Braemar

Thistle Restaurant

Located on Main Deck 4 at the base of the ship’s beautiful Atrium, the Thistle is Braemar’s largest restaurant. Tastefully decorated in creamy-beige and mocha coloured furnishings, the Thistle assumes an air of timeless style and elegance.

Thanks to large picture windows, guests can take in spectacular views from their spacious table and comfortable chair while devouring delicious, five-course á la carte dinners in the evening, as well as hearty breakfasts every morning.

Grampian Restaurant

Smaller and cosier than the Thistle Restaurant, the Grampian is popular with guests who prefer an even more intimate dining experience. The table sizes in the Grampian are perfect for enjoying Fred. Olsen’s renowned delectable dining in the company of a loved one, or just a few of your new-found friends.

Located at the top of the Braemar’s stunning Atrium on Marquee Deck, The Grampian is enhanced further by large windows providing breathtaking views to enjoy in the comfort of newly updated seating, as our friendly waiters cater to your every need.

The Palms Café

Completely refurbished as part of Braemar’s extensive refit in late 2017, the Palms Café has been improved with new, stylish upholstery, soft furnishings and seating to create an inviting space in which to enjoy a more relaxed, slightly less formal style of dining.

Although we’ve changed the look of the Palms Café, you can still expect to enjoy an array of tempting buffet dishes here – perfect if you would prefer to not dine at a set time, or are simply looking for a late night snack. And, of course, every dish available will be expertly prepared to Fred. Olsen’s renowned high standards.

The Grill

For an extra special dining experience, book a table at The Grill for dining at its finest.

Open in warm weather, The Grill – located at the stern of the ship on Lido Deck – combines the relaxing sounds of the ocean with incredible views and fantastic food – a real feast for all the senses. Indulge at lunchtime, or perhaps treat yourself to The Grill’s premium dinner menu in the evening – a unique experience that’s not to be missed.

Room Service

All rooms and Suites have tea and coffee making facilities as standard, so you can enjoy a pick-me-up first thing, and a relaxing drink at the end of the day. For those times when you’d like something more while you’re in your home-from-home at sea you can also order room service up until 11pm every day.

Continental breakfast can be ordered in advance for delivery at your preferred time, while snacks are available from 10am onwards. Should you prefer not to head to the restaurants, short lunch and dinner menus are also available. Whatever the time of day, you’ll never be hungry on a Fred. Olsen cruise.

Afternoon Tea

Each day complimentary afternoon tea is served, with sandwiches, scones and cakes, along with fresh tea and coffee, always a popular choice.

On some days guests can book a very select experience: Traditional Premium Afternoon Tea. Enjoy beautiful views from the stylish Observatory Lounge, with musical accompaniment from our on board pianist and the careful attention of white-gloved waiters.

Your choice from a selection of premium teas by Taylors of Harrogate is served in porcelain teapots, along with elegant finger sandwiches, pastries and warm scones with jam and clotted cream. Such civilised indulgence – and all for only £9.95 per person*.

Card Room

Featuring plenty of card tables and comfortable chairs, the Card Room on board Braemar provides guests∘ with a quiet, relaxing space to enjoy a competitive hand or two, or simply a bit of fun. Bridge is always a popular pursuit on board, so you’re sure to find players up for a challenge. On some cruises, Bridge tuition is on offer to help you develop your skills.

If you prefer, asides from playing cards, there are jigsaws and board games for you to have a go at too.

Photo Gallery

View those photos taken by the ships photographers, capturing those all important holiday memories from going ashore to formal night. These are displayed each day and can be viewed and purchased in the Photo Gallery.

Library

Located in the Bookmark Café on Lounge Deck, Braemar’s well-appointed library provides a wide variety of books and publications, including some large print books, to delve into, accompanied by speciality coffees, teas and tempting chocolates served at this quiet, comfortable space. 

Morning Light Pub

With its welcoming, friendly atmosphere and charming traditional style, Braemar’s Morning Light Pub assumes the feel of your very own local at sea. Open throughout the day and the evening, it’s the ideal place to relax and socialise with friends and fellow guests.

Perhaps enjoy a quick pint or a glass of wine at lunch before spending the afternoon ashore; stop by for a pre-dinner drink; or settle into a comfortable seat and relax long into the night while enjoying performances from live bands and comedians.

