Sunday, March 31, 2024

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

I tried the Fred. Olsen cruise to Norway and this is what I thought - Yahoo News UK

I tried the Fred. Olsen cruise to Norway and this is what I thought.

Posted: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:31:00 GMT [source]

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.

Fred Olsen partners with Go Stargazing UK for 26 cruises in 2024

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

ALL CRUISE LINES (1543 SHIPS)

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.

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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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Cruise Line Unveils Four New Itineraries from Southampton for 2025.

Posted: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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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