The Luxury Cruise Review

Borealis bars & nightlife

Editors rating:
3.5
/5.0
Good

Borealis has a surprisingly varied number of bars and nightlife options. What’s more, they are all enjoyable.

Review by

Published on

23 June 2024

Share this story

Borealis bars & nightlife

Editors rating:
3.5
/5.0
Good

In this review

The bars and nightlife on Borealis are always entertaining. There is something for everyone, from pub quizzes to theatrical stage shows.

Nightlife ratings

Live venuesRating
Bar(s)
(3.5)
Night club
(4.0)
Lounge(s)
(4.0)
Live shows
(4.0)
ElectronicRating
Movies
(3.0)
TV channels
(3.0)
Internet
(3.0)

The Ocean Bar

The Ocean Bar on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Borealis.
The Ocean Bar on Borealis.

On Deck 5 you will find the Ocean Bar. It is a popular pre-dinner meeting spot. It’s hardly surprising, there is a great selection of cocktails with no fewer than 23 different Martinis to choose from. 

Open: 10:00am – 1:00am

The Observatory

Perched high on Deck 9 is The Observatory bar. It has panoramic views across the bow, which means it is usually a busy venue at sunset. 

The Observatory lounge on Borealis.
Enjoy panoramic views from The Observatory.
A band perform in The Observatory bar on Borealis.
The house band perform most evenings.

Later in the evening the Borealis house band perform sets in The Observatory. On our voyage they developed a following of loyal fans.

Open: 10:00am – 2:00am

The Piano Bar

On Borealis the Piano Bar is unique; it showcases two different pianists.

The Piano Bar on Borealis.
The Piano bar is a popular meeting spot.

There is a piano vocalist who performs three sets each evening; and a cocktail pianist who plays a single easy listening set just after dinner. 

Piano vocalist: 6:15pm | 7:45pm | 10:30pm

Cocktail pianist: 9:15pm

The Neptune Lounge

The theatre on Borealis is known as the Neptune Lounge. It is the place to catch one of the shows like “Forever 80s”, with hits from Adam Ant to Cindy Lauper.

Two female cast members perform on the Borealis cruise ship.
The shows in the Neptune Lounge are very entertaining.

These shows were surprisingly good with a cast of versatile and talented performers.

The Neptune Lounge also features guest artists. We were treated to a show by Kyle Tomlinson (ex-Britain’s Got Talent) and soprano Emily Yarrow.

The shows in the Neptune Lounge were always well received by fellow guests.

Showtimes: 8:45pm and 10:30pm

The Morning Light Pub

If you are a sports fan you will love the Morning Light Pub. It evokes the feel of a British pub with big screens for football and other sports, not to mention quizzes and a resident guitarist.

The Morninglight Pub on Borealis.
The Morning Light Pub hosts trivia and quizzes.

It’s worth noting that the Morning Light Pub has a good selection of British beers and cider.

Open: 10:00 am – 1:00am

The Bookmark Cafe

Coffee lovers will appreciate the brews in the Bookmark Cafe. In fact the coffee is among the best we’ve had at sea. There are also tempting sweet treats, including a large collection of hand made chocolates. However, the beverages and chocolates cost extra.

Open: 7:30am – 11:00pm

The Oriental Tea Room

A classic British tea room can also be found on Borealis. Known as the Oriental Tea Room it serves fine quality teas and herbal infusions.

The Oriental Tea Room on board the Borealis cruise ship.
The ornate Oriental Tea Room serves gourmet teas.

What’s more the Oriental Tea Room looks spectacular, with hand-painted murals and an exotic decor. 

Open: 7:30am – 11:00pm

The View Bar

The View Bar is on the Lido Deck overlooking the stern. It is popular on balmy evenings when guests gather on the open deck to watch the sun go down.

Open: 10:00am – Midnight (wether permitting)

The Lido Bar

The Lido Bar is just steps away from the Borealis pool, which makes it the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing drink. It serves exotic cocktails and mocktails, as well as cold beers and wine. 

Open: 10:00am – 10:00pm

The author sailed as a guest of Cruise Traveller.

About the Author: Jason Kerr
Founder and Managing Editor of The Luxury Cruise Review. A passion for travel, a weakness for espresso coffee and a love of Greek cuisine.

Leave A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Newsletter signup

In this review

Go to Top