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An experience on the Balmoral November 2008 |
| Reviewed By: Stafford, Telford. Shropshire on 2nd Dec 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Fred. Olsen Cruises |
Times cruised before: 6-10 |
| Cruise Ship: Balmoral |
Sailed:
November,
2008 |
| Destination: Mediterranean |
Age: 65+ |
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Balmoral cruise "Colourful mediterranean-cruises/">Mediterranean "16th November to 30th November 2008
Ports of call.Malaga,Barcelona,Palm De Mallorca,Valencia,Gibraltar and Lisbon
'A few days before we were due to depart a letter from Fred Olsen informing us that our embarkation time on board the Balmoral had bee put back a couple of hours due to a few cases of Norovirus. Arrangements had been made to park the car at Dover terminal car park.The car park attendant guided me to my parking location which was a great distance from the cruise terminal, much to my concern,as I am disabled. However there was a mini bus which transported me back to the terminal
We arrived an 1.5 hours hours earlier than recommended for Coral deck 4 passengers. Much to our delight we were processed and in our cabin within half an hour.
Cabin 4114 was spacious and the amount of space to store your clothing and articles was unbelievable. the most space that I have ever encountered during my many cruises.
Our favourite restaurant was was the Palms deck 7.My wife and sister in law are fussy eaters and the meals in our designated restaurant Ballindalloch on deck 6 early sitting were mainly continental. However the couple of occasions that we did attend we thought the service and the decor was very good.Would highly recommend 1st sitting unless you like eating very late on the 2nd sitting..Choice wise, the food variety selections where not as you would get on the bigger cruise ships.
Having visited the mediteranean on numerous occasions we did not go on any of the excursions. At various ports of call there where shuttle buses laid on which cost £4 pp apart from Valencia which was free.We found the helpful street guide which where placed in your cabin not very helpful. The street guides which are sometimes located in the port terminals are more descriptive and accurate.In Malaga we used the tourist open bus. Very enjoyable and inexpensive. Most ports of call have the tourists buses.When the Balmoral docked at Santa Apolonia passenger terminal at Lisbon. The Metro rail system is 4 mins away. We were adventurous and used the rail sytstem to go to Cascais . Return journey fare cost approx 6 Euros .pp. Considering the excursion to Sintra and Cascais costs £36 p.p this is excellent value. In Gibraltar as you come out of the terminal there are the local mini buses which take you to the shopping centre "Casement Square" which is the main shopping area at a cost of £1 p.p and the mini bus taxis go to and fro to the terminal every half hour.The cable car to the top of "The Rock" is also worth a visit and a taxi to the cable car is very cheap.
Entertainment for the main events where held in the Neptune Lounge. Other venues the Morning Light Pub where you have the versatile "Fletch " quizzes, dolphin races{ good fun }. Observatory light Jazz music and Disco. Bingo is excellent value at £2 per card four four games.The bingo sessions where held in the Lido Bar but this was too small so this was changed to the Neptune Lounge and proved very popular . The entertainment overall was good. But the itineries where so condenced that your choice was limited
Smoking areas in the Lido Bar {in a separate area from the main room} outside starboard and a small area in the Observatory deck 11.
Lots of activities on board, bridge,whists guest speakers,carpet bowls,golf lessons ,pilates,table tennis,library,shuffleboard
Wii 2 in the Lido Bar this was great fun for the participants when playing bowls and tennis.
The weather in the ports visited was good considering the time of year.Gibratar seen snow for the first time in 40 years. But it was dry when we visited .
Finall heading back home the Bay of biscay was slightly rough which effected my Sister in law and she missed the formal farewell drinks with the Captain. Remember to take your sea sickness tablets the day before you hit the Bay and on the day you are in it on your outgoing and return journey. One interesting thing was that my wife had a cold and it effected her ears . when we visited Valencia I purchased some antibiotics {a weeks supply} for the princely sum of 2 Euros 70 cents and within days the infection cleared up.I dread to think what the treatment would have cost if she had visited the ship's doctor.
Fred Olsen has announced an inside no smoking policy starting from 2009 .Many loyal Fred Olsen cruisers do not intend to cruise with Fred again if this no smoking ban is imposed.
Finally , we enjoyed our cruise but in all honesty we would not cruise on the Balmoral again as the itinery was not quite right. Since she has been stretched there seemed to be lot of problems with the lifts ,toilets and flooding over the Lido Bar.We preferred our last cruise on the Braemar.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| | Entertainment |  |
| | Shore Excursions | n/a |
| | Staff | |
| Kim our cabin service maid.Tricky Ricky Sr Entertainments.Fletchin the Morning Light Bar and Joy in the Lido Bar | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities |  |
| Cluttered itinerary , no short breaks between them which limited ones choice | | Cabins |  |
| For luggage space and all your incidentals excellent | | Overall Rating | |
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