Elegant but not stuffy' best describes the atmosphere you'll discover on board Braemar. Expansive windows, large open decks and terraces, as well as a spectacular five-deck atrium create a sense of space noticeably absent from so many of today's cities that go to sea. Enhancing the stylish mood are polished woods and gleaming brass, set off by gentle lighting and rich fabrics in soft, tasteful hues.

Having decided to spend Christmas and New Year cruising around the Caribbean on board Fred Olsen's Braemar, Sales Consultant Chris and her partner Scott flew out to Barbados to join the ship.
'We were able to relax knowing that once our luggage had been checked in at Manchester airport we wouldn't have to see it again until it was in our cabin on board Braemar. As this was an eight-hour flight we upgraded our seats to Premium Economy to take advantage of the extra legroom seats and priority boarding.' Says Chris. 'On landing at Barbados we were pleased to see a coach waiting for us on the tarmac ready to take us straight to the port.'

Chris had only previously sailed on larger vessels so she wasn't sure whether Braemar could live up to her expectations with regards to entertainment and choice on board.
'Having seen Braemar moored along side P&O Cruises Oceana and Holland America's Noordam, it really hit home how much smaller she was at 19,000 tons. However, our impressions altered immediately once we'd stepped aboard. We were met by friendly officers and offered a glass of mulled wine before being shown to our cabin.'

'The ship was pleasantly adorned with Christmas decorations, and our fellow passengers had brought with them their own Christmas cheer, adding a few of their own decorations or cards to their cabin doors. The ship felt surprisingly spacious considering her size, and the interior décor was extremely well designed. This was the same within our cabin.'

Chris and Scott chose a D grade outside cabin on Atlantic deck for its mid-ship location.
'The cabin was certainly large enough with full-length mirrors on the doors creating a bright and airy atmosphere. ' Says Chris. 'There was plenty of hanging space in the wardrobes and the cases tucked away nicely under the bed. There were no tea or coffee making facilities but this wasn't a problem as we could ring for room service any time of the day at no extra charge. We were always served promptly by our cabin steward. Tipping was also left to our discretion, and towards the end of our cruise we were provided with small envelopes. The literature in our cabin suggested a gratuity amount of £2 each per day for our cabin steward and waiter. The high level of service we received throughout our stay definitely met our expectations.'

'The entertainment on board was marvellous,' says Chris. 'During the day there were several activities provided, such as quizzes and painting classes. The most popular seemed to be the dance class - it was always in full attendance. I'm still convinced this was because of the two charming resident dance hosts! We enjoyed the evening productions even though they weren't on as large a scale as the Broadway shows found on larger superliners, yet it was apparent a lot of thought and effort had gone into them.'

'Most evenings as we set sail for our next port of call, we'd go out on deck towards the aft of the ship and visit the resident steel drummer accompanied by the Braemar Orchestra. They were sensational and it really created a tropical feel, perfect for the Caribbean. New Year's Eve went with a bang as we watched a spectacular fireworks display, drank Champagne and danced the night away. A tremendous effort had gone into decorating the ship for the occasion.'

The cruise sailed around the Caribbean for two weeks, taking in idyllic ports such as Tortola, Antigua and St Lucia. Chris and Scott booked a shore excursion in Jamaica onboard Braemar, and they were particularly impressed with their local guide on this trip.
'Our coach driver was obviously very proud of his country and he gave a very informative talk en-route to the Rio Grande where we had our rafting excursion. Each of our fellow passengers later spoke very highly of the tours they'd experienced. Our Cruise Director Anthony was also very charismatic, and as he announced our arrival into each port he'd share his knowledge of the destinations, like which were the best beaches, or where to go for the best shopping etc. We were provided with a daily on board newspaper which explained what events were on and at what time each day, and helpful information about the ports we were visiting.'

Back on board the couple particularly enjoyed their evening meals as the menus offered sumptuous cuisine and plenty of variety. 'Scott prefers plain food and we found the Maitre' d and our head waiter to be extremely accommodating. We also liked the fact we could select our wine prior to our designated dining time so it was waiting for us on the table when we arrived in the restaurant.'

The staff on board were all so friendly, with bar staff remembering our names and our favourite tipple. You even saw the Captain, Age Danielson strolling around the ship and taking the time to chat to passengers. There was a mixed age group on board, with the majority of passengers being of a more senior age, yet families and children were still very well catered for. Children had their own supervised play area on board, leaving parents to enjoy the disco in the Skylark Room, watch a show or join in with a quiz. There were a number of singles on board too, so there was a real sociable atmosphere on board.'

Chris says of her time on board Braemar, 'Having now experienced a smaller cruise ship it has definitely dispelled any pre-conceived ideas I initially had about it. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this ship to anybody as I feel it really has wonderful atmosphere on board, with plenty of modern facilities. Thank you Fred Olsen for a wonderful holiday!'

Click on the ship name to read more staff cruise reviews:

P&O Cruises' Arcadia
P&O Cruises' Oriana
P&O Cruises' Oceana
Sea Princess
Ocean Village
RCI's Voyager of the Seas
Hebridean Spirit
Family Cruising aboard Oceana

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