Observatory Lounge

Located on Marquee Deck at the very top of Braemar, the Observatory Lounge boasts the most spectacular panoramic views and is a wonderful place to enjoy a pre-dinner drink. Sit by the bar, or perhaps take a seat by the lounge’s large windows and lose yourself in the stunning sights while listening to the twinkling sounds of a grand piano.

The Observatory Lounge is also the venue for our premium Traditional Afternoon Tea service, which offers guests a selection of delicious sandwiches, cakes, pastries and scones accompanied by premium teas and unforgettable views. 

Boutique

The Boutique features a wide range of luxury gifts for yourself and your loved ones. It offers a wide range of fragrance, cosmetics, bags, clothing & fashion accessories from designer brands such as Dior, Estee Lauder, Leighton Denny, Radley & Fiorelli, all at duty-free prices.

Port Shop

The Port Shop onboard stocks all the holiday essentials that you may have forgotten to pack from toiletries to sun hats or even a good book. You’ll also find a wide range of sweet treats and savoury snacks – perfect for whilst onboard or as gifts to take home.

Neptune Lounge

The Neptune Lounge is the larger of Braemar’s two main show theatres, although music and entertainment is on offer throughout the ship, and is the venue for a variety of shows, events and performances.

Thanks to extensive improvements made as part of Braemar’s thorough refit in 2017, which included the fitting of brand new carpets, furnishings and extra seating, the Neptune Lounge is now an even more comfortable place to enjoy port talks, lectures and more throughout the day, and variety of glamourous entertainment, music, dance, comedy and costumes every evening.

Braemer Room

The Braemar Room retains an atmosphere of refined elegance. Ideal for meeting fellow passengers, catching up on that best-seller or listening to the resident string trio. The Braemar Room is also adjacent to the Library, Card Room, Morning Light Pub and Boutique, so is an integral area of the cruise ship.

Marquee Pool Bar

Situated on Marquee Deck, close to the ship’s sun loungers, swimming pools and jacuzzis, the Marquee Bar is the perfect place to take a break from the sunshine to grab a refreshing drink or a light bite to eat, or simply enjoy some time in the cooling shade.

Featuring plenty of comfortable rattan furniture, the Marquee Bar is an ideal spot for meeting friends for an alfresco pre-dinner drink too, while in warmer climes it is also the venue for fantastic late-night deck parties. 

Coral Club

This sophisticated lounge, seating 170 guests, is the venue for intimate evening shows, great music for dancing to resident live bands, as well as occasional late night cabarets.

It offers alternative shows to those in the Neptune Lounge, which are also given in two performances. It is also the location for the ever-popular on board Bingo. In the evenings here you may wish to enjoy to sample a fine selection of premium gins from our gin menu. 

The Bookmark Cafe

Life on the ocean waves doesn’t mean having to sacrifice the regular ‘caffeine fix’ at your favourite coffee shop. The Bookmark Café serves a selection of delicious speciality coffees – espresso, cappuccino, mocha, iced lattes and more – along with quality tea blends.

Enjoy a quiet moment with a book or share the experience with good conversation. You’re sure to be tempted by our heavenly fresh chocolates too. From pralines to Champagne truffles, these melt-in-the-mouth treats are too good to miss. Alternatively, the friendly Barista will be happy to fill your reusable cup with the beverage of your choice, to enjoy on a stroll around deck or as you explore ashore.

The popular Bookmark Bestseller, which includes seven quality beverages and a bag of luxurious truffles for £15.95 per person, can be booked before you cruise.

Daytime Activities

Whilst on board Braemar you’ll be treated to guest speakers and performers, art and craft lessons, fun quizzes and much more, along with yoga, Pilates and other fitness activities to suit your needs and interests. Most daytime activities will be held either out on the Marquee Deck in the sea air, or at the large Neptune Lounge, sociable Coral Club or comfortable Morning Light Pub.

On sea days, it’s our pleasure to inspire you with the chance to learn new hobbies or skills. You could choose from photography talks, ballroom dancing lessons, singing and language classes, theatre workshops or even watercolour tutorials. Activities vary from cruise to cruise and are highlighted each day in your copy of the Daily Times. 

