A wide range of cuisine, including five course a la carte meals and afternoon tea served in The View restaurant
A variety of dazzling entertainment from live music to cabaret shows
Captivating lectures and talks in the Neptune Lounge
A fully equipped fitness centre
Gastronomy demonstrations in The Auditorium
Complimentary yoga, pilates and stretching classes
Enjoy selected drinks with lunch & dinner, gratuities, complimentary guided walks ashore & shuttle buses for selected ports when booking on Freedom Fare on 2026 & 2027 Sailings!
On 2026 sailings selected house beer (by the glass), selected red, white and rosé wine (by the glass), and draught soft drinks, included with lunch and dinner. Available with waiter service only in selected venues, including the main, buffet and speciality restaurants. Non-alcoholic options are also available
Tips
Tips are now included in the Freedom Fare for 2026 sailings and beyond.
Entertainment
Choose from a variety of things to entertain yourself including restaurants, bars, theatre, pools and much more.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks from the buffet and main dining restaurants are all included. Meals from the specialty dining restaurants are additional.
Accommodation
Your cabin is included in the price of the cruise.
Port Fees & Taxes
No surprises. All port fees and taxes are included in the price.
Extras
Wi-fi
If you would like to use the internet onboard you can add a package from £8.50 - £12 per day depending on the length of the cruise. This can be added to your package after booking.
Speciality Dining
Specialty restaurants allow travellers to enhance their dining experience during the cruise. This is a great way to add variety to your holiday or celebrate a special occasion. You can pay for meals in the special dining restaurants onboard.
Excursions
If you would like to do any excursions/tours while docked these will be an additional charge. Excursions/tours can’t currently be booked with us online but please contact us after you have made the booking if you would like to add these to your package. Alternatively these can be bought while on the ship but may be more expensive than pre-booking.
Parking
Car parking at the port or airport for the duration of your trip is not included within the price of the cruise. Port/airport parking can’t currently be booked with us online but please contact us after you have made the booking if you would like to add this to your package. An approximate cost for parking is between £12 - £20 per car per day. Alternatively we can arrange transfers from your home to the departure airport/port.
Insurance
Have the peace of mind that you're covered. Contact us after you have made the booking if you would like us to add this to your package.
Transfers (home to port)
Transfers from your home to the port or airport aren't included but we can help organise coach transfers, taxis etc to make your life easier. Please contact us after you have made the booking if you would like to add these to your package.
Visa
Visas are not provided by us or the cruise operator. Visas and other travel documents have to be obtained by the individual passengers prior to sailing.
Ship Facilities
Borealis - By Fred. Olsen
Good for couplesOver 50sInformal
Year: 1997
·
Refurbished: 2020
·
10 Decks
·
Max capacity: 1,404 people
To book an accessible cabin, please give us a call
020 3991 1166
Iglu Cruise customer reviews for Borealis
4.5
Based on 138 reviews
Cabin
5
Service
5
Excursions
4
Dining
5
Activities
4
Value for money
4
Entertainment
4
We were happy with the facilities of the Borealis and as it was only about two thirds full there was always plenty of space. It might feel rather crowded if full.
couple
10+ cruises
29 Jan 2026
Amazing ship! Relaxing environment. Ample choice of food, cater for all dietary requirements.
Value for money excursion
couple
6-10 cruises
23 Jan 2026
This was our first cruise with Fred Olsen having cruised many times on larger ships.
Overall it was great and really enjoyable.
The check in process was efficient and we were on board in time for lunch.
The food was really good throughout the cruise both in the main restaurant or self service.
The staff were fantastic and e were impressed with the quality of the ship overall.
The itinerary was good although the stop in Stavanger was cancelled due to the weather resulting in an extra day at sea. Fast refund of excursions though.
We have already booked the Christmas Market cruise in December as we were very happy with Fred.
couple
6-10 cruises
23 Jan 2026
Quite a large ship. The crew and support staff were absolutely fantastic. The food was excellent with a good variety. The downside was that the internet connection was expensive and terrible.
All offers and prices are subject to change and availability at time of enquiry. Prices are based on two passengers sharing unless otherwise stated and are subject to the Tour Operator's terms and conditions. Cabin and Flight supplements may apply. Other supplements may apply in addition to the price shown above. Flight details, timings and routing may be subject to alteration. Other tour operator charges may also apply. Any Onboard Spending money or drinks package value shown will be per cabin, again based on two sharing.
