Fred. Olsen Borealis Lunch Buffet Menu
Lunch aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis includes both casual self-service dining and traditional restaurant options. This photographed lunch buffet menu is from Borealis and shows the selection available during one particular lunch service, including soups, chilled dishes, salads, a carving station, hot dishes, sandwiches and desserts.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms that Borealis’ casual self-service restaurant is The View, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The photographed menu lists lunch service from 12:00 to 14:00 and also identifies the Borealis Restaurant on Deck 4 aft as an alternative lunch venue from 12:00 to 13:30. The exact dishes and opening times can change from day to day, so this menu is best used as an example of what passengers may find during a Borealis cruise.
For more information before sailing, CruisePrism readers can also explore the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines dining menus, and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines onboard guides for more details about dining, onboard activities, entertainment and daily schedules.
Borealis Lunch Buffet Hours
The photographed lunch buffet was open from:
12:00 – 14:00
This fits Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ published guidance that lunch is normally served between 12:00 and 14:00 in its main restaurants and casual dining venues.
For passengers who preferred a sit-down alternative, the menu also advertised:
Borealis Restaurant – Deck 4 aft
12:00 – 13:30
Fred. Olsen identifies both the Borealis Restaurant and Aurora Restaurant as the ship’s main dining rooms, while The View provides Borealis’ casual self-service dining experience.
Soup
Two soups were available during this lunch service:
- Vegetable broth – Vegetarian
- Cream of potato – Gluten-free
The selection demonstrates one of the useful features of the buffet menu: dietary designations are printed directly beside many dishes.
Chilled Dishes
The chilled section included:
- Citrus aioli dip – Gluten-free, vegetarian
- Roasted veal with horseradish mayo – Gluten-free
- Italian marinated mussels – Gluten-free, dairy-free
- Spinach cream cheese crostini – Vegetarian
These provide a mix of meat, seafood and vegetarian choices before moving into the larger hot-food selection.
Salads
Two prepared salads were listed:
- Shrimps salad with onion – Destination Special, gluten-free
- Asian slaw – Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian
The Asian slaw was specifically marked as containing sesame and peanuts.
The shrimp salad was labeled a “Destination Special.” Fred. Olsen incorporates destination-inspired dishes into its onboard dining, with food designed to complement destinations visited during a cruise.
Carving Station
The carving section offered:
- Garlic herb whole roasted chicken with chicken gravy – Gluten-free, dairy-free
- Vegetable and lentil dal strudel – Vegetarian
This gave passengers both a traditional roasted meat option and a meat-free alternative.
Hot Dishes
The hot buffet was one of the largest sections on this particular Borealis lunch menu.
Selections included:
- Grilled barramundi with pineapple salsa – Gluten-free, dairy-free
- Beef and Guinness stew – Dairy-free
- Pan-fried cod with creamy pesto – Gluten-free
- Grilled pork chops with mustard seed gravy – Dairy-free, gluten-free
- Pilaf rice – Gluten-free, vegan
- Garlic mashed potato – Vegetarian, gluten-free
- Steak fries – Gluten-free, vegan
- Broccoli Mornay – Gluten-free, vegetarian
- Steamed vegetables – Gluten-free, vegan
- Vegetable stew – Gluten-free, vegan
- Thai-style stir-fry beef and vegetables – Dairy-free
- Pomodoro – Vegetarian
- Pesto cream – Vegetarian
The creamy pesto accompanying the cod and the pesto cream are identified as containing cashew and/or pine nut.
The variety on this particular menu is notable, with fish, beef, pork and vegetarian or vegan choices all available during the same lunch period.
Fish and Seafood at the Borealis Buffet
Seafood was particularly well represented on this menu.
The chilled section included Italian marinated mussels and shrimp salad, while the hot buffet featured both grilled barramundi with pineapple salsa and pan-fried cod with creamy pesto.
Passengers with seafood or other food allergies should not rely solely on the printed dietary symbols. The menu specifically instructs guests with allergies to inform their waiter and notes that additional allergen information is available upon request.
Vegetarian and Vegan Lunch Options
There were numerous meat-free dishes available during this particular lunch.
Vegetarian choices included vegetable broth, citrus aioli dip, spinach cream cheese crostini, vegetable and lentil dal strudel, garlic mashed potato, Broccoli Mornay, Pomodoro and pesto cream.
Vegan dishes included:
- Pilaf rice
- Steak fries
- Steamed vegetables
- Vegetable stew
The Asian slaw was also marked vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free.
Sandwiches
For passengers looking for a lighter or quicker lunch, the buffet included a sandwich section.
The selections shown were:
- Egg salad on baguette – Vegetarian
- Pinwheel wrapped
- Tuna and sweet corn on white toast
The menu does not provide additional ingredients or dietary markings for the pinwheel, so no further details can be confirmed from the photographed menu.
Borealis Lunch Buffet Desserts
Dessert included cakes, mousse, jelly, fruit and a destination-themed option.
