Balmoral

The largest and newest vessel in the Fred. Olsen fleet, the Balmoral is named after the Scottish home of the Royal Family. Originally built for the Royal Cruise Line and named the Crown Odyssey, it was also operated by the Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient Lines.

In 2007, the vessel was acquired by Fred. Olsen and underwent some major reconstruction. The work was carried out at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg and involved the addition of a 30 metre midsection. This added a number of cabins, as well as increased public space.

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The refit also included new decor throughout the liner to help boost the appeal to the mainly British clientele. Many of the rooms have a Scottish theme, while restaurants and other facilities are named after places in Scotland.

Once the work was completed, the ship was re-launched in 2008 and it embarked on its first voyage - a transatlantic crossing to Florida - in February of that year.

Currently based in Southampton, the Balmoral offers a variety of cruises to destinations in northern Europe and the Baltic. Some popular ports of call include Hamburg, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Copenhagen, Antwerp and Dunkirk.

The vessel also offers Mediterranean cruises to destinations like Dubrovnik, Venice, Malta, Ibiza and Lisbon. In addition, it occasionally travels to other locations like the Canaries, South America and the Caribbean.

Ship stats and features

Passenger capacity: 1,930
Year entered service: 1988
Beam (ship width): 92.5 feet
Draught (ship depth): 23.8 feet
Length: 715.2 feet
Tonnage: 43,537
Crew: 471
Maximum speed: 22.5 knots
Number of passenger decks: 10
Number of lifts: 4
Number of swimming pools: 2
Number of cabins: 744

Food, cuisine and dining

The Balmoral has three main restaurants for diners to choose from. The main one is called the Ballindalloch, named after the Speyside castle in Scotland, and offers spectacular views out of its floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides of the ship.

Alternatively, there are two other dining rooms, the Avon and Spey. These are both smaller and usually quieter than the Ballindalloch, making them perfect for a more intimate meal.

All three restaurants offer two dinner services every night, while breakfast and lunch are served with open seating.

The venues also serve the same food: dinner is a three-course set menu that includes the choice of two or three appetisers, five main courses and a variety of desserts. Vegetarian options are always available, while other special requirements can be catered for. Breakfast and lunch are both buffets with a wide variety of options that vary from day to day.

In addition, there's the self-serve Palms Cafe. This 70-seat venue offers three buffet meals and also provides coffee and tea 24 hours a day. Afternoon tea is available at the Palms Cafe and the Marquee bar, while a traditional tea is served in the Observatory Lounge on certain days.

Meanwhile, room service is available until 23:00 and includes a range of light meals and snacks like sandwiches, salads and dessert items. Continental breakfast and four-course dinners can also be delivered to your room.

On-board entertainment and activities

Those wanting to enjoy a show or two during their voyage should plan a visit to the Neptune Lounge. This cosy venue offers stand-up comedians, concerts and educational lectures. There's also a cabaret troupe that regularly performs song and dance routines, magic shows, ventriloquist acts and comedy sketches.

The Balmoral boasts a selection of bars and lounges, many of which feature live music - for example, the Observatory is a piano bar and observation lounge with a nautical theme.

The Lido Bar often plays host to jazz concerts and has a large dance floor. Although the ship does not have a dedicated casino, those wishing to try their luck can also find a couple games tables in this venue.

Families are not forgotten and there are plenty of activities available to keep younger cruisers busy, especially during school holiday periods. There are two different programmes available - one for kids up to 12 and another for teenagers. Depending on the age group, activities can include arts and crafts workshops, games and contests, as well as age appropriate movies in the evenings.

In addition, there's a large library that's open at all hours, offering a wide range of books, CDs and DVDs to choose from. While you're there you can also use the internet room if you need to check your emails or keep up with your favourite social networking sites.

Spas and fitness facilities

If you really want to unwind during your cruise, then why not make an appointment at the spa located on deck ten? You can choose from various treatments like massages, and body wraps, while beauty treatments are also available.

The fitness room includes a number of exercise machines, and its large windows offer ocean views that make the space feel much larger than it actually is.

You could also go for a swim in one of the pools - these are located on decks seven and 11, or you could let your tension melt away in one of the four whirlpools. Alternatively, the golf driving nets, shuffleboard and table tennis are also likely to keep you active throughout your voyage.

Cabins

There are more than 700 rooms on the Balmoral with options available in 21 different price categories. This means that there's sure to be something to suit most budgets, whether you want the height of luxury, or are seeking affordable cruise deals.

Generally, cabins on the upper decks are more expensive than those on lower levels. The most lavish accommodation - the Premier Suites - can be found on the Highland Deck. These are large rooms, measuring around 430 square feet. They have separate bedrooms and living rooms, as well as private balconies equipped with sun beds, two chairs and a table.

In contrast, the standard inside rooms have no view and measure about 160 square feet. Other options include Marquee suites and Junior balcony suites, as well as Superior and Standard balcony cabins.

The newest cabins, which were added when the vessel was lengthened in 2007, are light and contemporary in design. They all come as standard with two twin beds that can be converted to a queen size.

Meanwhile, the older rooms feature attractive wood cabinetry and some of these have a single queen size bed.

A number of cabins have interconnecting doors and these are a good option for families who need more space than what's provided by a standard stateroom. In addition, there are nine wheelchair accessible rooms available.

No matter which option you select, it will include a colour television and a music console, as well as an en-suite bathroom stocked with towels and toiletries.