Ipanema Hotel

We sailed from Southampton on January 6th,embarkation procedure was difficult,mainly because of the number of Cruise Liners in port,meeting at Southampton Football Ground we were taken by coach to the berth.
Before sailing we witnessed a huge firework display and watched Cunards QE 2 and Victoria sail,we have been regulars of the Cunard Line and this was only the second cruise with Fred Olsen.
We had a Junior Suite on Lido Deck which we found light and airy with Picture Window,Bar,Safe,TV,Telephone and a welcome bowl of fruit topped up throughout the cruise.
The Boudicca is a medium sized ship and the age group mainly between 50 and 80,the advantages being people are mainly of our own age group,and the ship is able to dock where the Monstrosity Giants cannot,you do lose some of the size and glitz,including an Atrium but the Ship had loads of comfy seating and was tastefully refitted out last year.
The Food was variable in as much as the main courses were superb with no expense spared on prime American Steaks, and an excellent selection of fish all beautifully prepared. The starters were a bit disapointing at times being mainly salad,but the soups were good.The Sweets were very disapointing mainly based on jellies,andand various sorbets etc,the diabetic puddings were the tastiest. The Service was good and friendly by the mainly Phillapino Waiters,although we felt rushed to finish to allow the second sitting as our table seemed to be served last. The Dining Room itself was excellent,in total four dining rooms,split to form cosy eating areas,The Secret Garden Restaurant was very different,A big plus on the huge dining rooms on Cunard which although luxurious were impersonal.Afternoon tea was usually just Coffee for us as the cakes unlike Cunard were very uninspiring.
The entertainment was adequate,but do not expect big names,again the sort of entertainment our age group enjoys,pity there was only one decent size room the Neptune,which in general was packed where it was difficult to find a seat,The Lido Room was much smaller and sported a duo most nights.Our Favourite Bar was the Observatory which had a lovely ambience.
There were two pools and 2 spas on board,although they were on deck,a small Gym,Heathcare Centre etc.
We were lucky with the weather which was in the 70,s in the Canaries,and the excursions were excellent and not expensive.
We were treated to a Rum Punch Deck Party as we left Madeira and the Champagne and Canopies were generous at the two Captains Parties.
The weather there and back was quite rough at times,we were not sea sick although we lost sleep on two nights,we would not personally cruise the north atlantic again in the Winter,although this would be a problem with any cruise line sailing at this time of the year.
To sum up the The Boudicca and its Sister Ship the Black Watch in which we sailed last year are very similar in size to the old Cunard Caronia,now the Saga Ruby and is the favourite of people who enjoy classic Sailing and not the Block of Flats Style American Razz a Mataz.The Cunard Service on the Caronia was just the best there was in our opinion and we felt we were the most important people in the World when we sailed in it,shame on Cunards American Owners for selling it.
Fred Olsen is British based although the ship is Norwegion,although there are some things we missed we found the Boudicca excellent value for money with a friendly crew we will sail with them all the time until the other lines consider catering more for our age group with smaller ships.