FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINES BALMORAL

As one of the top-selling cruise agencies for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, our team are familiar with the popular cruise line and their fleet. Amy recently went back onboard Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral following the ship’s refurbishment, and gives her thoughts on the enhancements…

The first time I cruised with Fred. Olsen was in 2002 onboard Braemar in the Caribbean, and since then I have cruised with them countless times. I’ve been on each of the ships in the fleet, and after all these years of cruising with Fred. Olsen, particularly thanks to their friendly ambience and attentive crew with perhaps the biggest smiles at sea, I’ve come to think of their ships as a second home (none more so than Balmoral, the ship I’ve cruised on the most).

It’s been a couple of years since I last cruised onboard Balmoral (a Christmas mini-cruise to Bruges, and an overnight stay in port in Southampton in December), and she has recently undergone a few nips and tucks as part of Fred. Olsen’s fleet-wide refurbishment programme, so I was keen to see what changes had been made to this most familiar ship when I went back onboard for the Viking Masters’ trip to St Petersburg.

When a cruise line prides itself (and rightly so, in my opinion) on the intimate and accessible size of its ships, and the service levels on offer, there’s perhaps less of a need to go all-singing and all-dancing, so the changes made to Balmoral since I last stepped onboard were subtle. It really did feel like stepping back onboard my second home, as I was greeted by the usual smiling, friendly faces.

However, look a little closer, and (if you’ve also been onboard before), you’ll notice that the furnishings have been updated in public areas, with perhaps one of my favourite changes being the new colour scheme in the Neptune Lounge, with more cool and attractive shadings, which gave a lighter, airier, and more contemporary feel. In fact, a ‘more contemporary feel’ has been applied to much of the rest of the ship, with just the slightest and most subtle tweaks with new furniture.

Digital information screens have finally arrived onboard, giving guests information about the amenities available, but these are still something of a work in progress. On deck 11, the Observatory has fortunately kept the same design of coffee tables, as I always loved the map designs, but the old royal blue seating has been replaced with creamy coloured chairs,

The Marquee Bar has attractive shades of turquoise to lift up the colours and offers thirty different kinds of gin, and with the new twinkly lighting outdoors, makes for a very chic post-dinner area for a refreshing cocktail.

Outside on deck, there’s a larger area with rattan-style seating, and the sun loungers have comfortable cushions to lounge on.

Perhaps the biggest changes Fred. Olsen have made is to the dining areas, with some new additions.

For those with a sweet tooth, there’s a brand-new Gelato Bar on deck seven aft, conveniently close to the pool (and I have certainly always had a fondness for Fred. Olsen’s exceptional ice creams since my first poolside ice cream party onboard the Braemar back on that Caribbean cruise). The Belgian chocolate truffle gelato comes highly recommended!

Next to the Gelato Bar, there’s another brand-new dining venue, called the Poolside, which can be booked for dinner for a small supplement of just £15pp. Both al fresco and intimate indoor dining can be enjoyed at The Poolside, which offers regional specialties from the area you’re cruising around, some of which will be cooked in front of you on barbecues.

The Grill restaurant used to be situated here onboard Balmoral but has now moved up a deck to the Lido Deck, portside aft, offering stylish interiors and a sublime steak and seafood menu for £20pp. I cannot decide which of these speciality dining venues was my favourite, as they were both utterly divine. Previously, there was only one set menu for The Grill, but I noticed that the menu changed throughout the cruise, as did The Poolside’s.

Of course, long-standing fans of Fred. Olsen will be pleased to know that the Ballindalloch, Spey and Avon restaurants still offer main dining, whilst the Palms Café continues to provide a more informal buffet option, and the Bookmark Café is still the place to go for those delectable truffles and fancy speciality coffees. The only difference is slight tweaks to the furnishings, but you’ll still enjoy the same wonderful service and cuisine as before.

It was great to be back onboard my beloved Balmoral, and she was certainly looking uplifted with her subtly airier, lighter, and more contemporary furnishings and colourings, and the new additions enhance the culinary experiences I have always enjoyed onboard Fred. Olsen with more options.

Fred Olsen Cruises Lines Bolette Cruise Review