Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has defined and refined the cruise experience, and judging by the number of passengers that come back time and again, they seem to have styled it to perfection.

Many of today's ships are so vast that passengers feel removed from the very essence of a cruise. Not so with the four distinctive Fred. Olsen vessels. Rather than impersonal floating leviathans, Braemar, Black Watch, Boudicca and Balmoral are smaller ships where the emphasis is on you - a welcome guest and not just a cabin number.

By operating smaller vessels they can moor in the very heart of things where it is often a short walk down the gang-plank to shore rather than a lengthy tender ride to port. What's more you will be able to come and go as you please, maybe to pop back for lunch or drop off your shopping bags before you head back ashore to explore some more.