Evening Entertainment

When the lights go down on board Braemar, we’ll treat you to a selection of live shows ranging from music and cabaret to quick-fire stand-up comedy. Just relax, sit back and enjoy the fabulous acts with your favourite tipple or cocktail in the Neptune Lounge. After the main show, there’s usually a chance to catch a set from our Ship’s Orchestra and show-off your dance moves. With our talented Dance Hosts on hand, no-one goes too long without a dance partner.

As well as enjoying the evening show, you can join new-found friends in the welcoming Morning Light Pub to enjoy performances from talented solo acts over a sociable drink; dance the night away to tunes performed by your ship’s resident band in the Coral Club; or even take a moonlight stroll out on the open decks. For a magical end to your evening, head to the Observatory to enjoy a late-night drink accompanied by the sounds of a twinkling grand piano. 

Atlantis Spa and Salon

Refresh the mind and revive the body at Braemar’s haven of relaxation. The soothing surroundings of the Atlantis Spa is where you can really treat yourself.

Situated on Atlantic Deck and open daily between 8am & 8pm, this luxurious spa offers a wide range of beauty and relaxation treatments, including massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and hairdressing. Perhaps try out a new style for your holiday; get set for a formal evening or special occasion; or simply unwind after a busy day of exploring ashore. 

Fitness Centre

Enjoy wanders along the open promenade under moonlight or as the sun slowly rises on the horizon; unwind in the sauna and steam room; let the bubbling jacuzzis soothe you; and take a refreshing dip in the heated pool, all without having to endure queues for the ship’s facilities and ever feeling overcrowded. You can treat yourself to hours of unspoilt relaxation, ensuring your holiday is as restful, energising and invigorating as it should be.

While there’s so much time to relax and indulge on board, there’s no need to stray too far away from your usual healthy lifestyle. At Braemar’s fully-equipped Fitness Centre you can stick to your regular fitness routine; and even try your hand at number of classes including yoga, aerobics and Pilates, so there’s reason to feel guilty about having that extra course at dinner.

Golfing

For those keen golfers, take in sweeping sea views as you hone your perfect swing. Take some time to yourself in the practice golf nets.

Swimming pools

Keep fit by swimming a few lengths, or cool down after relaxing in the sunshine on deck in Braemar’s large, heated saltwater pools. Located in the centre of Marquee Deck, both pools have bubbling Jacuzzis close by, perfect for whiling away some time on sea days, or unwinding after an exciting exploration ashore.

Whirlpools

Guests can find two whirlpools, situated on the Marquee deck.

Promenade

Feel a gentle morning sea breeze, take an afternoon meander, or a stroll by moonlight. Take a walk on the decks of the cruise ship and watch the ocean pass by. You can play shuffle board or deck quoits on the promenade, but don’t forget to look up- there could be beautiful scenery coming up on your horizon.

Arts and Crafts room

The Arts & Crafts Room on board your cruise ship is the perfect space to explore your ideas and designs with arts and crafts lecturers. So, for the creative amongst you, there will be plenty to keep you entertained throughout∘ your cruise holiday, and perhaps leave you with your own self-crafted souvenir to take home.

Guest Speakers

Our range of fascinating lectures from leading experts are always popular on board. Previous subjects have included wine tasting, the sky at night, maritime history and piloting Concorde.

Equally, guests value an insight into the destination they’re heading to our knowledgeable port lecturers share all the information you’ll need for venturing ashore, so you can be confident of making the most of your time in each port of call.

On board Braemar, our comfortable and spacious Neptune Lounge and Coral Club are ideal venues, with plenty of seating available and friendly staff on hand to serve you with your favourite tipple as you enrich your cruise experience. 

Special Dietary Requirements

Individual needs are as catered for as possible. So, vegetarian, low fat, dairy-free, lactose-free and gluten-free food are all on the menu.
Please make any special requests when∘ you make your cruise∘ booking, and Fred. Olsen will do their best to source exact products, or provide certain foods, such as diabetic desserts. They may not be able to source specific brands given our location or the availability at local ports.

Dress Code

When it comes to evenings onboard your cruise ship, dressing for dinner is traditional. Generally the style is smart casual, with gentlemen wearing a jacket/or shirt and tie and ladies smartly dressed. Chino type trousers∘ or smart dark jeans are acceptable, but no trainers.
During the day the restaurants require∘ cruise guests to adhere to an appropriate dress code, i.e. no swimwear.

