What better way to spend quality time with your mum, family or friends than on a mini cruise?

The Boudicca ship stands proud in Liverpool Port, where embarkation makes you think twice about flying ever again.  It’s so easy and straightforward and totally stress free! The Fred. Olsen cruise ship is heading to Ireland taking 880 eager passengers on a four night break to discover Cobn, Dublin and Belfast before returning back to Liverpool.

The view from the Ship as we leave Liverpool

The ship is nearly 206m long and it’s crewed by 372 enthusiastic and attentive staff looking after 880 passengers.  You can choose a premier or superior cabin or a balcony suite, inside or outside.  We opted for a superior outside cabin with a balcony – it gave us lots of comfortable space.

On board there’s a million and one interesting things to keep you entertained on board.

Stimulating port talks, guest speakers, yoga fitball and pilates – and this is all before breakfast!  Aside from all the entertainment you also have to make time to enjoy all the food the chefs have prepared.  At the start of the break you think you might be able to watch what you eat, by the end of the holiday a full English breakfast, three course lunch and a five course supper is the norm, and you begin to wonder how you ever managed to survive with just a one course meal at home.

A highlight worth experiencing is the ‘White Glove Service’ tea time with speciality loose teas immaculately served to you in a traditional way in the Observatory Lounge on the top Deck 11.

This area at the front of the ship has fabulous panoramic views and it is a special place to spend an afternoon.

Adjacent to the Observatory Lounge on top Deck 11, you will find lots of space on the sundeck to sit outside. There is a bar, a swimming pool with two Jacuzzis, together with sunbathing loungers and comfortable seating to read your book or chat to your new found friends, but this should idea should be saved for a summer cruise, rather than a winter Irish sea cruise (although I did see some brave, or some might say mad) people in the Jacuzzi.

After a busy day meeting new people, being entertained and what seemed like eating your body weight in delicious food, the only thing left to do is to get ready for the night’s entertainment. Most ladies visit the Beauty Salon and Hairdressers in the Atlantis Spa where there’s some amazing treatments to choose from.  Over the break I spent some time having my hair done, getting a relaxing back massage and also received a Collagen Facial treatment.  The therapists and hairdressers are very professional and well trained.

The evening shows are spectacularly good. We watched ‘A Night of Variety’ by talented singers, dancers and musicians.  If that’s not your thing, then you can head to the casino tables for some Roulette and Black Jack or the Library and Internet Room to catch up on reading and current affairs.

The ship sailed overnight, so every morning we woke up to a new destination.  From Liverpool the route took us to Cobn, Dublin, Belfast and back to Liverpool. Fred. Olsen offers travellers options for different shore tours at each destination or you can stay on the glorious ship, watch the world go by and sit back and relax.

How to Book A Similar Cruise:

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com or call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm; Saturday, 9am – 5pm; Sunday, 10am – 4pm).

A similar cruise with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2017 with be an eight-night ‘UK Scenes from the Silver Screen’ cruise on board Balmoral (L1717), departing from Newcastle on 6^th August 2017.  Ports of call include: Oban, cruising by Duart Castle, cruising Firth of Lorn, calling at Belfast, Dublin, Falmouth and Portland, returning to Newcastle on 14^th August 2017.

Prices currently start from £1,099 per person, based on an interior twin-bedded room, subject to availability, and includes all food and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

Further details of this cruise can be found on this link:  http://www.fredolsencruises.com/places-we-visit/cruise-holiday/uk-scenes-from-the-silver-screen-l1717?referrer=7&isback=1

Kate & her mum were guests of Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines.  Many thanks to them for their hospitality. x