Balmoral
by Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesOur smallest ship, Balmoral, is a classic gem, offering an intimate cruising experience. She has wonderful facilities - five beautiful restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools and lovely wide open decks which are perfect for when Balmoral is scenic cruising.
Ship Facts
About Balmoral
Our smallest ship, Balmoral, is a classic gem, offering an intimate cruising experience. She has wonderful facilities - five beautiful restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools and lovely wide open decks which are perfect for when Balmoral is scenic cruising.
Thanks to her smaller size, Balmoral is perfectly suited to sailing narrow waterways and docking closer to the heart of destinations that larger ships can’t reach.
She can navigate Norway’s scenic Åkrafjord, sailing beneath a low-hanging cable that blocks bigger vessels, and reach Langfoss – widely regarded as one of Norway’s most spectacular waterfalls. In France, Balmoral can journey along the scenic River Seine, winding past picturesque countryside and charming villages en route to the beautiful town of Rouen in Normandy. She’s also able to sail the Kiel Canal – passing through its lock and gliding beneath low bridges (with her mast lowered), while larger ships must divert north of Denmark to access the Baltic.
Balmoral's crest proudly replicates the British royal family's Scottish residence Balmoral Castle, with a nod to Fred. Olsen's historic links with Scotland and where the family still have an estate today.
Accommodation
Staterooms
You’ll find a range of cabins and suites on board our ships, so you can choose the cabin type, layout and price to suit you. Much of the accommodation has been refitted as part of our extensive, fleet-wide refurbishment programme making the stylish, comfortable cabins even more of a home from home.
We've thought of everything to ensure your time on board with us is as enjoyable, relaxing and carefree as possible.
All of our cabins are equipped with climate control, an interactive smart TV, hairdryer, desk, phone, fridge (which can be stocked as a mini-bar) and tea and coffee making facilities as standard.
Our SUITE DREAMS PACKAGE
Offered with our compliments in all our Suites, our Suite Dreams package includes a few little luxuries to make your customers time on board Bolette even more special.Dedicated check-in on cruises departing from the UK and a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival will ensure they are perfectly relaxed when they are first welcomed into your suite. Daily canapés and a fruit basket are also available, as are comfortable bathrobes and slippers. Binoculars are on hand, along with a world atlas for guests to use as they marvel at the beautiful islands, lochs and seascapes Bolette will cruise past.
Dining & Cuisine
Main Dining
Dining is an important part of your cruise with us and there is always plenty of variety for you to enjoy: Delicious five-course dining in our main restaurants; speciality Asian, Italian and Grill dining at our signature restaurant, Colours and Tastes; our casual, self-serve dining restaurant; and, on Bolette and Borealis, there’s a menu of light bites at the poolside during the day.
All our food is freshly prepared on board, including our mouth-wateringly delicious homemade bread.
Our restaurant teams take great pride in the food they prepare for you, and they love nothing more than to chat and share their passion with you.
And, of course, our warm and attentive waiting team are always on hand to assist you.
Our on board dining experience
Each of the main restaurants on our ships are beautifully decorated, where we know you’ll enjoy sampling outstanding food created by our talented chefs, who take great pride in making tasty meals using fresh ingredients, and for our Treats of the Region, they’ll source local ingredients to prepare dishes that are popular in the destinations you’re visiting.
We have two dinner sittings, first sitting is at 6.00pm and second sitting is at 8.00pm*, which you request when you make your booking, and our Maitre’D is more than happy to meet with you to discuss any special dietary requirements you may have.
*Please note second sitting dining time in the main restaurants on embarkation day and on formal evenings will be at 8.15pm.
Our main restaurants are:
- Balmoral | Ballindalloch, Avon & Spey Restaurants
Dining at our Speciality restaurants on each of our ships is a really special experience. Our talented chefs are passionate about producing superb dishes, made fresh to order, where each delicious mouthful is an explosion of flavour. Vasco (available on Bolette and Borealis) offers an authentic taste of Goa, where each menu has been created by our Goan chefs, and for a taste of Asian Fusion, Colours & Tastes offers an eclectic combination of flavours in an intimate dining setting.
Colours & Tastes - Our Colours & Tastes restaurant features a tempting variety of Asian Fusion dishes, from spiced grilled meats and seafood to gyozas, dim sum and sushi.
In surroundings as vibrant as the food itself, each dish is lovingly created by our expert chefs and designed to give you an authentic taste of the Orient – with signature dishes from Japan, Thailand, China and the Philippines.
Casual dining
Our casual, self-serve dining experience on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral offer a feast of delicious dishes for each meal every day, making it incredibly difficult to know which appetising dish to choose! Select from a variety of salads or stir fries, catered to your request, or sample dishes at our Destination stations, where we'll feature meals related to the lovely ports of call you're visiting. They also provide a huge spread of complimentary afternoon tea options, including warm scones with jam and cream, tasty sandwiches and delectable cakes, all freshly baked on board.
Our casual dining restaurants are:- Balmoral | The Thistle
Booking ahead is highly recommended for all our Speciality Dining options, and reservations can be made using the pre-book button in your 'My Cruises' account from 13 weeks before and up to 1 day prior to departure. Please note, there is a £20 per person supplement for Colours & Tastes. Speciality dining booked on board is chargeable at £25 per person*. Our Traditional Afternoon Tea Service is charged at £13 per person.