Fred. Olsen Bolette Cabins to Avoid

I’ve sailed on Bolette in an Oceanview cabin and had a great experience. But, you do want to make sure you don’t get a dud cabin – one that isn’t suited to you.

So, in this guide, I’ll explain all of the accommodation options on Bolette, and let you know some cabins to avoid when you make your booking (depending on how you like to cruise).

How To Choose the Best Cruise Cabin

While this guide is tailored towards Bolette, there are some tips which apply to any cruise ship and any cruise line.

I’ve made a handy checklist so that you always have those tips to hand, and you can get a copy sent straight to your inbox. Just let me know your email address…

The Different Rooms on Bolette

Despite there being just 690 cabins (including suites) to choose from on Bolette, you still have some big decisions to make. That’s because there are still 18 different cabin and suite options available – plenty of choice!

Here’s a look at all of the different cabin and suite options on Bolette, summarised to help you make your mind up on which is best for you.

Cabin	Type	Category	Max. Guests	Decks	Average Size (sq. ft.)
Single Interior	Inside	N	1	1	182
Interior	Inside	H, I	2-4	1-3	182
Single Superior Interior	Inside	M	1	2, 7	182
Superior Interior	Inside	G	2	2, 3, 6	182
Ocean View (Porthole)	Ocean View	F	2	1, 2	214
Ocean View Adapted (Porthole)	Ocean View	FD	2	1	214
Single Ocean View (Picture Window)	Ocean View	K	1	1-3	214
Ocean View (Picture Window)	Ocean View	D, E	2	1, 2	214
Superior Ocean View	Ocean View	B, C	2	3, 6	190-214
Superior Ocean View Adapted	Ocean View	BD	2	3, 6	214
Superior Ocean View Fully Restricted	Ocean View	CO	2	3	214
Terrace Cabin	Balcony	TC	2	3	218
Single Balcony Suite	Suite	JB	1	6	244
Balcony Junior Suite	Suite	BJ	2	6	244
Balcony Suite	Suite	BS	2	6	292-337
Premier Suite	Suite	PS	2	7	568-644
Premier Adapted Suite	Suite	PSD	2	7	568-644
Olsen Suite	Suite	OW	2	7	1,181

Bolette Room Sizes

Most of the rooms on Bolette are a standard size, but there are a few that fall within a range. The best thing you can do is check out the Bolette deck plans on the Fred. Olsen website, as you can then browse to see which of the rooms is the biggest. They’re accurate and to scale, so if a room looks bigger on the deck plans, that means it is.

Bolette Cabins to Avoid

Here are some of the Bolette cabins you might want to avoid – though they aren’t ‘bad’ cabins, just some that you may or may not prefer.

1. Terrace Cabins

Bolette doesn’t have any regular balcony cabins. Instead, it can either offer a suite with a private balcony, or a Terrace Cabin.

Terrace Cabins are all situated on Deck 3, which is the Promenade Deck. Each cabin has sliding doors that open out directly onto the promenade, so instead of a private balcony, think of it as a giant balcony that wraps around the whole ship that you share with all the other guests!

You do get two sun loungers, which are exclusively for your use, situated right outside your cabin. And it’s important to note that the glass is one-way, so people can’t wander around the promenade and stare into each room.

Still, if you don’t want to risk someone hovering right outside your cabin, or walking past, you might prefer to upgrade to a suite with a balcony, so you have your own space.

After all, if you really do want to sit out on this deck, there are also some loungers that are free for anyone to use. But the loungers at the aft are much more comfy and have nicer wake views.

2. Porthole Cabins

Many of the Ocean View cabins on Deck 1 and Deck 2 have portholes instead of a larger picture window. You aren’t limited to just one porthole, you do get two – but the experience isn’t the same.

Porthole cabins aren’t really any good if you want to enjoy the view. Firstly, they’re pretty tiny. And secondly, you need to bend over and peer through, and with them being lower on the ship the views aren’t great anyway.

