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We Discover the Fred. Olsen Difference...
Date Added 14/07/2016
Everything about Fred. Olsen is more personal. As a family-run company, they’ve been fine-tuning the cruise experience through generations. Their smaller, more intimately sized ships take you straight to the heart of some of the world’s most amazing destinations and their crew are dedicated to ensuring guests’ time on board is as memorable as on shore.
Johnsons Coach Travel are delighted to work with Fred. Olsen and other leading small ship cruise lines to offer a choice of cruise holidays in 2017 which include our door to door service to the port.
We were invited by Fred. Olsen to discover the Braemar ship for ourselves on Wednesday 6th July 2016 and Barry, Emma, Belinda, Kyra, Amy and Amelia viewed the different cabins and public spaces. Read Amelia’s report to discover more…
“Following a brisk 6.15am start we arrived at Southampton prepared to embark on Fred. Olsen’s Braemar - the second largest ship in the fleet, with 485 cabins, and 929 occupancy.
First impressions were very positive: entering the lovely Neptune lounge for refreshments and small talk on the background and facilities of Braemar. After this we began a tour of the ship.
Cabins
Both deck 2 and 3, Marina and Atlantic deck contain Ocean View cabins, with two porthole windows, and interior cabins with no windows. Both styles are cosy with good wardrobe space and bathrooms with showers. The portholes in the Ocean View cabins let in a good deal of light, making the space feel larger and more open.
Main Deck, deck 4 contained “Superior Ocean View Cabins” alongside the interior cabins. Superior cabins are approximately 140sqft and with a picture window. All superior cabins have a sitting area, ample wardrobe space and bathroom with a shower. The light décor combined with the picture window makes the room feel more spacious and airy.
Further Superior cabins can be found on deck 6, Lido Deck, alongside Balcony rooms and Adapted rooms. All rooms are equipped with sitting area and sizeable wardrobe and storage space. Adapted rooms, although not suitable for those fully reliant on a wheelchair, are spacious and contain a wet room. Unfortunately the views from these rooms are restricted because of the positioning of the lifeboats. But please note not all cabins on Lido deck have restricted views. Large superior Ocean Views are situated at the bow of the ship, with a magical view of the ships next destination, this is also the roughest part of the ship so not good for the seasick!
Bridge Deck contains the largest rooms, Superior and Balcony suites. They are spacious and luxurious and equipped with a refrigerator and mini-bar, as well as ample storage space, a bathtub and/or shower. We were allowed a sneak peek at the owner’s cabin, an immense room with 2 bedrooms, a living area, copious storage space, and large balcony. The room radiated luxury and has a price tag to match!
Single rooms are available in many of the grades of cabins, and there is also an option of sole occupancy with no supplements, allowing for great flexibility and a holiday that can be adapted to suit every requirement.
Relaxation and Entertainment
After touring the cabins we discovered the Atlantis Spa and Salon, where passengers can indulge in a variety of treatments and the fitness centre with qualifed instructors, overall both facilities were well equipped with plenty to keep you entertained. Swimming pools are located on the top deck boasting beautiful views. There is a well-stocked library, card room and boutique shops to purchase evening wear for the gala dinners! Overall the facilities available to passengers are exceptional.
Dining
Next we discovered the many dining options available on the Braemar. Grampian Restaurant, a delightful restaurant surrounded by ocean views offer a formal dining experience. The ambiance is formal but intimate, and requires reservation of a table because it is so popular. The Palms café offers a relaxed atmosphere with buffet style dining, and flexibility with meal times. We also visited the Grill Bar and Marquee Bar, suitable for tranquil views and alfresco dining, enough to make us all famished.
After our tour we sat down to a wonderful lunch in the Thistle Restaurant consisting of a choice of tempting and delicious dishes, and a quiz testing what we had just learned about the Braemar. Then it was time to step back on dry land and head for home”.
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