Sunday, March 31, 2024

Balmoral Cruise Ship Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Paul and Carole's day visit : Paul & Carole Love To Travel

balmoral cruise ship

For casual snacks near the pools, there is the Poolside Buffet and Marquee Pool Bar. An enhanced room service option offers a complimentary four-course meal. Smoking is permitted on designated outdoor deck areas and on cabin balconies only. In addition to all the amenities needed for a comfortable, relaxing stay, the porthole window in Balmoral's L Grade Single Ocean View cabins also provide guests with plenty of soothing natural light and fantastic ocean views. In addition to all the amenities needed for a comfortable, relaxing stay, the two porthole windows in Balmoral's F Grade Ocean View cabins also provide guests with plenty of soothing natural light and fantastic ocean views.

Current itinerary of Fred Olsen Balmoral

It was a little disconcerting to see town folk walking about about with rifles slung across their back. The shops sell expensive but very high quality outdoor gear (with the winter temperatures here, no-one is going to waste money on cheap gear), some tourist gifts - and some sell firearms. The one thing they have in common is they are very warm inside as the town is heated by hot water and the indoor temperature everywhere seemed to be set at 25C .

Public spaces

Our Palms Café is designed with a light and airy feel, offering guests a more informal and relaxed dining experience. The buffet style service is perfect for those who prefer not to dine at a set time in the Ballindalloch, Spey and Avon restaurants, or those looking to indulge in a late night snack. There will also be the opportunity to try various dishes in our Treats of the Region section, which are local to the destinations you're visiting on your Fred. Balmoral's B Grade Superior Ocean View cabins, in addition to all the amenities needed for a comfortable, restful stay, feature a picture window that provides guests with plenty of natural light and fantastic ocean views. In an ideal world we would love to have a balcony on all of our cruises however in reality our budget does not always allow!

Main Dining

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A reorganization of all the fleets owned by Norwegian Cruise Line saw Crown Odyssey enter service with NCL's main fleet, where it was renamed Norwegian Crown. Join our Show Team in the Neptune Lounge as they put on memorable shows for you, along with guest comedians, singers and magicians, who’ll delight and entertain you, and do join us for our popular Captain’s Welcome and Farewell parties. It's also the perfect place to attend our 'Audience with...'sessions, where you can learn about how much work goes into our Shows, or hear about life as a ship's Captain or officer.

Lido Deck 8

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Each of our ships feature a selection of stylish dining venues, all serving a range of indulgent, expertly-prepared dishes. At breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll always find delicious treats which will tempt your taste buds. And, as all food is included on your cruise, you can indulge as much or as little as you like. From delicious seafood to traditional spiced dishes and perfectly-grilled meats, every flavoursome dish is cooked fresh and to order. The bright colours and welcoming feel at Vasco are also in keeping with Goa's richness and warmth, and will have you returning for more. As I mentioned earlier, one corner of the Ballindalloch is repurposed during the late morning and afternoon as the destination for arts and crafts classes.

The Balmoral Cruise Ship has abundant deck space with open sea views

balmoral cruise ship

We particularly liked this arrangement so that you could sit and drink your coffee with a view through the large picture window. In all of our previous ocean view cabins the bed has been under the window. Breakfast and lunch in the main dining room and two smaller dining rooms are generally open seating, although dinners are served in two assigned seatings. A casual buffet option is available for meals, late-night snacks, and occasional evening buffets.

Olsen Cruise Lines_'_ flagship Balmoral is the largest ship in the four-strong fleet, yet is still small enough to navigate size-restricted waterways such as the Kiel Canal and offer a personal cruising experience to its 1,350 passengers. Balmoral will take you closer to tumbling waterfalls, little coastal villages and will dock in the heart of many of the cities you'll visit, so you can simply step ashore and be ready to explore. As you will have friendly and knowledgeable speakers on board with you, you'll have a deeper understanding of the culture and history of each fascinating destination before you arrive.

