Boudicca

The 1973-built (as "Royal Viking Sky") cruise ship MS Boudicca was the second-oldest vessel in the Fred. Olsen fleet, alongside fleetmates Black Watch (sistership, 1972-built/2022-scrapped), Balmoral, and Braemar. The construction cost was USD 25 million. The vessel was last refurbished in 2018 and sold in 2020, with a drydock planned for November 2020.

On August 21, 2020, Fred. Olsen confirmed the retirement (scrapping) of MS Boudicca (47 years old) and MS Black Watch (48 years old). All bookings on these ships were automatically transferred to two newly acquired vessels from Holland America Line: MS Bolette (formerly MS Amsterdam) and MS Borealis (formerly MS Rotterdam). These additions increased the company’s passenger capacity by approximately 30%.

In late September 2020, it was announced that Boudicca and Black Watch had been sold to the Istanbul-based company "Miray International Shipping Agency and Trade Co" to serve as hotel ships under the "Miray Cruises" brand, not for scrapping. On September 29, Boudicca departed the UK (Port Rosyth–Edinburgh) en route to Port Tuzla, Istanbul.

MS Boudicca (IMO number 7218395) sailed for Fred. Olsen from 2005 to 2020. She was Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309964000, registered in Nassau). Her last AIS transmission was on March 14, 2021, showing her berthed in Tuzla. In late May, it was announced that the 48-year-old ship had been beached for scrapping at Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility (İzmir, Turkey).

Royal Viking Sky (Boudicca) had two sisterships: Royal Viking Sea (later MS Albatros, scrapped in 2021) and Royal Viking Star (later Black Watch, scrapped in 2022).

History – Construction and Ownership

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd is a UK-based cruise shipping company, part of the Norwegian-owned Fred. Olsen Group (Fred. Olsen & Co), headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Its UK headquarters are in Ipswich (Suffolk, England) and it is owned by Bonheur and Ganger Rolf. Founded in 1848 in Hvitsten, Norway, by the Olsen brothers (Petter, Andras, Fredrik Christian), the company remains family-owned, currently in its fifth generation, operating subsidiaries in cruise shipping, shipbuilding, trade, aviation, and offshore industries.

The Fred. Olsen Group includes Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd, Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd, Fred. Olsen Marine Services AS, First Olsen Ltd, Dolphin Drilling Holdings Ltd, Fred. Olsen Express (Canary Islands fast ferries), Fred. Olsen Freight Ltd, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier AS, Fred. Olsen Production AS, Fred. Olsen Renewables AS, SeaRoc Group Ltd, ZephIR Lidar UK, and Ganger Rolf ASA. Bonheur ASA (also part of the group) manages subsidiaries such as NHST Media Group AS and various real estate companies. The group also includes Timex Group BV (watchmakers with operations in the USA, India, and the Philippines).

The 839-passenger MS Boudicca featured classic styling, quality materials, and a traditional atmosphere, appealing to a predominantly British audience aged 60 and older. While some decor may have seemed dated, the ship's refined elegance and absence of flashy design made her a favorite among loyal cruisers.

In 1982, under Fred. Olsen’s ownership, Boudicca was "stretched" with the addition of a 91 ft / 28 m midsection. This refit increased her gross tonnage from 21,890 to 28,372 and her passenger capacity from 536 to 900. Conducted at Seebeckwerft AG’s shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, the project added new cabins and lounges.

Other cruise ships that were stretched include Balmoral, Boudicca, and Braemar (Fred. Olsen), MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Opera (MSC Cruises), MS Albatros (Phoenix Reisen), and Enchantment of the Seas (Royal Caribbean).

During the 2018 drydock at Blohm+Voss (Hamburg), two fiberglass-bottomed boats were added, each with a 12-passenger capacity.

Decks and Cabins

MS Boudicca had 462 staterooms in 21 grades, including 102 Suites, 57 Balcony, 191 Oceanview, and 64 Inside cabins. Most were sized between 160–200 ft² (15–19 m²). The ship had four wheelchair-accessible cabins, and the largest accommodation was the Premier Suite (570 ft² / 53 m², including terrace).

The vessel had 10 decks, 8 of which were accessible to passengers, and 6 contained cabins.

Shipboard Dining – Food and Drinks

Boudicca’s main dining room was divided into three venues: Four Seasons, Heligan, and Tintagel. Breakfast was typically open seating, while lunch and dinner were served in two fixed seatings. Buffet counters were available for breakfast and lunch. Fred. Olsen offered above-average cuisine with classic British favorites such as bangers and mash, spotted dick, and toad in the hole. Breakfast buffets were fairly repetitive. Poolside Café and Marquee Bar offered self-serve and fast food options, respectively.

List of Boudicca’s restaurants and food venues:

• Main Dining Rooms – Tintagel, Four Seasons, Heligan Room (buffet breakfast 7:30–9:30 am; lunch 12:00–2:00 pm; dinner at 6:15 pm and 8:00 pm)
• Secret Garden Cafe – buffet-style, open seating; meals served throughout the day including Supper Club and 24-hour tea/coffee station
• The Grill – buffet-style venue with alfresco dining (formerly Poolside Cafe)
• Marquee Bar – casual lunch venue with alfresco service and panoramic windows; also served the pool area with drinks

Shipboard Entertainment – Fun and Sport

Following her 1980s stretching, Boudicca gained extensive open-air sunbathing space. The 2006 and 2011 renovations brought the vessel in line with Fred. Olsen’s traditional style, with upgrades including relocating the gym to Deck 10 and adding new inside cabins on Deck 4. The Port Store and enclosed lifeboats were also added, along with carpet replacements throughout.

Entertainment venues on board included:

• Port Shop (essentials and souvenirs)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo and video services)
• Heligan Room (converted into Indian Ocean Restaurant in 2018)
• Iceni Room, Bar & Lounge, Cafe Venus
• Neptune Lounge (main show lounge with live performances and enrichment programs)
• Boutiques (duty-free goods and Fred. Olsen merchandise)
• Library, Internet Room, Card Room, Casino
• Bookmark Cafe (specialty patisserie and chocolate shop)
• Morning Light Pub (live music and comedy)
• Lido Lounge & Bar (piano music, transforms into a disco)
• Pool deck (swimming pool, 2 whirlpools, sunbathing)
• Fitness Centre (sauna and treatment rooms, no spa)
• Gymnasium (modern equipment and classes)
• Beauty Salon (hair, nails, massage, and facial treatments)
• Observatory Lounge (panoramic views, afternoon tea)
• Outdoor activities: golf nets, tennis court, deck games, walking track

Itineraries

MS Boudicca’s itinerary program included Mediterranean and Northern European voyages with roundtrip UK departures from Southampton, Liverpool, and Dover. Destinations featured the Arctic (North Cape), Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, British Isles, and North Africa.