Here’s EVERY VENUE Onboard Bolette, the Cruise Ship from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: a Photo Tour

In this post, I’m taking you on a full photo tour of Bolette, the cruise ship from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. I’ve been creating video ship tours over on YouTube for a couple of years now, but these ‘photo tours’ are a fairly recent addition. After creating my photo tour of Balmoral, I immediately realised that people enjoy seeing inside these cruise ships in this way, and so I set to work on creating this tour for Bolette.

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In this tour today, we’re going to start at the bottom of the ship and work our way to the top, and we’ll cover every single public venue on the way. If you’d like to see this tour in video form, you can use the link below! If you find this tour useful, please share it with your friends or family!

Deck 3

Main Atrium

It makes perfect sense for us to start our tour today in the main atrium, which spans across decks 3, 4 and 5 of the ship. In the centre, you’ll find a stunning clock that spans 9 metres, and has four totally unique faces. It’s inspired by a Flemish original, and well worth a look. The clock still chimes ‘on the hour’, and I’d really recommend trying to build watching this into your itinerary - why not try and see it from all different angles, including from down on deck 3, where you’ll actually be able to see the bells individually ringing?

Note: the clock doesn’t ring every hour all night, probably due to the fact that there are passenger cabins relatively close by the base on deck 3. For that reason, be sure to come by during daytime hours!

Promenade Deck

Deck 3 of Bolette is also home to the Promenade Deck, which is one of my favourite features of the whole ship. The promenade on this ship is fully wrap-around, allowing you to really connect with the oceans that you’re sailing on, and take in the views from every angle possible. In my experience, it’s also much easier to spot wildlife off the ship from places like the Promenade Deck, largely due to the fact that you’re much closer to the water here than you would be up on the top decks of the ship (which you’ll see later in this tour!).

In terms of distance, 3.5 laps of this Promenade Deck is equal to 1 mile, or 1.6km. Why not come out here to work off your cruise calories? Walking is permitted out here, but there’s a relatively strict ‘no jogging/running’ rule, as there are passenger cabins directly underneath. If you’re looking to go for a run, I’ll show you the onboard gym later in this tour.

On the note of passenger cabins, Bolette does feature a number of ‘Lanai staterooms’ - in other words, cabins which have direct access to this external deck. For this reason, you’ll see that some of the deckchairs down here have ‘reserved’ cushions on them - these are for the sole use of those staying in these cabins.

Forecastle Access

Here’s something I hadn’t seen on a cruise ship before I sailed on Bolette: the Forecastle area. A ship’s ‘Forecastle’ typically refers to a raised section at the front, and that’s exactly the case on Bolette. From the Promenade Deck, you can access the Forecastle deck (although it is upstairs from down there, so remember that if you can’t ascend/descend unaided).

This space offers you an absolutely stunning vantage point. You’re directly infront of the bridge out here, so you’re looking directly out over the front of the ship - what an incredible place to watch Bolette sailing in to (or out of) port!

If your itinerary features any ‘scenic cruising’ periods (which lots of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines itineraries do), then I’d recommend checking this space out - it’s so unique!

Deck 4

Guest Services and Destination Services

On the middle deck of the main atrium, you’ll find Guest Services and Destination Services. If you need help with anything on the ship, Guest Services will be able to help. If you’re looking to speak to someone about Shore Excursions, or advice for your upcoming ports, then head to the Destination Services desk.

Guest Services on a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with Destination Services having set opening times. You can find out when these are by looking in your Daily Times, which will be delivered to your cabin each evening for the following day.

Can we pause again to just appreciate that clock? Incredible!

Guest Services and Destination Services are on Deck 4: the middle level of the main atrium.

Photo Gallery

Towards the front of the ship on Deck 4, is the Photo Gallery.

If you use the onboard photography team to take your picture(s) during the cruise, then this is where you can come to view them on the large screens, and also to make any purchases. There are usually package deals available, so it’s worth a conversation if you’d like to take home some pictures to remember your trip.

The Photo Gallery is towards the front of Bolette on Deck 4.

You can use the large digital screens to browse any photographs that have been taken during the cruise.

