Fred Olsen Balmoral

The 1988-built (as "Crown Odyssey") cruise ship MS Balmoral is currently the oldest in the Fred Olsen fleet, alongside fleetmates Bolette and Borealis. Her construction cost was USD 180 million. The vessel was last refurbished in December 2019.

The ship (IMO number 8506294) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 308785000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd is a Norwegian-owned, UK-based cruise shipping company, part of the Fred Olsen Group (Fred Olsen & Co, headquartered in Oslo, Norway). The company’s UK headquarters are in Ipswich (Suffolk, England) and ownership rests with Bonheur and Ganger Rolf. Founded in 1848 in Hvitsten, Norway, by brothers Petter, Andras, and Fredrik Christian Olsen, the company began with the purchase of its first ships, launching an international shipping business. Today, the Fred Olsen Group is run by the family’s fifth generation and operates subsidiaries in cruise passenger shipping, trade, shipbuilding, aviation, and offshore industries.

Fred Olsen Group wholly owns Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd, Fred Olsen Travel Ltd (worldwide tours and vacations), Fred Olsen Marine Services AS (ship management), First Olsen Ltd (tankers), Dolphin Drilling Holdings Ltd (offshore drilling), Fred Olsen Express (fast ferries in the Canary Islands), Fred Olsen Freight Ltd (cargo shipping and air freight), Fred Olsen Windcarrier AS (offshore wind turbine transport and installation), Fred Olsen Production AS (petroleum production), Fred Olsen Renewables AS, SeaRoc Group Ltd (marine consultancy and contracting), ZephIR Lidar UK (wind measurement devices), and Ganger Rolf ASA (energy and shipping). Through Bonheur ASA, the group also owns NHST Media Group AS (newspapers and online media), as well as real estate companies Stavenes Byggeselskap, Koksa Eiendom, and Fred Olsens gate 2. Timex Group BV (with subsidiaries in the USA, India, and the Philippines) is also part of the Group.

The 1340-passenger Balmoral offers a blend of tradition and modern comforts. She provides a peaceful and cozy atmosphere, complemented by friendly service, solid cuisine, varied itineraries, and competitive pricing, making her a popular choice for cruisers seeking a well-run mid-sized ship.

The ship debuted in 1988 as Crown Odyssey, built for Royal Cruise Line. Over the years, she also sailed as Norwegian Crown (for NCL) and Crown Odyssey (for Orient Lines). She joined Fred Olsen Cruise Lines after a major 2007-2008 refit and refurbishment that added a 30-meter midsection. Balmoral’s inaugural Fred Olsen cruise departed on February 13, 2008.

Between October and November 2007, under Fred Olsen’s ownership, Balmoral was stretched by adding a prefabricated 99 ft / 30 m midsection at the Blohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. This reconstruction increased her gross tonnage (from 34,242 to 43,537) and passenger capacity (from 1230 to 1780). The refit also added 186 new cabins (including 60 with balconies), restaurants, bars, and lounges.

Other elongated cruise ships include Fred Olsen’s Braemar, as well as MSC Cruises vessels Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Phoenix Reisen’s Albatros, and Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas.

Decks and Cabins

MS Balmoral staterooms (710 total, in 21 grades) include 68 Suites, 94 Balcony cabins, 340 Oceanview cabins, and 123 Inside cabins. Most Oceanviews measure 165-200 ft². There are 9 wheelchair-accessible cabins, and the largest accommodation is the Premier Suite (430 ft²).

The ship also offers 64 Studios (single-occupancy cabins for solo travelers).

Balmoral has 11 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 7 contain cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Dining on Balmoral follows a classic style. The ship’s main dining room and two satellite restaurants offer set-seating with assigned tablemates in the evenings.

Here is the full list of Balmoral’s restaurants and food bars:

• Ballindalloch Restaurant (main dining room; hosts the Gala Dinner; offers two fixed dinner seatings at 6:15 pm and 8:30 pm, plus open-seating buffet-style Breakfast 8:00-10:00 am and Lunch 12:00-2:30 pm)
• Spey Restaurant (second-largest dining room, same menu as Ballindalloch; features floor-to-ceiling windows and intimate design)
• Avon Restaurant (third dining room, same menu as the others, also with floor-to-ceiling windows)
• Marquee Bar (casual lunch venue; al fresco dining with panoramic windows; serves the pool area with drinks)

Thistle Restaurant (formerly Palms Cafe) is an alternative buffet-style venue with open seating. It serves Breakfast (7:00-9:30 am), Brunch (10:30-11:30 am), Lunch (12:30-2:30 pm), Afternoon Tea (3:30-4:30 pm), Dinner (6:30-9:00 pm), and Supper Club (11:30 pm-12:30 am). A 24-hour tea and coffee station is also available.

