Cruising Journal

Balmoral

4 reviews | 257° place out of 714
89.84
Balmoral
Details
  • Shipyard Meyer Werft
  • Year 1988
  • Length 217.91 m
  • Beam 32.20 m
  • Tons 43,537 gt
  • Decks 9
  • Cabins 828
  • Passengers 1350
  • Crew 471
  • Crew/Pax ratio 1 : 2.87
  • Currency GBP
  • Language English
  • Flag Bahamas
Description

The Balmoral, that today sails for Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, entered into service in 1998 as the Crown Odyssey of Royal Cruise Line, after which it was in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet with the name “Norwegian Crown” (and then again was called “Crown Odyssey” when it sailed for Orient Line). From 2008 on, after undergoing a renovation to elongate the ship by 30 meters, it has been sailing for the Fred. Olsen company offering cruises from Great Britain to the rest of the world.
The onboard style is naturally very “British” with great attention paid to details, impeccable tea service and good cuisine. In April 2012 it sailed an itinerary that included a stop in the spot where the Titanic sunk in order to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the accident.
Gabriele Bassi

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89.84 Global rating
4 reviews
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Alanis J @Alanis New Contributor (1) 27/12/2024
88.57

Christmas time with Balmoral

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I didn't like

Comment

I recently completed a 6-day cruise on board the Balmoral, departing from Southampton on 17 December 2024. It was a short but intense experience, perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit. The Balmoral stands out for its warm and traditional atmosphere, ideal for a relaxing cruise. The common areas are elegant and well-kept, and the crew was impeccable, always kind and helpful. My cabin was comfortable, well-equipped and perfect for relaxing after days spent on land. The first stop in Antwerp, Belgium, welcomed us with a festive atmosphere thanks to the Christmas markets. In Rouen, France, the two-day stopover allowed us to fully explore this fascinating medieval city. The days at sea were pleasant, with a wide choice of activities such as evening shows, conferences and workshops.

Cruising area
Northern Europe, Svalbards, Greenland
Experience
Cruised (6 days)
Language
English
Period
Dec 2024
Who cruised?
Couple
Nationality
United Kingdom
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Hans J @SuperCruiser Reviewer (17) 06/09/2019
94.68

Long cruise on the Balmoral

I liked

I didn't like

Comment

I chose this Balmoral cruise for the offered itinerary. A beautiful transatlantic cruise from Europe to Peru. One of the most beautiful. Fred Olsen offers so many things to include in the price for a truly excellent cruise quality. At a great price. A cruiseline to try.

Cruising area
Transatlantic
Experience
Cruised (22 days)
Language
Italian
Period
Jan 2011
Who cruised?
Couple
Nationality
Sweden
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Donald F @Fergus Contributor (3) 06/05/2019
93.40

A trip through Norway

I liked

I didn't like

I would have enjoyed to have stopped in many of the places rather than cruising through them

Cruising area
Northern Europe, Svalbards, Greenland
Experience
Cruised (8 days)
Language
English
Period
Aug 2015
Who cruised?
Friends
Nationality
United States
Ports of call: Stavanger, Bergen, Flam, Olden, Southampton
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Gabriele B @Kingcruiser Expert Contributor (14) 31/07/2018 Author
82.70

Value for Money

I liked

Cheap cruise

I didn't like

Good service and food

Cruising area
Northern Europe, Svalbards, Greenland
Experience
Cruised (4 days)
Language
English
Period
Mar 2018
Who cruised?
Family
Nationality
Ireland
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