. Smacks of sharp business practice to me. This was over 10 years ago, perhaps FO has seen (or been forced to see) the error of its ways.

[@janettetaylor8760]

Not very fancy is it ... Looks like a wreck

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

She may not be fancy......but some rooms are beautiful. She is 100% showing her age but she's well maintained and spotless....definitely not a wreck though

[@philipthompson7901]

That "wreck" you call it is a cruise ship. Fred Olsen have good standards and ships. Not a polite comment.

[@barbarapearce9738]

You must be kidding, its a lovely and beautifully maintained ship. Maybe you just dont like a more traditional style.

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

@barbarapearce9738 some of these commenters just don't get it do they. Like you say, she is beautifully maintained. We loved sailing on her