Fred. Olsen Offers Up to £200 Onboard Credit on 100+ Sailings

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a limited-time promotion offering up to £200 in onboard spending per cabin on more than 100 sailings across Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral. The offer applies to new bookings made between December 16, 2025, and January 29, 2026, for departures running from September 2025 through May 2027, the company said.

What the Fred. Olsen onboard-spend deal covers

Fred. Olsen is positioning the incentive around a short booking window, while allowing it to be used on sailings spanning multiple seasons and regions. The onboard spend, sometimes referred to as onboard credit, can be used during the cruise, but the available information does not specify whether the amount varies by sailing or cabin category beyond stating it can be “up to” £200 per cabin.

• Offer level: Up to £200 in onboard spend per cabin, provided as a cruise-use credit rather than a fare reduction.
• Eligible sailings: More than 100 departures are included, covering a broad range of itineraries and seasons.
• Ships included: The promotion applies to Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral.
• Booking window: Only new bookings made from December 16, 2025, through January 29, 2026, qualify for the offer.
• Travel window: Eligible departures run from September 2025 through May 2027, extending well beyond the sales period.

Fred. Olsen did not include a statement from an individual executive alongside the promotion details.

How the onboard spend can be used

Fred. Olsen said the onboard spend can go toward onboard purchases and experiences. Examples highlighted by the line include treatments at the Atlantis Spa and specialty dining in the Colours & Tastes (Colors & Tastes) restaurant.

Itineraries highlighted in the promotion

The company said the deal spans a mix of warm-weather, scenic and event-timed voyages. Among the itineraries referenced are Mediterranean sailings, Northern Lights-focused departures and festive Caribbean cruises.

In outlining the Mediterranean options, the line pointed to routes calling in destinations such as the French Riviera, Croatia’s islands and coastal areas including Montenegro and Sardinia. It also listed cruises timed around seasonal natural phenomena, including itineraries designed for Northern Lights viewing, as well as departures scheduled to coincide with the Geminid Meteor Shower.

One featured option is a holiday-period Caribbean sailing that includes a New Year’s Eve call in Antigua, although additional itinerary details such as sailing length and other ports were not provided in the available information.

Fleet and product updates rolling out from January 2026

Alongside the promotion, Fred. Olsen is preparing a set of onboard and product changes beginning in early 2026, spanning fare inclusions, an age-policy shift on one ship, venue additions, dining updates and entertainment.

From January 2026, the line will make its freedom fare more inclusive as standard, bundling additional onboard elements into the advertised fare, including beverages served at mealtimes. Borealis is also set to operate as adults-only from January 2026, a change Fred. Olsen has framed as aligning the ship with guests seeking a quieter onboard atmosphere.

Onboard offerings are also being refreshed. Borealis will gain an open-air venue called Fresco, designed to function as a relaxed daytime space and a casual bar in the evening. Across Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral, the line said it will update the concept in its Colours & Tastes specialty restaurant by shifting to a rotating selection of menu themes, rather than a single core cuisine style.

Fred. Olsen has also partnered with RWS Global to revamp onboard entertainment. A new entertainment concept is scheduled to begin launching in early 2026, with a broader rollout across the fleet later in the year.

How other U.K.-linked brands are adjusting pricing, deployment and onboard policies

The changes at Fred. Olsen come as several cruise lines serving the British market refine their products, policies and itineraries.

P&O Cruises said it will introduce optional all-inclusive packages starting in March 2026. The add-on bundles combine drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining credits, marking a shift from the brand’s traditional pay-as-you-go approach and bringing it closer to pricing expectations common in land-based holidays and among international cruise operators.

Age policies are also being reshaped across brands. P&O said it will relax rules on Aurora and Arcadia to allow children on select sailings starting in December 2026, while Marella Cruises is tailoring age restrictions seasonally, making Marella Discovery an adults-only ship during the summer of 2026 from its Limassol homeport. Fred. Olsen, by contrast, is moving Borealis to adults-only operations from January 2026.

Elsewhere, Ambassador Cruise Line said it is expanding no-fly cruising in 2026, with departures from as many as eight regional ports, while also leveraging its acquisition of Compagnie Française de Croisières to expand fly-cruise programs. Saga Cruises has introduced a promise of including an excursion in each port for its winter 2026 itineraries, and Cunard is focusing on product refinement, including a revamped look for Queen Elizabeth and expanded Caribbean operations.

For travelers considering the Fred. Olsen promotion, the key constraint is timing: the onboard spend applies only to new bookings made between December 16, 2025, and January 29, 2026, even though eligible departures extend through May 2027. With multiple onboard updates also scheduled from January 2026 onward, the line is pairing a near-term booking incentive with a broader set of fleet and product changes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Fred. Olsen ships are included in the onboard spend promotion?

The offer applies to sailings on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral.

When do I need to book to qualify for the onboard spend offer?

The promotion applies to new bookings made between December 16, 2025, and January 29, 2026.

What can the onboard spend be used for?

Fred. Olsen has said the onboard spend can be used for onboard purchases and experiences, including examples such as treatments at the Atlantis Spa and specialty dining in Colours & Tastes (Colors & Tastes).

What changes is Fred. Olsen introducing in 2026?

From January 2026, Fred. Olsen is making its freedom fare more inclusive, including beverages served at mealtimes. Borealis will operate as adults-only from January 2026, and the ship is set to add an open-air venue called Fresco. Across the fleet, the line is moving Colours & Tastes to rotating menu themes, and it has partnered with RWS Global on a revamped entertainment concept starting to launch in early 2026 with a wider rollout later in the year.

When will P&O Cruises introduce optional all-inclusive packages?

P&O Cruises said optional all-inclusive packages will be introduced starting in March 2026, combining drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining credits as an add-on to its traditional pay-as-you-go model.