Neptune Lounge

Looking forward to seeing a show, or attending a lecture, during your cruise? If so, then you’ll want to know exactly where the Neptune Lounge is. You’ll find this space at the very front of the ship, and it’s accessible from both Decks 4 and 5. Deck 4 will take you into the lower level, and Deck 5 will take you onto the Mezzanine.

Seating in here is a combination of two-seater sofa style chairs and also armchairs, making it a much more comfortable theatre venue than you’ll find on lots of other cruise ships who can often operate with more traditional theatre-style seating. There’s also a fair provision for drinks in here too - the seats at the front of the balcony upstairs all have communal cup holders, and lots of the ground floor seats have small tables to share.

The bar team in here usually do a full drinks service prior to the start of each evening show, so don’t worry about needing to bring your own in with you if you’re running short of time.

The Neptune Lounge is also one of the meeting points for Shore Excursions, with the other being the Auditorium, which I’ll show you shortly.

Auditorium

The Auditorium is the second theatre-style venue onboard Bolette. In here, you’ll find very different types of entertainment to what you’d find in the Neptune Lounge, with things like Sommelier workshops and cookery demonstrations having a firm place on the line-up.

This venue offers a much more intimate or exclusive environment than the Neptune Lounge, which I’ve just shown you in the photos above.

Colours & Tastes Restaurant

Colours & Tastes is one of Bolette’s speciality restaurants. In other words, this restaurant comes with an additional charge. In my own personal experience, it’s well worth trying, as I’ve genuinely eaten and enjoyed some of the tastiest and best presented food I’ve had at sea in this venue.

This restaurant is only open for dining in the evenings for the main dinner service, so you won’t be able to have breakfast or lunch in here.

To book a table, you can speak to the onboard team who will be more than happy to help. If you’re reading this post before your cruise, then you’re able to save some money by booking online in advance of boarding the ship. My overall advice is that you should book a table here as early in the cruise as you can. The final few evenings of the cruise often have this space fully booked, so don’t miss out!

Take it from me - this one’s well worth a try!

Bloomsbury & Terrace Restaurants

You’ll find Bloomsbury Restaurant at the back of the ship on Deck 4, with the Terrace Restaurant being the balcony (or mezzanine) level that wraps-around above.

Both of these restaurants serve the same food, and you’ll be allocated to one for the duration of your cruise. This allocation means that you’ll have a set restaurant for dinner, but you’re free to dine elsewhere for all other meal times if you prefer.

On a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship, there are two dining times in the evening (first sitting: 6pm, and second sitting: 8pm), and you can request which one is your preference at the point of making your booking. You’re also able to request a specific table for dinner, although this isn’t guaranteed.

These restaurants are also open for breakfast (usually from 7.30am - 10.30am) and lunch (usually from 12pm - 2pm), but check your Daily Times for definitive times once onboard.

Deck 5

Earth Room

Got an interest in the planet? I’m sure you do - you’re on a cruise to see more of it, after all! The Earth room is a peaceful lounge towards the back of the ship on deck 5, and you’ll find it full of interesting books and magazines about our planet.

Literature here covers a range of topics, including recycling, climate change, carbon footprint and fossil fuels - they’ve all been carefully selected by Fred. Olsen.

This venue blends really nicely with the Bookmark Cafe, which is just around the corner, making it the perfect spot to relax with a coffee and your favourite cake or chocolates!

Bookmark Cafe & Lounge

Welcome to the Bookmark Cafe & Lounge, a real staple across the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet. This is the onboard coffee shop, and it’s a great spot to relax for an hour or two (or perhaps even longer) during your cruise.

The Bookmark Cafe is home to speciality coffees and cakes onboard. Think about your favourite land-based coffee shop, make the cakes better, and you’ll probably have a fair expectation of what you’ll find here. Believe me - the cakes are excellent!

It does come with an additional charge to your cruise fare. If you’re looking for ‘included’ teas and coffees, I’ll show you where to find them later in the tour.

Card Room

Right next door to the Bookmark Cafe is the Card Room. If you enjoy playing card games, then you’re probably going to really like this venue while you’re cruising. You can bring your own games onboard to challenge other guests to a game, or why not try your hand at what’s available onboard?

You’ll also find things like Bridge sessions in here, if you’re that way inclined. Even if you’re not, why not give it a try? Who knows - you might just find your new favourite hobby!

It was so difficult to capture this venue without people in it - it was so busy throughout my time onboard!

