Written by Andy, Sales Consultant.
Our holiday got off to a stress-free start, and as this was our first time sailing from the UK, my wife Jayne and I were pleasantly surprised with the well-organised car parking system. We drove to the terminal building at Dover and were able to pull up and unload our cases straight onto the porter’s trolley, then go and park our car in the secure car park. From here check-in was fluent and we only had a short wait to board Boudicca. We thought this a much better way to travel than sitting in airport departure lounges for hours on end!

The ship appeared bigger than I had imagined, and once onboard we were invited to take a short guided tour of the ship to help find our way around. All the staff were immediately warm and courteous, and we were personally shown to our cabin. Having only sailed on larger vessels, I was slightly apprehensive about the amount of activities and choice of facilities there may be, but having toured the ship my mind was straight away put to ease.  
 
I would say the ship had plentiful public areas for all passengers to enjoy, from the Observatory Lounge at the front of the ship where you could relax and follow the ships’ progress, to the Neptune and Lido Lounges where acitivities took place. Tea and coffee were readily available in each of the lounges with a full selection including speciality and herbal teas. The ship also had a large library/games room, which appeared to be a popular haunt. We noticed smoking was restricted to designated areas around the ship.

The daytime and evening activities were both varied and entertaining. The craft workshops on board proved to be extremely popular, so much so that they were moved to the restaurant and were full on every occasion. The entertainment staff worked very hard, and the cabaret shows drew everybody in with their comedians and magician. The films on offer on our in-cabin television were a nice mixture of old and new.

We had chosen this Artic Glacier cruise not only for the fascinating ports of call, but also because it was Fred Olsen’s popular Artsclub Photography cruise. Fred Olsen’s Artsclub cruises are an excellent opportunity for enthusiasts to combine the relaxation of a cruise holiday, whilst indulging in a special interest. Example topics include gardening, music, painting and antiques to name a few. Each of these specialist cruises includes an expert Guest Lecturer on board, a celebrated master in their own field, who is on hand to share their knowledge and experiences through lectures, discussions, or relaxed get-togethers during days at sea.
 
The Artsclub photography cruise was understandably held on this particular itinerary, due to the stunning Nordic vistas, contrasting scenery, and the marine, bird and wildlife population. A photographer’s paradise, Jayne and I relished the opportunity to practice taking some fantastic pictures.

Throughout the cruise, the ship held a photograph competition, whereby entrants could choose from three categories from which to take the best photo: Landscape, Portrait or Life on board. It was this very competition where I claimed 2nd prize for my landscape photograph of a waterfall taken in Trollfjord, whilst catching a glimmer of a rainbow (see above right). More surprisingly, Jayne pipped me to 1st prize with her scenic photograph of Magdalene Fjord, seen through our cabin porthole! (see left). Jayne was thrilled to receive the winner’s a bottle of wine and leather notebook with pen. 

"Photography is all about being in the right place at the right time, and cruising certainly gives you that opportunity".

We did decide that this particular cruise was perhaps more suitable for adults rather than children, due to nature the ports we visited, although there were a small number of children on board, and they seemed happy and well looked after. There was a children’s club offering varied activities for them. Single travellers were very well catered for, with a small number of single cabins to accommodate them, and dance hosts and regular singles gatherings enabled people to get to know one another in relaxed surroundings. The whole atmosphere on board Boudicca was warm and friendly.

The dining options on board Boudicca were impressive. We ate in the main restaurant mostly, but tried alternative dining rooms such as Tintagel, Secret Garden and the Four Seasons restaurant. The service we received from our waiters was outstanding, and the ship also provided an excellent selection of wines, beers and spirits all comparable prices to the UK.  

Both Jayne and I were of the same opinion, that a cruise aboard Boudicca is a great way to holiday in relaxing surroundings, and to enjoy stunning scenery. Her amiable atmosphere, excellent cuisine, professional staff and choice of itineraries departing from the UK all make for a perfect alternative style of holiday. We’d like to thank Fred Olsen for our wonderful holiday experience, and we will certainly be happy to travel with them again.