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

Balmoral offers a wide range of amenities in a relaxed atmosphere, with many spaces to sit, read, and unwind without pressure to purchase extras. Some staterooms have older layouts with fixed double or twin setups. Facilities include an in-cabin interactive TV system, spa, and a modern fitness center.

Here is the complete list of Balmoral’s lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for all ages:

• Arts & Crafts Room; Art Gallery
• Atrium (two decks high, with glass and chrome design elements; spacious seating area)
• Port Shop (duty-paid; essentials, beachwear, snacks, books)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (digital printing, personal video making, duty-free photo equipment)
• Neptune Lounge (theater lounge/main entertainment venue; evening shows at 8:45 pm and 10:45 pm; daytime enrichment lectures, seminars, workshops, dance classes, and tournaments)
• Boutique Shops (duty-free luxury goods, perfumes, clothing, watches, jewelry, Fred Olsen merchandise)
• Card Room; Library; Internet Room
• Bookmark Cafe/Cafe Venus (patisserie with specialty coffees, chocolates)
• Braemar Lounge (relaxation lounge with large windows)
• Morning Light Pub (live music, comedy acts)
• Deck 7 pool area (swimming pool, 2 whirlpools, sunbathing)
• Lido Lounge (daily bingo, trivia; evening cabarets, live music)
• Lido Bar (live music)
• Casino corner
• The Wellness Centre (Atlantis Spa & Fitness; treatment rooms, sauna, gym, yoga and fitness classes)
• Beauty Salon (hairdresser/barber, facial/body treatments, manicure/pedicure)
• Observatory Lounge (panoramic views, Afternoon Tea, piano music, transforms into a disco at night)
• Sun Deck pool area (heated pool, 2 whirlpools, sunbathing space)
• Golf Net; Deck Games area (shuffleboard, quoits)

Itineraries

MS Balmoral’s itineraries focus on World Cruises from the UK and roundtrips from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Scandinavia, Russia, and the Norwegian Fjords.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the ship was laid up for over two years (March 2020 through May 2022), resuming service on May 2, 2022, with a 16-night roundtrip from Newcastle (England) to the Canaries and Madeira.

In 2023, Balmoral offered the "North American Waterways and Canadian Fall" itinerary (UK roundtrip), including the company’s maiden cruise on the Hudson River (New York State, USA). The 34-night voyage (booking code L2323) departed Southampton on September 26, 2023. Prices started from GBP 5300 (EUR 5860 / USD 6940) per person, double occupancy. Bookings made by September 30, 2020, included up to GBP 300 per person in onboard credit (OBC).

Ports of call included St John’s, Newfoundland (overnight), Sydney, NS, Halifax, NS (overnight), Saint John, NB, Portland, ME, Boston, MA, Cape Cod Canal, passing by the Statue of Liberty, New York City (2-night stay), Hudson River, Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Baltimore, MD (overnight), a Transatlantic crossing, Hamilton, Bermuda, Ponta Delgada, Azores, and La Coruna, Spain.

Launched as "Crown Odyssey" in 1988, MS Balmoral was originally constructed for Royal Cruise Line and later operated by NCL Norwegian Cruise Lines and Orient Lines before being acquired by Fred Olsen in 2007. Following a major drydock refit in January 2008, during which a 30 m / 99 ft midship section was added, Balmoral joined Boudicca, Braemar, and Black Watch as the fleet’s largest vessel. Her inaugural cruise began on February 13, 2008. Balmoral remains the largest ship currently operated by Fred Olsen.

The vessel (Meyer Neptun yard/hull number 616) is powered by MAK marine diesel engines (models 8M601/AK6M35) with a total power output of 21.3 MW.

A notable moment in Balmoral’s history came in 2012, when "Miles Morgan Travel" chartered her to follow the RMS Titanic’s original route in honor of the 100th anniversary of the tragedy. The "Titanic Cruise" departed Southampton on April 8, with the final destination being the site of the famous wreck.

MS Balmoral attracts a loyal base of mature, mostly British passengers who prefer sailing exclusively with Fred Olsen. She features single-occupancy cabins and hosts regular social events for solo travelers. Dance hosts are also available, making her an excellent choice for those traveling alone. Guests enjoy ballroom dance classes, fitness programs, and even the first jazz dance classes offered at sea.

Fred Olsen provides an optional all-inclusive cruise package upgrade (fixed daily price per person) and UK fly-cruise deals to the Canary Islands, with discounted year-round airfare from Southampton, England.

In 2018-2019, Balmoral offered roundtrip sailings from Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland for the first time. A total of nine cruises were scheduled between May and July, including a 5-night Norwegian Fjords voyage, a 14-night Scandinavia and Russia itinerary (with a call at St Petersburg), and a 9-night "German Waterways" cruise.

