Fred Olsen Cruises - The Balmoral Cruise Review

As many as you know I am a fan of the Fred Olsen way of life, the staff, ships and the fact that no service charge is added to your drinks! I had a chance to do a 2 night cruise on the Balmoral and thought the ship was fantastic - I believe that the Balmoral is the best ship in the Fred Olsen fleet.

Cabins

Balmoral has a total of 738 cabins (116 of which have private balconies) and 21 cabin grades. These range from insides (160 square feet) to Premier Suites (430 square feet), which feature separate bedrooms and living rooms. Additional stateroom configurations include balcony junior suites (200 square feet), superior and standard balcony cabins (180 to 190 square feet), and superior and standard outside cabins (165 to 200 square feet). Cabins located in the new section have twin beds that can be converted to queens; cabins in the old section may only come with one or the other.


Dining

There are three principal dining venues on Balmoral. Ballindalloch, on Deck 6, is a quintessentially traditional cruise-ship restaurant. The Spey and Avon restaurants, both on Deck 10, were added during the refit and feel considerably more sleek and sophisticated, with floor-to-ceiling windows in their mid-sections and giant portholes at either end. However, all serve the same menus and are set-seating at dinnertime (6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.); they're open-seating at breakfast and lunch. Balmoral does not offer an extra-fee alternative dining venue.
For an all-buffet option, check out the festively decorated Palms Cafe, the other primary dining venue on Balmoral. It's open for breakfast (7 to 9:30 a.m.) and lunch (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.).

Entertainment

Neptune Lounge, the principal entertainment venue, is the home of shows, comedy acts, classical concerts and talks. During sea days, the cruise line's enrichment programme offers talks on itinerary-influenced subjects like art in Spain (on Mediterranean sailings), the medical qualities of spices and other similar topics. As well, via Fred. Olsen's Arts Club, many sailings feature extra speakers on a particular subject.
A secondary entertainment venue is the Lido Bar and Lounge. The former affords a fantastic view over the aft pool deck and the stern of the vessel. Its floor-to-ceiling windows and glass ceiling make it a truly inviting room. The Lido Lounge adjacent to the Bar features live music -- either for dancing or jazz concerts. One Blackjack table and a roulette table are tucked away in the lounge; gaming is not focal on Balmoral, and the ship has no dedicated casino.

Balmoral has a good range of public rooms -- an important fact, given that the ship also undertakes long cruises, such as around-the-world voyages, which feature plenty of sea days. Most of the public spaces are located on the Lounge Deck.
Much activity centres on the two-deck-high atrium. There you will find the purser's office, shore excursion desk and future cruise sales offices, along with two shops that sell clothing, accessories, gifts and necessities.

Overall the Balmoral is a fantastic ship its mix of old and new works well. If you are looking for a well-run ship that offers peace and comfort while also featuring a nice range of entertainment, friendly service, solid cuisine, interesting itineraries and competitive rates, Balmoral is a great choice.