British-style, older-skewing travelers who like smaller ships that fit into small ports.
Think twice if: Built in 1988; British-focused line with prices in pounds and UK departures.
See her Europe sailings ↓ · Where is she now? → · Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's page for this ship →
What she's like
Easy to find your way around. Fewer crowds getting off in port. About 33 tons of ship per guest. As a rule of thumb, 40 or more feels roomy and under 30 feels busy.
British line; nationality mix not published.
Our judgment, from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (ultra-luxury).
'Freedom Fare' includes gratuities and house beer, wine and draught soft drinks with lunch and dinner (waiter service). Extra: other drinks, Colours & Tastes specialty dining, shore tours, spa, Wi-Fi, laundry, mandatory cruise insurance.
Children 12 months-17 on Bolette and Balmoral; Borealis is adults only.
Relaxed: casual by day (shorts, jeans fine); smart for non-formal evenings; formal nights on some cruises (count not published).
Her Europe sailings, September 2026 to December 2027
77 sailings in Europe on the published schedule, 5 to 71 nights. Tap a start port to see how to get from the airport to the ship.
Where they start
- Southampton , 28 sailings how to get there →
- Piraeus (Athens) , 13 sailings how to get there →
- Alicante , 10 sailings
- Edinburgh , 9 sailings
- Malaga , 5 sailings
- La Valletta , 4 sailings how to get there →
What it costs beyond the fare
| Tips for the crew | included; Suites: included; Not added automatically |
|---|---|
| Drinks package | Premium Drinks Package upgrade (price not published); sample bar price Kir Royale GBP 12. |
| Wifi | Paid; e.g. 14+ day packages around GBP 8.00-8.50 per day / GBP 120 (table partially captured; 'subject to change'). |
| Specialty restaurants | Colours & Tastes specialty dining extra (price not published). |
| Money on board | GBP (prices quoted in pounds); not explicitly stated. |
How tipping and money work on a European cruise → · Build a full trip budget →
Her restaurants · 4 included, 1 extra
| Where to eat | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ballindalloch Restaurant | Included |
| Spey Restaurant | Included |
| Avon Restaurant | Included |
| Thistle Restaurant (buffet) | Included |
| Colours & Tastes (£20 pp pre-booked, £25 on board; rising to £25/£30 for bookings after 5 Jan 2027) | Extra charge |
Which cabin to book, and which to avoid
| Cabin type | Size | Decks |
|---|---|---|
| Owners Suite (OW) | 1181 sq ft | 8, 9, 10 (suites) |
| Premier Suite (PS) | 601 sq ft | 8-10 |
| Marquee Suite (MS) | 400-472 sq ft | 8-10 |
| Superior Suite (SS) | 341 sq ft | 8-10 |
| Single Balcony Suite (JB) | 279 sq ft | 8-10 |
| Balcony Junior Suite (BJ) | 279 sq ft | 8-10 |
| Balcony Cabin (BA) | 248-260 sq ft | 8, 9 |
| Single Balcony Cabin (J) | 218 sq ft | 8, 9 |
| Superior Ocean View (A/B/C) | 165-200 sq ft | 4, 5, 6, 8 |
| Ocean View (D/E) | 165 sq ft | 4, 5, 6, 8 |
| Single Ocean View (K) | 165 sq ft | 4, 5, 6, 8 |
| Porthole Ocean View (F) | 165 sq ft | 3, 4, 5 |
| Porthole Single Ocean View (L) | 140 sq ft | 3, 4, 5 |
| Superior Interior (G) / Interior (H, I) | 160 sq ft | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 |
| Single Superior Interior (M) | 160 sq ft | 3-9 |
| Single Interior (N) | 130-160 sq ft | 3-9 |
Good to know before you pick
- Plan key has symbols for restricted-view and fully restricted-view cabins (lifeboats); check the PDF for which cabin numbers carry them
- Deck 10 cabins sit directly below the Deck 11 pool, jacuzzis and Marquee Bar (midship)
- Deck 6 cabins at the aft end of the cabin block sit under the Deck 7 Thistle Buffet
- Adapted (wheelchair) cabins exist in BJ, B, G categories per key; connecting cabins marked with a symbol
- Balcony cabins (BA) are on Lido Deck 8 and Bridge Deck 9
If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty
Wheelchair users who cannot board a vehicle unassisted usually cannot join organised tours; mobility devices over 25 kg cannot go ashore unless an air bridge is used or the device can be dismantled. Elevators: Two lift banks: one near the forward/midship line, one aft (decks 4-10); Marquee Deck 11 and Marina Deck 3 show one bank only Our accessibility guide →
Find your way around
Our own deck plans, drawn from the line's official plan: tap a deck to see it from above, with what's at the front, middle and back of the ship. Use “Find on board” to light up every deck with a pool, a bar or a restaurant. Not to scale.