E-cigarette Policy

Electronic cigarettes, not emitting a vapour may be used in cabins or on cabin balconies but are not permitted in any non-smoking public area. They can easily be mistaken for a real cigarette and result in potential confrontation∘ and necessitate staff intervention. Electronic cigarettes emitting any vapour, even if only a water vapour, may only be smoked in designated external smoking areas.

Disabled facilities

Fred. Olsen welcomes all guests relying∘ on wheelchairs for mobility onboard cruise ships. but they do ask that you advise them of your mobility needs at the time of booking in order to meet their health & safety requirements.

Environmental

At Fred. Olsen we are committed to reducing the impact we have on the environment around us.

With our ships sailing to the four corners of the earth, we want to minimise the impact we make on all the beautiful places we visit and ensure that they are protected for future generations. As a company, we strive to comply with all environmental requirements and take steps to exceed them whenever possible.

Continuing our ongoing efforts to help alleviate plastic pollution and its global environmental impact, single use plastic water bottles∘ are no longer available to purchase throughout our fleet, for guests or crew, and glass carafes, which are replenished daily, are in use in all cabins.

Guests can bring their own refillable water bottles, or purchase on board in the ship’s Port Shop; these can be filled in any of our bars, and we are in the process of installing water stations across the fleet.

Little changes can make a big difference

✔ We have removed all single-use coffee cups, plastic cutlery and plastic straws

✔ Plastic jam and butter portions have been replaced with refillable options

✔ New linen bags have replaced plastic laundry bags

✔ The consumption of cling film in The Galley has been reduced

✔ Ropes are now used to secure items during rough seas rather than plastic

✔ Wooden pencils are provided in cabins, instead of plastic pens

✔ All printed marketing communication is on responsibly sourced FSC approved paper

Refill your water bottle!

We are excited to be supporting the Refill Campaign, run by environmental campaigning organisation City to Sea, to raise awareness of the impact of single-use plastic water bottles on the environment, and encourage people to use refillable water bottles instead.

A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and it’s predicted that figure will rise by another 20% by 2021.

Find out more about how you could save money, stay hydrated and help prevent plastic pollution at source with Refill.

Download the Refill app to find your nearest station today and become a ‘Refill Champion’.

Fuel

Fred. Olsen comply with all international policies and take steps to exceed them whenever possible.

Our ocean-going ships use a mix of Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). As we approach port of calls and sail through special emission control areas, the LSFO – which has a sulphur content of just 0.1% – is used. Outside of these areas, we switch to the use of HFO, which contains a sulphur content of 1-2%. Both fuels are currently below the existing global sulphur limit.

From 1st January 2020, the limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas will be reduced to 0.50%. We have already started to take steps to switch our ships to lower emission fuel where possible.

Waste Recycling

All waste created on board is taken to a dedicated waste and recycling∘ sorting area on the vessel.

It is then separated into glass, metal cans, paper/cardboard, plastic, food waste and general waste. Once sorted, these materials are compacted and stored ready to be offloaded at the next available port. Cooking oil is also offloaded in port, so that it can be repurposed.

Food waste is, on some occasions, pulped and then discharged into the sea in accordance with Marpol regulations, as food waste can be eaten by fish. In addition, some items are incinerated on board, again in accordance with all environmental and safety regulations.

Other Details

Children: Kids allowed

Childrens Facilities: None

Nursery: None

Smoking: Some

Celebrity Ties: Enter Celebrities which are tied in…

Gratuities: Gratuities for our dedicated service team are not included in the cost of your holiday. While tipping is entirely at your discretion, we pride ourselves on the service offered to our guests, and are confident that you’ll wish to reward staff on board for the attention you receive. Typically, gratuities are charged at £5.00 per person, per day for guests aged 12 and over. This amount is split equally between your stewardess and restaurant waiter, and will be automatically added to your on board account. While very much appreciated, these gratuities are voluntary, and therefore can be adjusted or removed completely at Guest Services on board the ship if you wish; and you are welcome to tip personally if you prefer. For your convenience, you can also pre-pay gratuities before your cruise. We’ll check with you at the time of booking if you’d like to pay prior to your cruise. Pre-payment can be made anytime up to 5 days before departure by simply calling our Guest Services team on 0800 0355 145 or e-mail [email protected]

Wheelchair Cabins: 4 available