Grand Voyage 2025 (Discovering Asia with the Holi Festival)

In March 2023, Fred Olsen announced Balmoral’s 82-night Grand Voyage 2025, themed "Discovering Asia with the Holi Festival."

Departing roundtrip from Southampton on January 18, 2025, the itinerary includes Gibraltar (UK), Malta (Valletta), Egypt (Alexandria, Sharm el-Sheikh, Safaga), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Sri Lanka (Colombo, Hambantota), Malaysia (Klang/Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu), Brunei (Muara), Vietnam (Saigon), Cambodia (Sihanoukville), Singapore, Burma (Yangon), India (Chennai, Cochin, Mumbai), Oman (Muscat, Salalah), Jordan (Aqaba/Petra), Israel (Ashdod, Haifa), Crete (Heraklion), Sicily (Catania), Spain (Cartagena), and Portugal (Lisbon).

The highlight of the voyage is the scheduled call at Mumbai on March 14, coinciding with India’s Holi Festival (also known as the Festival of Colors, Festival of Spring, or Festival of Love). One of the most important Hindu celebrations, Holi honors the eternal love of the goddess Radha (Radhika) and the god Krishna. The annual festival takes place on the last full moon of the luni-solar month, marking the transition from winter to spring. The date varies with the lunar cycle but typically falls in March, occasionally in late February.

Prices started from GBP 9000 (EUR 10120 / USD 10680) per person with double occupancy.

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.

South America and the Antarctic Cruise (2023)

Next table shows Fred Olsen's 78-night "Exploration of South America and the Antarctic Cruise" (booking code L2301) on MS Balmoral. 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).

Prices started from GBP 7625 / USD 9220 per person.

Mardi Gras Cruise (2018)

In 2017, Fred Olsen (for the first time ever) scheduled "Mardi Gras Cruise" combining the Caribbean with North and Central America. Leaving roundtrip from the UK (Southampton), the Balmoral's voyage was adults-only and visited 18 ports. The highlight were the 3 full days plus 2 overnights in New Orleans (Louisiana USA) for the fun and festivities at the annual Mardi Gras Carnival. This unique themed voyage (46-night itinerary, booking code L1703, theme "Central America and the Mardi Gras") left Southampton on February 4, 2017.

Prices started from GBP 3450 pp (based on double occupancy/twin-bed Superior Interior cabin). Pricing included accommodation, all onboard meals, and entertainment, plus port taxes.

The itinerary's call ports included: Southampton, Funchal Madeira, Bridgetown Barbados, Castries St Lucia, St John’s Antigua, Road Town (Tortola BVI), Falmouth Jamaica, Trujillo Honduras, Belize City, Cozumel Mexico, NOLA/New Orleans LA (2-nights), Florida USA (Tampa, Key West, Miami, Port Canaveral/Orlando, Jacksonville, Charleston SC USA, Hamilton Bermuda, Ponta Delgada Azores, Southampton.

The 2-night stay in Port NOLA allowed Fred Olsen's cruise tourists to enjoy the festivities at this extravagant festival. Passengers were also provided with the opportunity to attend the "Orpheuscapade Black Tie Ball" in New Orleans - something rarely experienced by tourists. This formal event was held in the city's Convention Centre, featuring live music, dancing and the chance to get up close to the gigantic carnival floats, as a local celebrity leads the parade directly through downtown.

Fred Olsen Balmoral refurbishments review

Drydock 2014

On December 9, 2014, the ship underwent a 10-day drydock refurbishment for engineering works, as well as interior and exterior painting. The Library was redesigned, and a new patisserie (Cafe Venus) was added on Lounge Deck (deck 7).

Drydock 2019

The ship’s 2019 drydock (December 10-19, at Blohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany) included general maintenance and engineering works, interior renovations of public areas, and cabin refurbishments. The USD 18 million project also introduced the Tea Room (a China-themed lounge) and a new Photo Gallery.

The following video shows MS Balmoral’s extension and lengthening refit in a time-lapse, carried out at Blohm+Voss.

Drydock 2024

The vessel’s most recent drydocking took place in 2024 (December 1-15) at APCL Group’s A&P Falmouth Shipyard.

The two-week project included hull maintenance (cleaning, water blasting, and repainting with silicone-based paint), machinery overhauls of the propulsion system (propellers, bow thrusters), stabilizers, the main engine gearbox, safety equipment (lifeboats, davits, cranes, sea valves), as well as deck and mechanical systems (mooring winches, fans, motors).

Onboard renovations featured the transformation of the Palms Cafe (Lido buffet) into the Thistle Restaurant (with a redesigned layout, updated seating, and improved buffet and drinks stations), technical upgrades to The Neptune Lounge theatre, renovations to select staterooms and bathrooms, and upgraded WiFi service.