If you don’t care about the view, and only want some natural light, then these cabins are a good choice (and they’re cheaper than Picture Window Ocean View cabins). Otherwise, consider booking another cabin type if you want to be able to enjoy that sea view from your cosy cabin.

3. Cabins Under the Pool Deck

Premier Suites 7007 to 7017

Whenever I write guides on cabins to avoid, one of the most common complaints I find is about noisy cabins, typically above the theatre, or near the engines. But to be honest, the noise complaints on social media and forums for Bolette are almost non-existent.

That’ll be helped by the typical audience, who generally aren’t late-night party animals, and the fact that the lowest cabins aren’t super-close to the engine deck.

One potential noise issue is with the pool deck, which is directly above some of the Premier Suites on Deck 7. It’s not the actual pool that can be noisy, but the decking area when people wake up early and go to move/reserve a lounger for the day, scraping it across the wood.

If you’re someone who tends to be awake early anyway then it’s not much of a problem at all. The sound is muffled, after all, and it only lasts a few seconds at a time at most.

However, if you’re a lighter sleeper and those cruise lie-ins are important to you, consider booking one of the suites further back on that deck.

4. Higher Cabins If You Suffer From Seasickness

Bolette isn’t a huge ship, but she is a little older, and without some of the latest innovations in stabilising technology, that does mean you can often feel the movement of the boat on the water, especially when you’re towards the front of the aft (rear) of the ship and on a higher deck.

The way Bolette’s accommodation is designed, the better cabin classes are further up, because they offer better views. I saw a great phrase when researching this guide – “The more you pay, the more you sway”, because the better a room you book, the higher up you are.

You can avoid this if you book a mid-ship cabin, since the motion is felt less there, but if you suffer from seasickness really badly then I’d recommend a lower deck.

Fresh air and a view of the horizon are helpful so this might actually be when a Terrace Cabin is worth choosing.

5. Connecting Cabins If Not Needed

Like many cruise ships, Bolette has connecting cabins. These are side-by-side cabins with an extra door between them, which normally stays locked on a cruise. However, if you book both adjacent cabins, you can ask for the door to be unlocked and essentially create one larger cabin for your travelling party.

This is the only other time where noise could play an issue though, because connecting doors on cruise ships are always worse than a metal wall for soundproofing. So, if you book one of the connecting rooms, you might hear the other guests in the adjoining room through the door.

Loud, rowdy passengers are rare on a Fred. Olsen cruise, so it shouldn’t be too much of a concern for you, but again light sleepers (especially if loud snoring drives you mad) might want to make sure they don’t get one of these rooms.

6. Part-Accessible Cabins If Using a Wheelchair

1806, 1807, 1955, 1964, 2500, 2700, 2702, 3393, 3394, 3428, 3433

On the official cabin listings for Bolette, rooms are either standard or they are designated as ‘Adapted’, meaning they offer extra features to accommodate guests with disabilities or accessibility requirements.

However, what you’ll only find out if you check the deck plans is that there are two kinds of adapted cabin – fully adapted, and part-adapted.

Fully adapted cabins are designed for guests with wheelchairs or who need extra room to manoeuvre, whereas part-accessible cabins don’t offer additional space but have an adapted bathroom with fold-down shower seat and grab bars.

Make sure, if you use a wheelchair or scooter, you book the right type of room. I’ve listed the part-adapted cabins above but you can also see them on the deck plans with the code PA.

7. Balcony Suites If You Hate Smoking

One of the quirks of Fred. Olsen cruises is that smoking is still permitted on balconies. Very few cruise lines still allow this, and usually have very limited smoking areas on the ship.

So, be aware that if you book a Balcony Suite of any kind on Bolette, you might be adjacent to someone smoking. An ashtray will be provided, too.

On a windy day, it might not be too bad as the smoke is quickly carried away, but I know some people hate the smell of smoke, so it’s good to be aware of these rules.