With 710 well equipped cabins and suites, she can carry up to 1350 passengers and has a crew of 510. The Balmoral Cruise Ship is the largest of the four cruise ships in the Fred Olsen Fleet. The other ships being the Black Watch, Boudicca, and the Braemar. The ship takes her name from the Scottish residence of the British Royal Family and there is a Scottish theme throughout. Now this is cheap, however, checking the small print £15 per day only applies for cruises of more than 4 days. Getting an all inclusive package can save you money but do check out the bar prices here and see if the all inclusive is for you.

Just off this main stretch, the card room is a spacious area used for bridge lessons and tournaments, but also other activities including ukelele lessons. Towards the end of our cruise, the whole length of the lounge deck from the entrance to the Neptune Lounge right down to the Morning Light pub played host to the Summer Fayre, with games aplenty, all to raise money for the RNLI. The cafe serves premium coffees and teas along with a selection of chocolates and cakes that aren’t available anywhere else on the ship. As the name suggests, the Bookmark Cafe is also home to a free library of fiction and non-fiction titles.

The UK roundtrip visited signature/once-in-a-lifetime destinations like the Antarctic Peninsula (from Ushuaia), Chile's Patagonian Fjords, and Cape Horn on Hornos Island (South America's southern tip, in Tierra del Fuego Chile). Early bookings received up to GBP 500 per person in OBC/onboard credit, free door-to-door transfers (within 250 mi/UK mainland) to Southampton. Follows the complete list of Balmoral restaurants and food bars. The boat has 11 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins. When the time to join your tour arrives, it’s important to prepare properly for your adventure. The clothing you should wear will depend on your destination and the weather.

The ship permits 12 wheelchairs onboard at any time and has 4 cabins modified for wheelchair users. There are 21 cabin grades overall, including 121 with balconies and 14 with interconnecting doors. Apart from the single cabins, all have either twin or double beds. Unfortunately, as it was Sunday, almost all the shops, restaurants and cafes were closed. We were greeted in English, handed a beautiful postcard showing the outside and inside of the church with text in English and spent a very peaceful hour listening to a superb organ recital.

MS Balmoral cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 710 staterooms for 1350 passengers (max capacity is 1420) served by 510 crew-staff. The boat has 11 decks (9 passenger-accessible, 7 with cabins), 5 restaurants, 7 lounges and bars, 2 swimming pools, 4 Jacuzzis (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs), 4 elevators. The large windows in the Observatory Lounge afford fantastic sea views, which are enhanced with binoculars strategically spaced around the lounge. A grand piano provides background music for dancing on the glass dance floor.

If cruisers seek for a well-run vessel which provides peace and coziness while also featuring a nice range of amusement, friendly service, solid cuisine, interesting routes, and competitive rates, Balmoral is a good choice. Keep fit by swimming a few lengths, or cool down after relaxing in the sunshine on deck in either of Balmoral’s large, heated saltwater pools. Located in the centre of Marquee Deck and at the stern of the ship on Lounge Deck, both pools are urrounded by open deck space and plenty of loungers, so are perfect for soaking up the sunshine or losing yourself in a good book. For blissful relaxation, head for the Jacuzzi and let the warm, bubbling water soak any cares away, while you chat with fellow guests. The Spey and Avon restaurants offer spectacular views out to sea while you dine, and the Observatory Lounge really comes to life with our Signature Experiences of scenic cruising, or our Ship at Sea sessions. Always a favourite of mine on any ship, this front-facing observation lounge offers wonderful views, most notably when we were sailing towards the glaciers of Svalbard.

Balmoral reached the site of the wreck of Titanic in time for the 100th anniversary of the sinking at 11pm on 14 April 2012. A memorial service was held onboard which culminated in three floral wreaths being cast overboard. Balmoral remained at the location overnight and then departed early the following morning, with the intention of reaching Titanic's intended destination of New York City. The vessel was built by Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany, in 1988, for service with Royal Cruise Line as the Crown Odyssey. In 1989, Royal Cruise Line was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line, which continued operation of the company, along with the Crown Odyssey, until 1996.

Fred Olsen Balmoral: Cruise Ship Tour & Review

balmoral cruise ship

So, vegetarian, vegan, low fat, low cholesterol, low salt, dairy-free, lactose-free, wheat-free and gluten-free food are all catered for. During the boat’s 2007 major refit (before entering service for the Fred Olsen line), a huge 99 ft (30 m) long mid-section was added. This allowed extra balconies, plus a set of new public rooms - Library, Card Room, Internet Room (all located on Lounge Deck 7). Deck 7 known as the Lounge Deck is where I spent much of my time on board. There is also a small shop with snacks, toiletries and Fred Olsen merchandise.

