Fred. Olsen Christmas Cruises
Guests looking to avoid another December worrying about Christmas preparations won’t want to miss Fred. Olsen’s Christmas cruises, where every detail is taken care of. Its smaller ships sail from UK ports throughout the festive period, calling at European Christmas markets and the world’s sunniest destinations, all with the trees dressed, the turkey carved and the pantomime cast before anyone steps onboard.
Why Sail with Fred. Olsen Cruises at Christmas?
Fred. Olsen Cruises’ excellent service has been carefully perfected over the last 175 years, and Christmas is when this is on full display. Its fleet of characterful, mid-sized ships carries a fraction of the guests a modern megaship does, so the festive season feels like a large family gathering, with crew who learn names and preferences within a day or two of sailing.
Preparations begin long before anyone boards. Trees are dressed, decorations are strewn throughout Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral, and guests are treated to a programme that’s comfortably traditional. All the usual onboard facilities and activities are available to enjoy, and New Year's Eve brings a gala dinner plus a deck-side view of the fireworks.
What Are the Best Fred. Olsen Christmas Cruise Destinations?
Festive itineraries tend to pull in one of two directions: north for markets, mulled wine and early dark evenings, or south for sunshine and a Christmas Day spent on deck. Here are some of the top ports and regions that guests can discover with Fred. Olsen Christmas cruises:
Canary Islands
For guests whose idea of Christmas involves a lot more sunshine, the Canary Islands offer dependable winter warmth within a few days’ sailing of the UK. Santa Cruz de Tenerife sits beneath Mount Teide and makes an easy day of markets and mountain views, Las Palmas pairs a city beach with the handsome old quarter of Vegueta, and the quieter ports of Santa Cruz de La Palma and San Sebastián de la Gomera reward guests who would rather walk volcanic trails than browse the shops.
Hamburg
Germany does Christmas markets better than almost anywhere, and Hamburg's are among the most enjoyable to explore. Wooden stalls fill the squares with handcrafted ornaments, roasted almonds and lebkuchen, and because Fred. Olsen’s ships are small enough to berth close to the centre, guests can be among the stalls within minutes of stepping ashore.
Hamburg
Honfleur and Rouen
Northern France offers a gentler take on the season. Honfleur's harbour is lined with wooden chalets selling traditional sweets, artisanal jams and decorations, while Rouen combines its own market with a medieval centre and a cathedral that is worth the walk on its own. Both make comfortable half-day stops for guests who would rather stroll than schedule.
Northern Europe
Sailing east brings a run of Northern Europe’s best capitals at their most atmospheric. Tallinn's medieval old town fills with the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread, Riga sets music and dance performances among its stalls, and Copenhagen turns Tivoli Gardens into the kind of winter scene guests photograph once and then simply stand and look at.
Caribbean
Guests with more time can spend the whole of Christmas crossing the Atlantic and exploring the Caribbean. Festive island-hopping voyages can visit St. John's, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados and so much more, with steel pan music, rum punch and spice markets standing in for frost and fairy lights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The day follows a familiar shape. Santa appears in the morning, and a non-denominational Christmas service is held for those who would like it. Christmas lunch is served with roasted Norfolk Bronze turkey and all the trimmings, alongside beef, veal, and vegetarian choices, with Christmas pudding to finish. The afternoon is deliberately unhurried, and the evening is given over to a festive show or pantomime.
That depends on the itinerary. Recent festive sailings have brought in the New Year in Funchal (where
Madeira's fireworks can be watched from the deck), St. John's, Antigua and Cádiz. Wherever the ship happens to be, the evening is marked with a gala dinner and themed celebrations onboard. Your Cruise Expert will be more than happy to help you select a voyage with the New Year’s backdrop you’re dreaming of.
Fred. Olsen keeps to its usual mix of smart casual evenings and formal nights, with the number of formal nights depending on the length of the voyage. Festive sailings often invite a touch of red, green or gold on theme nights and Christmas Jumper Day is a fixture, but none of it is compulsory. Guests who would rather not dress up are never made to feel out of place.
Bolette and Balmoral welcome guests of all ages, though facilities for young children are modest compared with the larger family lines. Borealis is an adults-only ship from 2026, so families are advised to look at the other two ships when choosing a festive departure. Your Cruise Expert can confirm which ship is sailing on your chosen date or help you find the best option for your family’s festive getaway.
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Experience a Mini Cruise with Fred. Olsen Cruises
You don’t need a lot of time to set sail on a holiday you’ll never forget. With Fred. Olsen’s mini cruises, you can embark on a voyage that’s short and sweet, visiting some of the world’s best destinations in just a matter of days. Transform any long weekend into a memorable holiday with Fred. Olsen itineraries range from 1 to 5 nights.