To be clear, it’s only in rooms with a private balcony where smoking is allowed. It’s not permitted in Terrace Cabins.

I suppose, if you are a smoker, this also makes these rooms even more appealing since you don’t need to trek to a designated public area to have a cigarette or use your vape.

However, it has been announced that this policy is changing and, from 1st April 2025, smoking and vaping will be banned on all balconies across the Fred. Olsen fleet. So, if you are concerned about smoke, it won’t be a problem for much longer.

Best Cabins on Bolette

Here’s a look at some of the best cabin options on Bolette:

1. Olsen Suites

The Olsen Suites are the best accommodation options on the ship. There are two, each offering almost 1,200 square feet of space – that’s around six times the amount of space you get in the smallest rooms on the ship.

They are still only one-bedroom accommodation options though – that extra space gives you a much bigger bathroom with an oversized bath, a separate shower, a spacious private balcony with loungers, and separate dining, dressing and sitting areas too.

You also get the Suite Dreams package, which comes with all the suites on the ship, which gets you:

• Priority check-in
• A welcome bottle of sparkling wine
• A fruit basket topped up throughout the cruise
• Free pressing for formal wear
• An afternoon canape service
• Use of binoculars, an atlas, a bathrobe and slippers in your suite, along with more luxurious towels
• Discounted laundry

So, while this is the most expensive option on Bolette, it’s worth considering if you want your cruise to feel even more special. If you deal with the orange flowery carpet and the orange velvet sofa, that is.

2. Single Cabins

Solo cruising is growing in popularity across the cruise industry, but it’s always been a popular option with Fred. Olsen. And so, Bolette caters to this with a range of single options, including interior and ocean view.

What’s great about these rooms is that they’re the exact same size as cabins for two people. In fact, in many cases, Fred. Olsen will just give you a cabin for two people.

When I cruised solo, I was given two twin beds. I would have preferred a double, but not enough to warrant asking my cabin steward to change it.

What’s really unique to Fred. Olsen is the option to book a solo suite – normally on a cruise, you’d be paying full price for two people if you wanted to enjoy a suite on your own.

If you’re looking for a solo cruise option then Bolette’s range of accommodation options is one of the most varied of all cruises.

3. Cabins With Bathtubs

When you look at the Bolette dekc plan, you’ll see that some of the cabins have triangle symbols on them. This means that they have bathtubs. The others have walk-in showers.

It doesn’t cost any different to have a bathtub or a shower. And if you do go for the bathtub option, you’ll have a shower over it, so you get the best of both.

If you enjoy a long soak at the end of the day, be sure to choose a room with a triangle symbol. Alternatively, if you struggle to step up and into a bath and prefer a shower, then you can make sure you get one of those.

What is the Best Deck on Bolette?

The best deck on Bolette is Deck 7, which is where you’ll find the Olsen Suites, the Premier Suites, and a handful of Single Interior and Ocean View rooms. Normally, you want to cruise with cabins above and below to minimise noise but on Bolette, noise is rarely an issue.

Being on Deck 7 not only means getting some of the best accommodation options but it also means you’re close to the pool and sports decks, yet not too far from the restaurants either.

What is the Best Room on Bolette?

The best rooms on Bolette are the Olsen Suites, but there are several good options, including the Premier Suites and the range of Single Cabin options. The least popular rooms are the Terrace Cabins which open straight onto the Promenade Deck.

Find More Information About Bolette Cabins

When researching this guide I spent time on social media and cruise forums to help find the cabins that people wanted to avoid. To be honest, I had to look a little harder than normal – complaints are few and far between!

If you want to do your own research, read some Bolette reviews and see Bolette cabin pictures, consider checking these resources out for yourself:

• Fred Olsen Cruise Group
• Cruising with Fred Olsen
• Fred Olsen Cruising… Rose Tinted Specs not required
• Bolette Cruise Critic Thread

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