- Deck 11 · Marquee Deck , Observatory; Marquee Bar; Jacuzzis; Swimming Pool; Sun Deck; Games Court; Golf Net
- Deck 10 · Highland Deck , Fitness Centre; Atlantis Spa; Avon Restaurant; Spey Restaurant
- Deck 9 · Bridge Deck , The Bridge; Laundry Room
- Deck 8 · Lido Deck , Lido Lounge; Sports TVs; Colours & Tastes Restaurant; Lido Bar
- Deck 7 · Lounge Deck , Neptune Lounge; Neptune Bar; Boutiques; Future Cruise Information; Botanical Room; Card Room; Bookmark Cafe; Earth Room; Morning Light Pub; Open promenade (sides); Thistle Buffet Restaurant; Tea & Coffee Stations; Scoops Ice Cream; Swimming Pool; Jacuzzis
- Deck 6 · Main Deck , Oriental Tea Room; Sea Cove Shop; Destination Services; Guest Services; Photo Gallery; Floral Blooms Shop; Ballindalloch Restaurant
- Deck 5 · Atlantic Deck , Cabins
- Deck 4 · Coral Deck , Cabins
- Deck 3 · Marina Deck , Medical Centre; Olsen Art Studio; Laundry Room
What to book, and when
Booking, check-in and reservations
Non-refundable deposit 15% at booking for cruises up to 27 days (28+ days: deposit plus further 15% at 180 days). Shore tours cancellable free up to 4 working days before departure.
Tips for her Europe sailings
Small ships sailing from UK ports (Southampton, Liverpool and others) and fly-cruises to the Mediterranean.
The ship in numbers
- Cruise line
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Kind of ship
- Premium
- Built
- 1988
- Guests
- 1,325
- Crew
- 590
- Cabins
- 710
- Gross tons
- 43,537
- Length
- 219 m (718 ft)
- Width
- 32 m (106 ft)
- Flag
- Bahamas
- Class
- Balmoral (one of a kind; built 1988 as Crown Odyssey)
- Ship number
- IMO 8506294
- In Europe 2026–27
- Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean & Greek Isles, Adriatic, Northern Europe & Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, Canary Islands & Madeira, Atlantic Coast (Spain, Portugal, France)
Highlights
- Mid-size British ship: 1,275 guests, 710 cabins
- Five restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools, per Fred. Olsen
- Marquee Bar has a glass roof and large windows
More pictures
Sources & what we could not confirm · 12 sources · checked 2026-11
- Fred. Olsen: Balmoral ship page
- Fred. Olsen: Balmoral deck plans page
- Fred. Olsen: Balmoral deck plan PDF
- VesselFinder: Balmoral (IMO 8506294)
- Wikipedia (secondary): MV Balmoral (2008)
- Fred. Olsen FAQ: tipping
- Fred. Olsen: what's included in the price
- Fred. Olsen: what's included (Freedom Fare)
- Fred. Olsen FAQ: dress code
- Fred. Olsen FAQ: Wi-Fi
- Fred. Olsen FAQ: children
- CruiseTimetables.com: Balmoral schedule (independent listing)
- Deck-to-venue placement read from the PDF layout by column position; double-check small venues
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Freedom Fare may differ from basic fare: gratuities quote is from FAQ; whats-included page also lists 'Discretionary gratuities'
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Wi-Fi price table only partly captured
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Formal-night count
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Final payment timing
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Smoking locations
- Deck plan: Oriental Tea Room label sits between the Deck 7 and Deck 6 drawings; assigned to Deck 6 by label side
- Deck plan: Exact cabins with restricted view were read from symbols at small size; check the PDF before naming specific cabin numbers
- Deck plan: Which specific cabins carry restricted-view symbols was not read (symbols are a custom font glyph)