Loyal following of the the Balmoral Cruise Ship and Fred Olsen

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Recently refitted as part of the fleet-wide refurbishment programme, Balmoral has 710 cabins ranging from singles to luxurious Premier Suites. The ship has a higher-than-average proportion of single cabins, making it an attractive choice for solo travellers, and there are also accessible cabins offering wheelchair access. The latter have large, well-equipped bathrooms and a walk-in (or wheel-in) wardrobe with a hanging rail at a height that can be reached by wheelchair-users. We did not go on any organised tours but contented ourselves with walking into the town both days. However you need to be aware of the safety zone, well signposted and with large posters warning of the dangers of going beyond due to the risk from polar bears! To go beyond the marked zone, you need to be on an organised tour, or with a guide, or have firearms training and carry flares and a firearm.

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These classes are popular and the room is much better suited for the activity thanks to the extra space and the natural light. This might sound strange as your probably thinking, well your on a cruise ship at sea what else can you see, however, outside space with a a sea view on some ships is difficult to find. There is nothing better than sitting on deck watching the world literally go by. Twenty-one cabin categories are listed on Balmoral’s deck plan—there are even six categories listed for single cabins—which makes it somewhat difficult to be certain what the accommodations you select will be like.

Photos of Fred Olsen Balmoral

The Ballindalloch, Spey and Avon main dining areas and the Palms Buffet restaurant. Stroll onto deck 10 for the well-appointed spa staffed by professional experts. Opt for a one-hour ancient stone treatment or 20-minute Balinese massage. The menu of treatments is expansive but treatments tend to book up early.

thoughts on “Fred Olsen Balmoral: Cruise Ship Tour & Review”

Don't forget to download our app, so that once on board you can see all the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Alternatively you can opt to dine in our self-service restaurant on each vessel, for a more relaxed experience. For those guests requiring a more casual dinner option, The View and Palms Cafés will be open from 6.30pm to 9.00pm. Dining at the Poolside (Bolette and Borealis) is available throughout the day between 10.00am and 7.00pm. Please note that evening dining times may vary on our One Night Cruises. On board all of our ships, we do our best to accommodate most dietary requests.

If you’re exploring a colder region, such as Norway or Greenland, you will be required to wear a specially designed wind suit over light, comfortable clothing, to keep you warm and dry. In warmer climes what you wear is up to you, just please be mindful of wind temperatures. Whatever the weather, you will need to wear flat shoes and a life vest. You can pre-book speciality dining via My Cruises from 13 weeks and up to 24 hours before departure, for £10pp. If you'd like to book once on board, speciality dining will be charged to your on board account at £15pp.

balmoral cruise ship

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Information shown is correct at time of display, fares are capacity controlled and may change at any time. All offers may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice, cannot be combined, are subject to availability and cannot be applied retrospectively. Cruise descriptions include optional, chargeable experiences that may be enjoyed independently and/or with option Fred. Shore Tours are available to book six weeks prior to departure (subject to availability and service operation). We reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons.

Ocean Cruises

All 710 cabins have adequate storage in closets and drawers and have an interactive TV, hair dryer, and personal safe. Balcony sizes vary widely, and some are entirely under cover and shaded, while others are not. Some outside cabins have a porthole instead of a large picture window. Three categories can be booked on a male or female share basis for twin-occupancy only. Binoculars, a world atlas and umbrellas are also provided to borrow throughout the sailing. Some bar seating on deck 8 and outdoor seating for the deck 10 restaurants were also a feature of this wonderful space at the aft of the ship.