If you enjoy playing card games, then you’ll probably be making yourself at home in Bolette’s Card Room!

Oriental Tea Room

You’ll find the Oriental Tea Room directly opposite the Bookmark Cafe, and this venue is the home of Bolette’s exotic tea range. Here, you can choose a comfortable chair to relax in, while sipping on either an unusual or perhaps your favourite tea.

So, what could you order here? Think oolong, black, green and white teas from China, Japan and Taiwan, or maybe some popular favourites from the U.K. There is also a wide tea-inspired alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail menu, and also a bottled beer range that you won’t find elsewhere on the ship.

Not sure what you’d order? Not a problem - just speak with the waiting team here, and they’ll be delighted to have you find something that you’ll enjoy!

The Botanical Room

If, like me, you like to think that you’re a little ‘green fingered’, then you’ll probably look forward to spending some time in the Botanical Room during your cruise. Here, you’ll find a lounge inspired by everything plants and nature - I don’t think I’ve seen another cruise line use so many live plants inside a venue before!

The closer you look, the more plants you’ll find. On your upcoming cruise, go and spend some time in here and try to count all of the plants. Also, how many of them can you name?! Good luck!

Piano Bar

The Piano Bar onboard Bolette quickly became one of my favourite venues on the ship. By day, it’s a really relaxing venue that really focusses on the ocean views outside. This is helped not only by the large windows that run along one entire side of the space, but also by the dark interior design, encouraging your eyes to look outside.

In the evening, this venue becomes a cosy and intimate piano bar, with a live pianist providing a light backing track to your evening drinks. You can even opt to sit directly at the piano, if you’re looking for a much more ‘up close’ experience.

My top tip? Try and get here in time to secure one of the chairs that look directly out to sea - the views are to die for!

Morning Light Pub

The Morning Light Pub is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines answer to the traditional British Pub. In here, you can expect to find all of the drinks you’d expect at the pub, in a lively atmosphere, all during the day and into the evening. You’ll also find live sports streaming on the large TVs on one side of this bar, so you don’t need to miss your favourite sports fixtures while you’re ‘at sea’. If you’re hoping that a particular sport will be streamed during your cruise, just make time to speak with the crew here, who will be able to advise. Of course, it’ll come down to signal at the time depending on where Bolette is sailing!

The Morning Light Pub is also home to some onboard entertainment options. For example, the very well known trivia sessions will take place in here, and I’ll warn you now - they get BUSY, so you may want to arrive early to secure a good seat!

This venue is also where you’ll find a painting of Bolette, Fred. Olsen’s Great Grandmother, who this ship bears the name of.

You’ll find a painting of Bolette here, the Great Grandmother of Fred. Olsen.

Floral Blooms Shop

We’re back in the main atrium, but this time on the top level. This is where you’ll find the onboard Florist: Floral Blooms. If you’re looking for some flowers to decorate your cabin, or perhaps to use as a buttonhole on a formal night, then this is where you’ll want to come.

Everything here is billable to your cabin account.

‘Floral Blooms’ is Bolette’s onboard florist.

Future Cruise Information

Want to take advantage of special offers by booking you’re next cruise during your current one? Come and speak to the team at the Future Cruise Information desk, and they’ll advise you what’s available.

You’ll find the opening hours for the team here listed in your Daily Times.

Ocean Bar

The Ocean Bar is also on the top level of the main atrium, and offers you a relaxing space to enjoy some entertainment, or to soak in the views from the windows along the side of the lounge.

This bar is also home to one of the main dancefloors onboard Bolette, so keep this in mind if you’re a dancer, or are hoping to try out the floor while you’re cruising!

Deck 8

Atlantis Spa

Welcome to the Atlantis Spa, which you’ll find at the front of the ship on Deck 8. In here, you’ve got a range of facilities, including a salon, a fitness centre, saunas, treatment rooms and a really impressive thermal suite.

Let’s go inside and explore!

Here’s the spa reception, where the team will be happy to advise you on available treatments to suit your needs.

Many of the treatment rooms in here offer absolutely stunning views overlooking the ocean outside.

There’s also a relaxation room here, perfect for unwinding before or after your treatment!

