Cunard vs Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
A detailed side-by-side comparison of Cunard and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines covering ratings, fleet size, food quality, entertainment, value for money, and available sailings from UK ports. Updated for 2026.
The head-to-head
Ratings are based on aggregated passenger reviews, editorial analysis, and expert scoring. The cobalt outline marks the stronger line for each attribute.
Who should choose which?
Every cruise line has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is an honest look at who each line is best suited for, based on passenger feedback and our editorial assessment.
Choose Cunard if you want…
- Luxury and sophistication
- Transatlantic crossings
- Formal dining
- History and tradition
Cunard may not suit you if…
- Budget travellers
- Families with young children
- Those who dislike formal dress codes
Choose Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines if you want…
- No-fly cruising from UK
- Small-ship intimacy
- Unusual itineraries
- Solo travellers (low supplements)
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines may not suit you if…
- Families with children
- Those wanting mega-ship facilities
- Modern luxury seekers
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
Cunard Fleet (4 ships)
Queen Mary 2
Built 2004 · 2,691 guests
Queen Victoria
Built 2007 · 2,081 guests
Queen Anne
Built 2024 · 2,996 guests
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Fleet (4 ships)
Borealis
Built 2021 · 1,360 guests
Bolette
Built 2021 · 1,380 guests
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
Cunard Sailings
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNot Specified
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada and others
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSDeparting Southampton - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTS12 Night Queen Anne Cruise
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNorth Atlantic Adventure
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSWestern Europe and the Azores
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Funchal and Lisbon
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada and Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSTransatlantic Cruise
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Funchal (Madeira)
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Lisbon and back
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSItinerary from Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNot Available
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada to Funchal (Madeira) to Lisbon to Vigo to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton - Ponta Delgada - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada and More
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton - Ponta Delgada - Funchal - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSoutherly Discovery
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruising from Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSWestern Europe Explorer
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern Europe Exploration
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton - Ponta Delgada - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Madeira and Spain
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSDeparture from Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSDeparting Southampton - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern Europe Voyage
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 6%12 NIGHTSAzores, Portugal and Spain cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada, Azores · Funchal, Madeira · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira)
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada & More
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Lisbon and return
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo, and return
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruise only from Southampton to Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada to Funchal to Lisbon to Vigo and back to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruise only from
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Funchal and Return
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada to Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNorth Atlantic Crossing
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern European Exploration
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Madeira and Lisbon
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern Europe
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo and back to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSoutherly Routes
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTS12 Night Canary Islands Cruise
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruise only from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Sailings
15 NIGHTSIn Search of the Northern Lights from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Alesund · Narvik · Sortland · Tromsø, Norway · Harstad, Norway
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Hot deal14 NIGHTSCanary Islands & Geminid Meteor Shower from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Leixoes · Funchal · Santa Cruz de La Palma · Santa Cruz · Vigo
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
5 NIGHTSA Celebration of Dance at Sea with Dame Arlene Philips & Ian Waite!
Ports: Southampton · Amsterdam · Honfleur
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
15 NIGHTSCanary Islands Christmas & Cadiz New Year from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Santa Cruz de La Palma · Santa Cruz · Las Palmas · Puerto del Rosario · Cadiz
13 NIGHTSSouthern Spain Siesta from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · La Coruna · Cadiz · Malaga · Gibraltar · Vigo
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 6%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%8 NIGHTSFrance & Belgium Easter Break
7 NIGHTSCapitals & Cultures of Scandinavia
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSBritish Isles
6 NIGHTSRemote Isles of Scotland from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Ullapool · Lerwick · Stornoway
9 NIGHTSCoastal Gems & Culture of Ireland from Rosyth
Ports: Rosyth · Slieve League Cliffs · Killybegs · Carrickfergus Castle · Belfast · Dun Laoghaire (for Dublin)
Save 16%6 NIGHTSCultural Charm of Ireland from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Cobh (Cork) · Galway City · Killybegs
Save 16%9 NIGHTSFjords & Mountains of Norway from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Alesund · Nordfjordeid · Nordfjord · Skjolden · Lustrafjorden
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 14%8 NIGHTSScenic Isles of Scotland from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Portree · Isle of Skye · Ullapool · Kirkwall · Orkney Islands
Save 17%14 NIGHTSVolcanic Azores & the Solar Eclipse from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Matosinhos (Porto) · Lisbon · Funchal · Madeira · Ponta Delgada
9 NIGHTSWhales & Wonders of Iceland from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Reykjavik · Grundarfjordur · Latrabjarg · Eyjafjordur · Akureyri
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
9 NIGHTSScenic Summertime Fjords of Norway from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Andalsnes · Olden · Skjolden · Bergen
Save 2%5 NIGHTSScottish Isles Bank Holiday Break from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Kirkwall, Orkney Islands · Lerwick, Shetland Islands
5 NIGHTSBank Holiday Fjords of Norway from Newcastle
Ports: Newcastle · Lysefjord · Bergen · Ulvik · Hardangerfjord · Maurangerfjord
Deal16 NIGHTSCultural Mediterranean with the Amalfi Coast from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Malaga · Cartagena · Olbia · Naples · Salerno
13 NIGHTSNine Nations of Northern Europe from Newcastle
Ports: Newcastle · Oslo · Aarhus · Malmo · Gdansk · Klaipeda
9 NIGHTSAutumn Fjords of Norway from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Alesund · Andalsnes · Olden · Skjolden
Save 3%26 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 13%11 NIGHTSSpain, Portugal & Gibraltar Escape from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Gibraltar · Malaga · Cadiz · Lisbon · Matosinhos (Porto)
12 NIGHTSAncient Wonders of Turkey, Greece & Egypt from Piraeus
Ports: Piraeus · Istanbul · Kusadasi · Alexandria · Heraklion
Save 3%87 NIGHTSDiscovering the Amazon & Antarctica from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Santa Cruz · Tenerife · Santa Cruz de La Palma · La Palma · St. John's
Cunard vs Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: the bottom line
Choosing between Cunard and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ultimately comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. Both are well-established cruise lines with loyal followings, but they cater to different preferences and budgets.
Cunard, founded in 1840 and headquartered in Southampton, UK, operates a fleet of 4 ships. It is categorised as a luxury cruise line and scores 4.8/5 overall based on 8,900 reviews. The line is particularly strong for luxury and sophistication and transatlantic crossings, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, established in 1848 from Ipswich, UK, has a fleet of 4 ships. As a traditional line rated 4.4/5 from 5,600 reviews, it excels at no-fly cruising from uk and small-ship intimacy. If those are your priorities, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines deserves serious consideration.
On food, Cunard scores 9/10 compared to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's 6/10. For entertainment, Cunard comes in at 7/10 versus Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's 5/10. Value for money favours Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines with a score of 7/10.
Our recommendation: browse the available sailings above and compare itineraries, dates, and total cost including what is bundled in the fare. The best cruise line is the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and travel dates. Use the scores as a guide, but remember that individual ship and itinerary matter just as much as the cruise line brand.
Cunard vs Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines — FAQ
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