Complimentary Room Service on the Balmoral Cruise Ship

The buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and a late night supper club, all included in your cruise fare. There’s a staffed station to toast breads in the morning and serve soup in the evenings, and another one from which you can order eggs and omelettes in the morning, and freshly cooked dishes such as stir frys or a carvery in the evenings. Although Balmoral entered service in 1988 as the Crown Odyssey for the defunct Royal Cruise Line, and then sailed for Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Crown, Fred. With the addition of a 99-foot midsection, a completely refurbished Balmoral was relaunched in 2008 as the largest ship in the Fred. A wide range of entertainment, friendly service, well-prepared cuisine and well-planned itineraries at competitive prices make Balmoral a solid midrange choice. A loyal following of repeat customers return for spacious staterooms outfitted with the latest technology, friendly staff, professional entertainment, and the traditional afternoon tea service with white-gloved waiters.

There are sing-a-longs and karaoke in the lively pub and shore tours include plenty of active options. Balmoral ship's drydock 2019 (December at Blohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg Germany) was for general maintenance and engineering works, interior renovations (public areas) and cabin refurbishments. The USD 18 million drydocking project also included adding the new Tea Room (China-themed lounge) and Photo Gallery.

For an even more indulgent and memorable dining experience, each ship in the Fred. Vasco and Colours & Tastes take inspiration from traditional Indian cuisine and modern Asian Fusion dining. Our on board restaurants provide a wide range of delicious and freshly cooked meals, so we offer a selection of dining options throughout the day to suit you. Please refer to your booking within My Cruises for full information on the number of formal and specific theme nights on your cruise. Our theme nights are entirely optional, but the majority of our guests choose to participate.

We were invited on a day visit on the Balmoral Cruise  Ship and this is what we discovered. With its Norwegian heritage of seamanship spanning over 150 years, family-owned Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has built a solid reputation of reliability and comfort for its UK-based fleet of smaller ships. Major refitting and refurbishment of old and recently acquired ships since 2008 have earned the company high industry accolades. Two sister ships from the defunct luxury Royal Viking Line, Royal Viking Star and Royal Viking Sky, have reunited under the Fred.

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In November-October 2007, MV Balmoral (under Fred Olsen's ownership) was stretched by inserting a 99 ft / 30 m long prefabricated middle section. The refit resulted in an increased gross tonnage (from 34,242 to 43,537) and passenger capacity (from 1230 to 1780). During the ship's stretching (reconstruction was done in Germany, Blohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg) were built new cruise cabins (186, including 60 balconies), restaurants, bars, and lounges. The 1340-passenger ship Balmoral offers a mix of old and new that is fresh and satisfying.

Catering mainly to Brits, the ship provides a friendly, home-from-home atmosphere in increasingly stylish surroundings following Balmoral's extensive refurbishment in December 2017, which is part of an ongoing multi-million fleetwide upgrade. The majority of cabins have been completely redecorated and fridges and smart TVs added to every stateroom. The Grill speciality restaurant has been moved to a standalone venue and other new additions include a gelato bar. Our spacious and sociable Lido Lounge & Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing drink and chat with our friendly staff and your fellow guests. Or, join us for our Ship and the Sea Experiences, as our officers host navigational chart and map reading sessions for guests.

Deck 3 is usually used for gangway access, and it’s also home to the medical center and the arts and crafts room. I know a darts tournament did take place here, but most of the actual arts and crafts activities took place elsewhere, so it wouldn’t surprise me if this room gets repurposed in the future. In the cabin there is a mini-fridge, a small kettle with tea and coffee replenished daily, and UK, EU and USB power points, albeit only on the desk and not by the beds. That’s one of the disadvantages of sailing on an older ship but honestly it was never much of an issue for us. Despite being physically smaller than the other ships in the fleet, the Balmoral still holds a similar amount of people. The Fred Olsen Balmoral is a classic cruise ship often used to give tourists a close-up of the spectacular Norwegian coastline.

During the evenings, this area becomes Goan restaurant Vasco, one of the two speciality restaurants onboard the Balmoral. The Bookmark Cafe is a popular spot on the ship throughout the day, and especially during the evenings when live music from the string trio was often on the daily schedule. The central part of deck 7 is dedicated to lounge space, although there are a few small shops and boutiques here, selling mainly clothing and jewellery, as well as the future cruises desk. It’s more of a show lounge rather than a fixed theatre as on the other ships, and I actually prefer the flexibility this offers. There’s also a bar at the back of the lounge, and this offers table service before the shows.

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