Mid sized ships

[Dairbear01]

We have recently had our first cruise on the Fred Olsen Bolette, sailing from Newcastle , which was brilliant, but now we are wondering about looking at another cruise later in the year.

Bolette is changing from Newcastle to Southampton in a few months, so that takes her out of the equation for the time being.

So we either look at her sister ships, or try a different cruise line.

Any recommendations on similar sized cruise lines approx 1300 guests max, sailing from either northern England or Scotland.

Would rather not have to travel south to Southampton if we can 

[david63]

The one that first comes to mind is Fred Olsen - not sure off the top of my head about Newcastle but certainly from Liverpool

[Dairbear01]

That was the one we were on and will use again, but they shuffle the vessels around , so the Bolette is only sailing out of Southampton later in the year.
So our first option is another Fred ship, or try a different company from either Newcastle, Liverpool, Rosyth or Dundee.

We are open to destinations, we went to the Nordic capitals on Bolette and would like to go to the fjords as one option, but would look at different itineraries.

[david63]

There is also Ambassador going out of Liverpool

[Dairbear01]

Will have a look at there site, we are in our 50s and quite liked the slow pace of the Bolette and the relaxed dining of the buffet restaurant , we avoided the dressing up nights as we aren't comfortable with fine dining.

[kaymar]

There might be something here for you

https://www.iglucruise.com/cruises/from-newcastle

[Dairbear01]

Thanks will look at the site

[barney]

Will have a look at there site, we are in our 50s and quite liked the slow pace of the Bolette and the relaxed dining of the buffet restaurant , we avoided the dressing up nights as we aren't comfortable with fine dining.

Weirdly, we've been on many cruise where we hardly went to the buffet at all.
Our last 7 nighter in the Canaries, we went to the buffet after boarding, and that was it.
I recall a passenger having a bit of a whinge about the food being very samey, then said that they have eaten in the buffet morning, noon and night.
In the evenings, we actually did Sindhu twice, Glass House twice, Epicurian once and MDR twice.
Breakfast was MDR or room service and days we were off ship, we ate out where we were for a light lunch.

Our next cruise is a fifteen nighter , so I expect we will use the buffet more often but never for dinner, the exception being if they reintroduce
'The Curry Night'
That was excellent !
I wonder if it will ever come back.
You know it's good when all of the Officers head there.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We're not great buffet fans either, definitely not for dinner. We prefer to be sat down, relaxed, and waited on.

[Manoverboard]

You could consider booking a cruise with Saga.

Expensive but with a lot of inclusions. It doesn't matter where they sail from as they provide, albeit conditions will apply, transport between your home and the Port ... and back.

Are Titan still operating, their flag ship was the Bolette ?

[Dairbear01]

Reference the main restaurant on Bolette, we were booked in for 8.30 which was to late for us, but we tried the main for breakfast one day and found as my wife is gluten free they needed your main dinner to be ordered the day before, so that took away the spontaneity.

The view restaurant was a buffet but most of the food was served to you, I suppose because of COVID, but the choices were numerous and the labeling and the way they looked after you was brilliant.

So we just are there all the time

[barney]

That sounds a good halfway, being served

At home, we wouldn’t dream of eating as late as 8.30 but on holiday, regularly do.
If it’s nice and sunny, we will regularly still be outside at six or seven.

[Dairbear01]

Each to their own, I suppose a cruise was a step into the unknown for us, as we are more pie and chips people than fine dining, but we were pleasantly surprised that all could enjoy the cruise experience wether you wanted to dress to dine whilst bring waited on, or casually appear at a time of your choosing and enjoy what you wanted to eat in a dressed down casual environment.

The view buffet restaurant was always busy, so there must have been a fair spread of preferences on our cruise.

[barney]

Good for you mate.
Your holiday, so do what you want.
That’s my philosophy.