The Salon

The salon is where you’ll find everything you need to have a wide array of treatments carried out. From hair to nails, the team here will be able to conduct most of the treatments that you’d expect to be offered at a land-based salon.

For a full price list, just speak to the team at the spa reception. My personal advice is that I’ve been overall impressed with the pricing of the spa venues onboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ships vs other cruise lines, so I’d really recommend having a look and maybe even giving a treatment a try!

Fitness Centre

The Fitness Centre is totally included in your cruise fare, and this is where you’ll find a wide array of both cardio and weight-lifting equipment.

There are plenty of clean towels, and also water available in the fitness centre, so you don’t need to worry too much about bringing your own with you to the gym. Of course, if you’d prefer to, you absolutely can!

There is also a large fitness studio in this space, which is where the onboard fitness classes are conducted. These are also included in your cruise fare, but spaces are limited. To sign up to a fitness class, just speak to the spa reception team, who will be able to help. In my experience, you need to visit at 5pm the evening before your desired class, which is when the booking lists will open for the following day.

Thermal Suite

Let’s now move to look at the Thermal Suite onboard Bolette, which I don’t think enough people know about. In here, you’ve got a sauna, a steam room, heated loungers and a hot tub, surrounded by some of the best views onboard from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Directly outside the Thermal Suite is an outdoor deck space that’s reserved for the exclusive use of any passengers using this facility. Out here, you’ll find two deckchairs, making it the perfect space to watch the ocean from during a busy day ‘at sea’.

Are you ready for the best part of this? Well, this is bookable for private use! In other words, you book the Thermal Suite to have full uninterrupted access for only your direct travel party. I couldn’t believe this when I found out, as most cruise ships operate very busy thermal suite facilities - a HUGE thumbs up from me!

The Sauna

Within the Atlantis Spa complex, there are two saunas: one male and one female. These are totally included in your cruise fare, so you don’t need to pay anything extra to use!

Generally speaking, I found that people didn’t know about these, or if they did then they didn’t know that they were included and therefore free of charge.

To access the complimentary sauna facilities, you will need to go via the Spa reception - the team will point you in the right direction if you’re unsure!

There are gender-specific saunas within the Atlantis Spa that come with no additional charge!

That’s right - they’re FREE to use!

Poolside Cafe

Leaving the Atlantis Spa behind, the next venue to show you on this deck is ‘The Poolside’, the cafe that you’ll find by the main Lido pool.

Here, you can enjoy breakfasts, brunches or lunches while sitting in the open air of the top deck. If it’s a pleasant day outside and temperatures allow, the retractable roof above the pool will be open, allowing you to essentially be seated outside, although this venue is under the cover of the deck above.

Here’s a picture of the lunch menu, to help you with setting your expectations.

Lido Pool & Lido Bar

Here’s the first of the swimming pools onboard Bolette. This pool serves as the main pool onboard, and is the larger of the two that I’ll show you on this tour today.

The pool is covered by a retractable roof, allowing it to be used year-round. I’m a huge fan of retractable roofs on cruise ships - they do move around the world and experience all spectrums of weather, after all…!

You’ll also find the Lido Bar out here, offering you the ability to relax with your favourite drink without even having to go inside. A ‘top tip’ from me is that this bar is open into the evening. On colder itineraries, it’s lovely to come up here with a jumper and relax with a drink in the peace and quiet. I’d imagine that it would be busier on the warmer routes, but it was beautifully quiet on our cruise around the Scottish Islands.

The View Buffet Restaurant

Hungry? Welcome to the View, the onboard buffet restaurant!

This venue is open all day for refreshments, and serves food during breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and then late night snacks. You get the picture - you’re not going to be hungry if you’re planning to cruise onboard Bolette!

There’s a lot of seating in here (both inside and outside), with a fair amount of accessible seating too. I’ve included a photo in the carousel below to show you an example of the accessible seating in this restaurant.

You’ll also find water, tea and coffee in here, and it comes with no additional charge. This isn’t ‘barista style’ coffee - it’s drip coffee that’s served out of large dispensers - image below. Being totally honest, I really liked this coffee, so don’t let the fact that it’s not barista-made put you off.

In terms of teas available here, there’s a really good selection, again free of charge. I’ve included a photo below to show you what you can expect.

There’s coffee available for free here all day, including a selection of different milks.

As you can see, there is a really wide selection of teas available free of charge!