Talk to a Cruise Expert
Our cruise experts will help you pick the perfect cruise line, ship and destination.
We can tailor any package to suit your holiday needs: Add or extend hotel stays, arrange flights and find the best cabin location for you.
The UK’s largest cruise port and where many will begin their cruise holiday, Southampton has no shortage of maritime and historical attractions. Discover local landmarks on a walking tour including 30 ancient monuments, learn about the tragic story of the Titanic and escape to the great outdoors at the New Forest National Park. With numerous options for seafood dining and even a free art gallery, Southampton is an undoubtedly great destination for a pre or post-cruise stay.
Things to do in Southampton:
SeaCity Museum
Dedicated to the tragedy of the Titanic, SeaCity Museum excellently portrays the aftermath through interactive exhibits. Featuring a 1:25 scale model of the ship, visitors learn about life onboard as well as the disaster that deeply affected Southampton in 1912.
Solent Sky Museum
Home to over 20 aircraft that were integral to the war effort, Solent Sky Museum is dedicated to the history of the RAF. Southampton itself played a large role in producing Supermarine Spitfires, which you’ll learn all about here.
The New Forest
If you’re looking to escape the busy port city, the New Forest National Park is just a short distance away with native New Forest ponies and lush heathland. Visitors can also catch events, activities and workshops throughout the year.
Tudor House and Garden
As Southampton’s most important historic building, this restored home holds over 800 years of history after having numerous owners. Now a museum, it showcases many artefacts once belonging to past residents of Southampton, as well as a Tudor House Café.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Since opening in 1939, this free art gallery has showcased exhibitions of sculptures, photography and traditional paintings. Thanks to an ever-changing programme of activities, you’ll find something here that the whole family will enjoy.
At Sea
DAY 2
30 Apr 2027
Time at Port: TBD
While sailing between destinations, you’ll have time to take a moment and enjoy everything your cruise ship has to offer; with stunning food prepared with the freshest ingredients, fantastic entertainment opportunities, and plenty of places to lounge around, an enjoyable day at sea awaits!
Dun Laoghaire (for Dublin)
DAY 3
01 May 2027
Time at Port: TBD
Home to stunning seaside, vibrant local markets, and unique museums, Dun Laoghaire is an inviting coastal town in County Dublin and a great place to visit if you’re looking for the chance to enjoy some watersports. However, it’s also the best port of call for trips into Dublin – the capital of Ireland and a truly fantastic place to visit during a sailing around the British Isles. With historic hotspots like Dublin Castle and The Custom House here alongside the National Museum of Ireland and Dublinia, history buffs will find plenty to enjoy during a day visit. However, home to the famous Guinness Storehouse and iconic Temple Bar district, culture vultures and those looking for a more lively experience will find Dublin an unforgettable destination.
Things to do in Dun Laoghaire (for Dublin):
Guinness Storehouse
Once the fermentation plant for the Guinness Brewery, and the first multi-storey steel-framed building to be built in Ireland, the Guinness Storehouse is an immersive attraction dedicated to Ireland’s most iconic export. Here, you’ll have the chance to explore the history of Guinness, how the ruby-red stout is brewed, and admire the city of Dublin from a panoramic bar on the top floor – with a freshly-poured pint to savour. A fun experience where you’ll learn a lot more than you think, this isn’t one to miss while in Dublin.
Temple Bar
A vibrant riverside neighbourhood in Dublin city centre, which is home to a variety of busy pubs and restaurants, Temple Bar is the beating heart of Dublin’s nightlife and celebrated for supporting underground artists for several decades. Home to incredible live music, delicious drinks, and some of the best craic in Ireland, this is a great way to have a good time while in Dublin.
Kilmainham Gaol
A former prison in the heart of Dublin, Kilmainham Gaol is a unique museum with an important history. Many of the most famous Irish revolutionaries were held, and then executed here, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with it being the site of numerous important strikes and social movements throughout its history. Interestingly, there was also no segregation of prisoners; men, women, and even children, were incarcerated up to five in each cell, with the youngest prisoner reportedly just seven years old.
