Braemar to Norwegian Fjords

Very much the 'baby' of the Fred. Olsen fleet in terms of size, Braemar has smaller cabins on average than her fleet mates, but they are very comfortable, and come with blond wood trim. With a beautiful, five storey atrium lobby and her vast, window walled interior lounges, the ship actually felt far more spacious than was truly the case.

One of the crowning glories of the Braemar is the series of semi circular, aft facing terrace decks that cascade down toward the stern. They are an ideal venue for a coffee, a late lunch, or even late night drinks under the stars. This area gives the ship an intimacy and charm sadly absent from many larger modern ships these days.

The food is consistently good, prepared for the tastes of her largely older British clientele. That said, there is plenty of variety and taste, and sometimes some surprising continental touches. Service, whether in the main, aft facing window walled restaurant or in the upper deck Palms Café, was as deft and attentive as ever, delivered by wonderful Filipino stewards. Many of them have been with the company for years.

Fred. Olsen has never really been known for its nightlife, but I have to admit that most of the passengers seemed more than happy with it overall. That said, the quality of live music on board the Braemar was never less than excellent.

On this cruise, the small size of the ship meant that she could enter many of the smaller, less well known fjords that the other ships had to bypass. The Braemar offered us a truly 'up close and personal' vantage point to see the highlights of summertime Norway. Those views were seldom short of heart stopping at any hour of the day or night.

Quality and value lie at the heart of the Braemar cruise experience, though the ship does suffer from some vibration right aft at times, especially when getting under way or turning in sheltered waters.

That said, this pretty little ship is brimming with charm and sheer charisma from bow to stern. A great buy at an outstanding price.