Fred. Olsen hosts tour of Borealis in Dover

Borealis first called at the Port of Dover on June 27 with inaugural festivities taking place on July 11. Its nine-night ’Scenic Landscapes & Wildlife of the British Isles’ roundtrip voyage kicked off yesterday, with the 14-night roundtrip ‘Volcanic Islands of the Azores & Madeira’ cruise leaving from Dover on July 31, concluding on August 14.  

Borealis will make five full turnarounds in Dover this season, with one embarkation and debarkation. 

Fred. Olsen has been calling at the Port of Dover for over 30 years and 25 cruise lines feature the port on their itineraries.

Port update 

Dover will receive over 100 cruise calls this year, 111 in 2025, and 2026 is ‘looking really good,’ said head of business development Sonia Limbrick, who has worked at the port for almost a decade. 

Annually, ‘our goal is to get back to 250,000 passengers,’ she added, with the figure at around 200,000 this year.

‘Dover is the second largest turnaround port in the UK. We’re massive in terms of cruise and well known for our turnarounds,’ Limbrick continued, noting growing interest in Kent wines and vineyard tours. 

The facility is currently working on plans to establish a pedestrian route directly to the Marina Curve – a space which opened to the public in 2021 where activities, entertainment and food stalls can often be found, and offering views of the White Cliffs, Dover Castle and the English Channel. 

On foot it will save passengers a 20-minute walk and for cyclists, 10 minutes. 

For cruises, shuttle buses operate between Dover Priory railway station and the Port of Dover, and a hop-on/hop-off bus is available for travel between the port, castle and town centre. 

Ship tour

The Auditorium, arranged for the Kitchen Creations Signature Experience

A tour of the ship began with tea/coffee and a selection of pastries in the Observatory Lounge – a popular area from which to spot whales in Iceland or behold the Norwegian Fjords – and a trip to the bridge to meet the captain. 

After a glimpse of the theatre and Olsen Suite, the group headed to the Auditorium where the Kitchen Creations Signature Experience was prepared, followed by the Colours and Tastes Asian fusion specialty restaurant (£10pp), Piano Bar, Botanical Room, Oriental Tea Room, and Aurora & Borealis Restaurants & the Indian Ocean Room. 

Botanical Room (top) and Oriental Tea Room (bottom)

In the Earth Room library, entire book cases dedicated to renewable energy, pollution, climate change and sustainable living are testament to the line’s commitment to the environment. A Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines representative told Seatrade Cruise that Borealis and Bolette (ex Amsterdam and Rotterdam) can connect to shore power and ‘will help us on our sustainability journey.’ 

They said, ‘We’re always looking at technology and enhancements we can make. We’re trying to make our itineraries as sustainable as possible…. And we try to find ways to give back to the communities we visit, supporting causes that are important to them and the local economy.’

The group then headed to the Morning Light pub & lounge, Flower Shop, Ocean Bar where Martini nights regularly feature, and Atlantis Spa and fitness area. 

A trip to the  Lido Pool and Art Studio followed, before lunch in The View buffet restaurant.