Sea days: the secret highlight of a Fred Olsen cruise
As a massive fan of cruising, one of the questions I often get asked is, "don't you get really bored on sea days?" The honest answer is that it depends on the cruise line, and Fred Olsen excels in this regard.
I've cruised with Fred Olsen* multiple times, and I started writing this article aboard its stately Balmoral* ship on a cruise from Southampton* down to the Canaries*.
I had three sea days steaming south, and not only were they full of joy, but there were so many quality things to do that I spent another day on the ship in port at an island I know really well.
There is your positive answer on Fred Olsen sea days, so let me share with you what there is to get up to. I was travelling alone, and you'll see here that it's never a problem with Fred Olsen either.
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Getting going
I always try to catch the sunrise as it's often spectacular, and it means you get a really full day. If I just want to grab something quick, I head to the Thistle buffet restaurant instead of one of the à la carte restaurants, a more relaxed joy, where some granola and Greek yoghurt are followed by a hot dish.
If I'm up for a really slow sea day, room service works well with a simple spread when you want it, with no tray charge.
The morning
If you're spending the day in port, this is when the ship empties as people head off for the day, giving you the run of the vessel.
A few laps of the deck gets me moving, with the option to join like-minded souls at 0900 for the group 'Walk a Mile'. There are free stretching and Pilates classes in the early morning, too, for other healthy starts.
More cerebral morning activities include the excellent lectures. I've met many passengers who book with Fred Olsen because of its renowned 'enrichment programme'.
We're talking expert-led lectures, often from guest professors, including on this cruise Professor Bill Tancred MBE, that really bring the destinations en route, their cultures and history, alive.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 'Making of the Canary Islands' talk with Dr Joshua Kelly. On a more practical note, craft classes invite you to get hands-on, as do cookery demonstrations.
One unmissable paid extra option is a ship tour. I thoroughly recommend these as they really open up the ship. My tour kicked off in the galley, where you find out how they manage to feed up to 1,250 guests so well.
It's little details like the 30 cake types they conjure up daily that compel. Then we swept round the procurement section, laundry and on to the engine control room.
The latter is brilliant, learning how they power the vessel and keep the lights on, and the smaller engines they use to eke into the shallower waters of Norwegian fjords. The highlight is, of course, the bridge where you have the chance to have your photo taken in the captain's chair.
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Lunchtime
Many passengers choose to go for a lighter lunch at the Thistle buffet, although the restaurants are there for a treat. On sunny days, look out for the popular BBQ making an appearance at the stern, with freshly grilled meat and fish.
It's a joy feasting on deck as you scan the waters for the marine mammals that often put on a show. During my BBQ lunch, a pod of bottlenose dolphins broke the surface, delighting our table of strangers, who bonded over the shared experience.
The afternoon
When the sun shines, the swimming pools tempt up top or at the stern. They both have a couple of raised hot tubs, ideal for peering out and taking in the ever-changing views. You could easily while away a whole afternoon by one of the pools, with waiting staff ferrying drinks over.
If you want to make the most of the sea days and weave in some ship port days of your own, the drinks packages really come into their own. I appreciate, with Fred Olsen, that gratuities are included, removing a layer of hassle and embarrassment.
It's easy to get active, too. You can grab a club and swing on the golf drive, or join in the surprisingly competitive indoor putting competition. The latter is great fun with your new putting pals cheering as you try to sink as many of your half dozen putts as possible.
There is indoor curling, carpet bowls and dance lessons too, as well as line dancing and different levels of bridge; maybe I'll get to grips with that game on my next 'Fred Dot' (as regulars call the cruise line) sailing.
There are always surprises too; I chanced upon a ukulele class, which I'd missed in 'The Daily Times', which lists everything that is on every day and arrives in your cabin the night before. If you'd rather just watch someone else play, there is often live music in the afternoon.
To really indulge, how about a proper afternoon tea up in the Observatory, gazing out over the ocean blue? I'd rather ease off to the ship's spa and wellness centre.
On this cruise, I had a reflexology treatment that sent me off for an afternoon snooze, and later, a signature massage that included a refreshing facial that invigorated rather than sent me to sleep. There is a gym too by the spa with free fitness classes and great views out over the bow.
Into evening
If you've stayed aboard in port, sailaway is when all the excursion passengers are back aboard, and you all get together for the romance of easing out of another port in search of more adventure.
On sea days, I often swap port sailaways for a sundowner, best enjoyed aft or in the hot tub; it's a great way to meet new people you'll see around the ship later.
For the three evenings on my sea days, I quickly established a routine of heading to the Morning Light Pub, the biggest bar on the ship. Before dinner, there is a quiz, and the welcoming quizmaster was very good at mingling single travellers into a new group of friends.
I ended up shuttling between two teams for the rest of the cruise, increasing my chance of snaring the bottle of a prize of bubbly!
Dinner
The evening meal is the highlight of the day aboard. I prefer to sit down for a five-course feast in the à la carte restaurants, instead of the buffet.
It's not as filling as it sounds, with a soup and a salad course, and you only order as many courses as you want. Expect main courses like grilled salmon and steaks, as well as British classics like shepherd's pie and nods to the destinations en route.
In January 2026, I was one of the first diners in the revamped Colours & Tastes. It's well worth the £25 supplement (£20 if booked online in advance) for a refined, quiet space with seamless service.
I love that they've split the menu, with three rotating themes. There's posh Italian, then pan-Asian. The former brought delicious grilled Hasselback scallops, followed by seafood cannelloni and a striking dessert: a tiramisu ball with melted chocolate poured over it. The excellent Asian option featured seared tuna alongside pad thai. The third theme is a Grill Room with superb steaks.
Late night
The joy of a cruise is that the choice of what to do is always yours. If you want to just relax in your cabin or enjoy the cocktail of the day, you can. Or how about guided stargazing on deck? This is fabulous as you don't just stare at the sky blankly, but learn what everything is. On sea days, there's usually minimal light pollution, too.
Fred Olsen doesn't have banging nightclubs, but there is the Neptune Lounge, where excellent shows rumble on every night. There is a real sense of occasion with performers who throw themselves into the West End show numbers, the dance routines and the comedy nights.
Each night offers something different. After the show, the Lido Lounge awaits with a dancefloor where an amiable DJ takes requests.
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