Fred Olsen Borealis · CruiseFans

Category Scores

General / Balanced Young Family Luxury Traveler Mature Couple / Retired Solo Traveler Active / Adventure Adult Couples

Space & Comfort

50Beats 28% of ships

Dining

64Beats 40% of ships

Entertainment

67Beats 42% of ships

Activities & Thrills

43Beats 23% of ships

Pools & Relaxation

67Beats 43% of ships

Value / Cost

62Top 23% of ships

Line shading shows where all scored ships land in each category · dot = this ship · scored for the traveller type selected above

What We Like

No standout strengths yet.

−

Worth Knowing

Activities & Thrills is a relative weak point at 43/100

Daily gratuities are expected on top of the fare

General

Cruise LineFred Olsen

Ship NameBorealis

Maiden voyage5th July 2021

Physical

Year Built1997

Refurbished

ⓘ

The year of the ship's most recent major refit or renovation.

2020

BuilderFincantieri

Gross Tonnage

ⓘ

A measure of a ship's enclosed volume, not its weight. Higher usually means more decks, space and amenities.

61,849 tons

Length

ⓘ

Overall length of the hull from bow to stern.

237.9 m

Width/Beam

ⓘ

The ship's width at its widest point. A wider hull is steadier but limits which ports and canals it can use.

32.3 m

Total decks

ⓘ

Total number of decks, including crew-only and service decks.

Passenger Decks10

Speed

ⓘ

Cruising speed in knots (nautical miles per hour). One knot is about 1.15 mph.

24 knots

Passengers and Crew

Crew1,036

Passenger to Crew Ratio

ⓘ

Guests per crew member. Lower means more staff per passenger, which usually means more attentive service.

2.1

Total Cabins1,339

Single Occupancy Cabins

ⓘ

Whether the ship has cabins built for solo travellers (often without a single supplement).

Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins39

Passenger Capacity

ⓘ

The maximum number of guests the ship can carry at full occupancy.

2,668

Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)

ⓘ

Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity — a rough 'spaciousness' gauge. Higher means more room per guest.

23.182

Amenities

RestaurantsIncluded: Aurora Restaurant, Borealis Restaurant (main dining), The View (casual buffet), The Poolside, Serenity Tea Room. Specialty/paid: Colours & Tastes (Asian/Italian/grill rotating menu, incl. Chef's Table experience), Fresco (Mediterranean alfresco, added Nov 2025 refit).

Restaurants - Paid2

Restaurants - Included5

Onboard Currency

ⓘ

The currency used for onboard purchases and billing.

US Dollar

Total Pools2

- Pools - General Access2

- Pools - Adults Only1

- Pools - Exclusive1

Outdoor Pools1

Indoor Pools1

Retractable Roof Pools1

Water Playground/Splash ParkNo

Kiddie/Splash PoolNo

Total Hot Tubs7

- Hot Tubs - General Access2

- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2

- Hot Tubs - Exclusive2

WiFiYes

Internet CenterYes

Cell Phone ServiceNo

Bars/Lounges8

Beauty Salon/Barber ShopYes

CasinoYes

ChapelNo

Night ClubYes

Laundromats (self service)No

Laundry/Dry CleaningYes

LibraryYes

Movie TheatreNo

Outdoor Movie ScreenNo

Onboard WeddingsNo

SpaYes

Video ArcadeYes

Basketball CourtYes

Sports CourtYes

Tennis CourtNo

Fitness CenterYes

Ice Skating RinkNo

Jogging TrackNo

Mini-Golf CourseNo

Rock Climbing WallNo

Water SlideNo

Water Sports PlatformNo

24-Hour Room ServiceYes

BabysittingNo

Children's PlayroomNo

Supervised Youth ProgramYes

Teen CenterNo

Kosher MealsYes

Adult Only Relaxation AreaYes

Special AmenitiesAtlantis Spa with thermal suite and private hot tub; Observatory Lounge with panoramic views; art studios (The Olsen Art Studio, The Earth Room, The Botanical Room); library and card rooms; boutique shops.

Costs and Gratuities

Tip added to drinks & services

ⓘ

The automatic gratuity percentage added to bar tabs and paid services.

Tipping Expected?Yes

Registry & Identifiers

Call sign

ⓘ

The ship's unique radio identifier used in maritime communications.

C6ES4

IMO number

ⓘ

A permanent 7-digit ID assigned to the hull for life, even if the ship is later renamed or sold.

9122552

MMSI number

ⓘ

A 9-digit radio ID broadcast by the ship's transponder for tracking and communications.

311000987

Port of registry

ⓘ

The ship's legal home port and country of registration — its 'flag'.

Until 2020: Rotterdam, Netherlands. Since 2020: Bahamas