Vasco Restaurant

If you enjoy Indian food, then this Goa-inspired restaurant might be right up your street. This is another of the speciality venues onboard, meaning that it comes with an upcharge.

Similar to Colours & Tastes, you can save some money by booking your table at this restaurant before your cruise.

I haven’t personally tried this one at the point of putting this tour together, so I can’t advise on a recommendation here. If my experience in Colours & Tastes is anything to go by, I’d say it’s well worth a try!

View Bar & Swimming Pool

Here’s the second of the swimming pools onboard Bolette. As you know, the Lido pool that we looked at earlier is the primary pool, with this one being second. Out here, you’ve got loungers on either side, a pool in the middle, and a bar at the far end.

The real benefit of this swimming pool and deck is the view. You’ve got far-reaching views all around the back section of the ship, thanks to the aft-facing nature of this area. Stunning, isn’t it?

This swimming pool is also where you’ll find Bolette’s galleon figure statue, a feature that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is famous for! I’ll leave you to find her for yourself once you get onboard…

Deck 9

Olsen Art Studio

Ready for another feature that I haven’t seen on any of the other cruise lines that I’ve sailed on so far? Welcome to the Olsen Art Studio!

Here, you can relax while spending time with friends (both new and old) while trying your hand at a huge array of arts and crafts. There are materials available in the Art Studio for you to use, or you can also bring your own if you prefer to use your own kit.

Throughout the cruise, there will usually be events and workshops held in here, which will be run by the resident artist onboard for your cruise. These workshops do usually come with a small upcharge to cover the cost of materials, but they’re a fantastic way to spend a bit of time during a day ‘at sea’. They’re also a fantastic way to meet people!

If you’re not overly artistic (don’t worry - this is the exact camp that I fall into), the Art Studio is an interesting place to stop by as there’s always someone here happy to talk to you about what they’re working on. You can also browse the wall displays, which feature works completed on previous cruises by your fellow past guests!

Sports Courts

On either side of the Olsen Art Studio, there’s a large sports court on the external decks. One of these is better ‘fenced in’ than the other, so perhaps bear this in mind if you’re planning to play ball games during your cruise.

These courts aren’t bookable, so you just need to stop by and see if they’re available. Throughout my cruise onboard this ship, I rarely saw these courts being utilised, so you shouldn’t struggle at all!

There are two sports courts on Bolette: one at the Port and one at the Starboard side of Deck 9.

Observatory

We’re now moving to the very front of the ship on Deck 9 to look at the Observatory. This space has floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the entire space, offering some absolutely incredible vantage points throughout your cruise.

During the day, this space is usually really quiet, largely due to its’ remote location on the ship - it’s not close to the other entertainment venues downstairs that we’ve already toured. At night, it really comes to life, as it plays host to multiple of the live music acts that perform onboard. You’ll also find that events like the Silent Disco are held in here, showing just how versatile this space is.

If you’re hoping to enjoy the premium Afternoon Tea offering on Bolette, this is held within the Observatory, so you can look forward to enjoying some remarkable views throughout that experience!

Deck 10

Open Deck Spaces

Hoping to sunbathe onboard Bolette? Well, Deck 10 might become your little sanctuary while you’re onboard.

I’ve already shown you the pool spaces, which I’d imagine will get busy on warm weather cruises. On Deck 10, there’s a large open deck space, offering you the chance to relax in the sun without the buzz of a swimming pool deck. From up here, you also get some remarkable views looking down the ship - look at those funnels!

Laundry Room

If you’re anything like me, you’ll like the idea of returning home from your cruise without any washing to do. If you’d like to wash and dry your clothes while cruising, you have two options. First, you can pay to have this done by the laundry department onboard. Alternatively, you can use one of the self-service laundry rooms.

These rooms are available for use by passengers throughout their cruise (although they close at night to minimise noise to nearby cabins), and feature washing machines, dryers and ironing boards.

I love finding cruise ships that have these facilities, especially if I’m planning to cruise for longer than a week!

That’s it - that’s a full photo tour of Bolette, one of the ships in the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet! I really hope you’ve enjoyed having a look around the ship.

If you have, then please do come and check out more of my content from this cruise line by clicking here. You can also watch my ship tours from this fleet of ships using the links below.