The cold dessert selection consisted of:
- White chocolate mousse – Gluten-free, vegetarian
- Orange and honeydew jelly – Gluten-free, dairy-free
- Chocolate fudge – Vegan
- Lemon mousse cake – Gluten-free, sugar-free
- Raspberry roulade – Vegetarian
- Mixed fruit salad – Gluten-free, vegan
- Apple cake – Destination Special, vegetarian
The apple cake was specifically identified as another Destination Special.
Hot Desserts
Two hot dessert accompaniments were listed:
- Mixed berry crumble – Vegetarian
- Vanilla custard – Gluten-free, vegetarian
Together with the larger cold dessert selection, this provided several choices for passengers wanting something sweet after lunch.
Dietary Symbols on the Borealis Menu
Fred. Olsen uses abbreviations on this buffet menu to make it easier to identify dishes that meet certain dietary requirements.
The photographed menu defines them as:
- V – Suitable for vegetarians
- VE – Suitable for vegans
- GF – Gluten-free
- DF – Dairy-free
The menu also provides specific warnings where necessary, including sesame and peanuts in the Asian slaw and cashew/pine nut in the pesto dishes.
Passengers with food allergies should still speak directly with the onboard dining team. The menu itself asks guests with allergies to inform their waiter and states that allergen information is available upon request.
What Is The View on Borealis?
The View is Borealis’ casual, self-service restaurant.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines describes The View as a relaxed alternative to its main dining rooms, with large windows providing ocean views. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as complimentary afternoon tea.
The cruise line also highlights destination-related dishes in its casual restaurants, which helps explain the “Destination Special” labels appearing on this photographed lunch menu.
For passengers who prefer flexibility rather than a more formal sit-down meal, The View is the ship’s primary buffet-style dining option.
Is the Borealis Lunch Buffet Included?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines includes full-board dining in its cruise fares, including casual self-service dining. There is no separate speciality dining charge indicated for the lunch buffet shown here.
Speciality restaurants and certain premium dining experiences are separate from the standard included dining arrangements.
Alternative Lunch at the Borealis Restaurant
Passengers did not have to eat at the buffet on the day represented by this menu.
At the bottom of the photographed menu, Fred. Olsen listed the Borealis Restaurant on Deck 4 aft as an alternative restaurant serving lunch between 12:00 and 13:30.
The Borealis Restaurant is one of the ship’s two principal main restaurants, alongside Aurora. Fred. Olsen describes these as two-tiered main dining venues offering traditional table-service dining.
That gives passengers a useful choice at lunchtime: casual self-service dining at The View or a main restaurant experience when offered according to the ship’s daily schedule.
Fred. Olsen Borealis Lunch Buffet FAQ
Does Borealis have a lunch buffet?
Yes. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms that The View aboard Borealis provides casual self-service dining, including lunch.
What time is lunch on Borealis?
The photographed buffet menu shows lunch from 12:00 to 14:00. Fred. Olsen also states that lunch is normally served between noon and 2:00 p.m. in its main and casual dining restaurants. Times can vary, so passengers should check the current daily program onboard.
Which restaurant is the buffet on Borealis?
The View is the casual self-service restaurant aboard Borealis.
Is there a sit-down restaurant open for lunch?
On the day represented by this menu, yes. The menu lists the Borealis Restaurant on Deck 4 aft as an alternative lunch venue from 12:00 to 13:30. Restaurant schedules can vary by day.
Does the Borealis lunch buffet have vegetarian food?
Yes. This particular menu contains numerous vegetarian dishes, including vegetable broth, spinach cream cheese crostini, vegetable and lentil dal strudel, garlic mashed potato, Broccoli Mornay and several desserts.
Are there vegan choices?
Yes. Vegan options on this menu include pilaf rice, steak fries, steamed vegetables, vegetable stew, chocolate fudge and mixed fruit salad.
Are there gluten-free options?
Yes. A substantial number of dishes on this menu are marked GF, including cream of potato soup, roasted veal, mussels, shrimp salad, roasted chicken, barramundi, cod, pork chops and several side dishes and desserts.
Does the buffet menu change?
Fred. Olsen describes its onboard dining as offering rotating menus and destination-inspired dishes. This photograph therefore represents one lunch service rather than a permanent menu that passengers should expect every day.
What are Destination Specials?
Fred. Olsen incorporates dishes inspired by the destinations visited during its cruises. On this particular menu, the shrimp salad with onion and apple cake were labeled Destination Specials.
Final Thoughts on the Fred. Olsen Borealis Lunch Buffet
This Borealis lunch buffet menu gives a useful example of just how broad a midday selection can be aboard the ship. During this particular service, passengers could choose between soups, chilled dishes, salads, roast chicken, seafood, beef, pork, vegetarian and vegan dishes, sandwiches and a sizeable dessert selection.
The number of clearly marked gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes is also helpful for passengers researching their dining options before a Fred. Olsen cruise.
Most importantly, passengers had a choice of dining styles. The casual buffet was available from 12:00 to 14:00, while the Borealis Restaurant on Deck 4 aft was advertised as an alternative from 12:00 to 13:30. That combination allows guests to choose between a quick self-service lunch and a more traditional main-restaurant experience depending on how they want to structure their day aboard Borealis.
