Balmoral is owned and operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1988 by the Meyer Werft shipyard in
West Germany as Crown Odyssey for Royal Cruise Lines. She has also sailed for the Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Crown and Orient Lines as Crown Odyssey. In 2007–2008 she was lengthened by 30
m (98 ft) at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, prior to entering service with her current operator.
Fred. Olsen took delivery of the ship on November 7, 2007, renaming her after
the Balmoral Estate. The company initiated a major refit at the Blohm & Voss shipyard before her inaugural cruise on February 13, 2008 to Florida—her base for Caribbean cruising. The work
included the insertion of a 30 meter (99 ft) midsection. The reconstruction added a further 186 passenger and 53 crew cabins, making the ship currently the company's largest. It also introduced
60 new balconies, along with new and modified public areas, all designed to appeal particularly to the Britis cruise market
Tonnage: 43,537 GT
Length: 217.91 m (714 ft 11 in)
Installed power: 4×MaK 8M601/6M35 diesels
combined 21,300 kW
Propulsion: 2 propellers
Speed: 22.5 knots (41.67 km/h; 25.89 mph)
Draught: 7.25 m (23 ft 9 in)
Decks: 10 (passenger accessible)
Capacity: 1,778 passengers
Crew: 471 |