Cobh (tours to Cork)
DAY 4
02 May 2027
Time at Port: TBD
A picturesque seaport town on the south coast of Ireland’s County Cork, Cobh is a fantastic cruise destination to visit while sailing around the British Isles – with a unique history to uncover, stunning surrounding scenery, and the chance to explore places like Spike Island and Bandon Hill. However, Cobh is also an excellent gateway to Cork, a city with even more to offer visitors. Here, you’ll have the chance to stroll along the River Lee while immersing yourself in the vibrant culture this city is famous for. Littered with comfortable cafes, unique art galleries, off-beat museums, and more, a day in Cork is always rewarding – and, the historic food market is a tasty way to top off your trip!
Things to do in Cobh (tours to Cork):
Spike Island
A small island sitting in Cork Harbour, Spike Island is a strategic landmass dominated by Fort Mitchel – an 18th century bastion fort that has been used as both a defensive fortification and prison over the years. Once home to a monastic settlement, with ruins reported in 1774 dating back to the 7th century, the unique star-shaped prison here is one of Europe’s leading tourist attractions and offers visitors a unique insight into the history of both County Cork and Ireland as a whole.
Blarney Castle
A historic medieval stronghold in Blarney, a town within Cork, Blarney Castle towers roughly 90 feet above the rest of the city; currently consisting of a main castle keep and a semi-ruinous tower, both dating back to the 15th century, Blarney Castle is famous for housing the Stone of Eloquence – also known as the Blarney Stone. Built into the fortifications over a sheer drop, legend has it that kissing the Blarney Stone will grant you the gift of gab – meaning great eloquence, or flattery, as blarney has come to mean ‘clever flattering or coaxing talk’.
Killarney National Park
A short distance from Cork, Killarney National Park was the first national park in Ireland, created in 1932, and is known for its diverse ecology and the Lakes of Killarney. It’s also home to the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and some of the most extensive covering of native forest in the country. Home to a wide variety of flora and fauna beyond this, Killarney National Park is a tranquil trip away from the bustle of Cork that offers a rewarding experience to all that visit.
At Sea
DAY 5
03 May 2027
Time at Port: TBD
While sailing between destinations, you’ll have time to take a moment and enjoy everything your cruise ship has to offer; with stunning food prepared with the freshest ingredients, fantastic entertainment opportunities, and plenty of places to lounge around, an enjoyable day at sea awaits!
Southampton
DAY 6
04 May 2027
Time at Port: TBD
The UK’s largest cruise port and where many will begin their cruise holiday, Southampton has no shortage of maritime and historical attractions. Discover local landmarks on a walking tour including 30 ancient monuments, learn about the tragic story of the Titanic and escape to the great outdoors at the New Forest National Park. With numerous options for seafood dining and even a free art gallery, Southampton is an undoubtedly great destination for a pre or post-cruise stay.
Things to do in Southampton:
SeaCity Museum
Dedicated to the tragedy of the Titanic, SeaCity Museum excellently portrays the aftermath through interactive exhibits. Featuring a 1:25 scale model of the ship, visitors learn about life onboard as well as the disaster that deeply affected Southampton in 1912.
Solent Sky Museum
Home to over 20 aircraft that were integral to the war effort, Solent Sky Museum is dedicated to the history of the RAF. Southampton itself played a large role in producing Supermarine Spitfires, which you’ll learn all about here.
The New Forest
If you’re looking to escape the busy port city, the New Forest National Park is just a short distance away with native New Forest ponies and lush heathland. Visitors can also catch events, activities and workshops throughout the year.
Tudor House and Garden
As Southampton’s most important historic building, this restored home holds over 800 years of history after having numerous owners. Now a museum, it showcases many artefacts once belonging to past residents of Southampton, as well as a Tudor House Café.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Since opening in 1939, this free art gallery has showcased exhibitions of sculptures, photography and traditional paintings. Thanks to an ever-changing programme of activities, you’ll find something here that the whole family will enjoy.
AI review summary
Food
Many customers remarked that the food on the ship was excellent, with consistently very good and staff excellent.
Crew
Many customers loved the crew, praising their friendliness, punctuality, and helpfulness during their cruise.
Entertainment
It was observed by customers that the entertainment on the ship was very good, with varied and excellent performances.
Service
Many customers brought up the excellent service provided by the ship, praising its friendliness.
Ship
Many customers expressed satisfaction with the ship, describing it as excellent, fantastic, friendly, and stunning.