#Ad/Invite. In September 2025 we and several other Vloggers were invited aboard Fred. Olsen Cruises Borealis for a few hours while she docked in Southampton. Whilst the ship is not new to us, it was an opportunity to have another look around prior to her forthcoming refit. Below is an outline of the visit and the hospitality the group enjoyed.
On arrival at the cruise terminal we were met by Aaron from the Future Cruises Team. Following registration he escorted us onto the ship and up to The Observatory for a formal welcome and refreshments. As you can see from the pictures we were treated to some lovely cakes to go with the freshly made tea and coffee.
Starting the Tour
Next Aaron took us on a tour of the ship. We visited the fitness studio, spa and thermal areas where we received comprehensive information on availability, booking and where applicable, charges. Some fitness classes are included in your fare and others are available at a reasonable cost.
The Thermal area is something that Ken and I have enjoyed on Borealis. Charges are very reasonable and you can use the area exclusively for the time that you have booked.
Visiting Cabins
We were able to visit a number of cabins and suites during our visit. Looking at the different cabin categories available is always interesting. The Premier Suite is one we had not seen before and some pictures are below. However for most other cabin grades you can find short videos on our YouTube Channel by clicking HERE
Outside Areas
There are many really good spots on the ship to relax, read, socialise, quiz, play deck sports etc and these are fully documented on our Ship Tour filmed earlier in 2025. However the outside areas are lovely spaces too. Whether on the open deck, the wrap-around promenade deck or in the pool area there is plenty of space. The Pool area has a retractable roof so that it can be enjoyed through all winds and weathers. It is not just a place to swim, you can relax in the jacuzzis, watch the world go by or sip a cocktail. It is also the home of the Poolside Grill. This is a firm favourite with us as you can get a late breakfast or light lunch here – all served at your table.
Other Areas of Note
I would mention a couple of other areas. Firstly The View – this is the buffet area on the ship. It is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late night supper. Tables are laid up in advance so you have no need to rush around looking for cutlery. In fact, you are usually seated at tables by staff and served drinks. Most of the food stations are served by staff and there are cooked to order items too – such as the stir fries which are delicious. Unlike traditional buffet areas there is no need to worry about losing your place while you get your food!
Another area is at the Aft on Deck 8 where you will find the View Bar and seating area. During the refit this area will be updated to include Fresco, a new dining experience on Borealis. This will serve light bites inspired by Mediterranean flavours. This is of particular interest to us as it will be functioning during our Group Cruise in April 2026 – more details about where the Group Cruise is going, dates etc are available on our website.
Our Lunch on Board
The formal tour ended in the Borealis Dining room where we were treated to a 3-course lunch. I think it is the first time we have ever eaten in the main dining room of a ship and been the only people there – it was very special. To start there were choices of Ham hock and Chicken terrine, Watermelon, feta and rocket salad or Seafood Bouillabaisse. Main choices were Seabas, chicken breast, Gnocchi or a Beetroot, Pumpkin and Chestnut Wellington. For Dessert it was a choice of Sticky Toffee Pudding, Grilled Pineapple or Chocolate Orange Cremeux. Great options there for all tastes and you can see our choices pictured below.
Smiles, Greetings and Group Cruise
Usually I would finish such a blog with a `conclusion’. However this time it has to be all about the smiles and greetings. Whoever we saw on the ship from engineers to officers they were smiling. They greeted us as they would any other guest and we felt very much at home. Too much in some respects, as we really didn’t want to get off!
As we walked around the ship with friend and fellow Vlogger Emma Watts (Cruise Addicted) we were stopped by guests boarding that day who recognised us from our YouTube videos. Pleased to say they all seemed to enjoy them and found them useful (phew).
For anyone who may be interested, we have a Group Cruise booked on Borealis in 2026. This is an 8-night round trip cruise from Southampton (14-22 April) which takes in some of the French Wine Regions. You can find more details of our itinerary, added booking benefits and how to obtain a quotation by clicking HERE.
And Finally …
Our sincere thanks go to a number of people who made this ship visit so memorable.
Fred. Olsen Cruises for their kind invitation
David Sanders and the staff at at CLIA Choose Cruise for their organisation
The Crew on Borealis for making us so welcome, spending their precious time with us, preparing food especially for us throughout the day
And last but by no means least – Aaron. He hosted us all day – from coffee and cake to final farewell. A knowledgeable and personable guide, we enjoyed his company and look forward to seeing him on a future cruise.
