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Aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines'
ms Balmoral

Dover to Tenerife
13 - 18 Feb 2008
First 5 Nights of Balmoral's
Inaugural Cruise
"South to Florida"

ms Balmoral Review
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Balmoral's After deckc

Please click on the links below to view my Photo Albums
[15 Photos in each Section, unless otherwise stated]
Balmoral logoExterior PhotosBalmoral logoInterior PhotosBalmoral logoPorts & other Vessels SpottedBalmoral logo

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Fred Olsen Logo

Balmoral Logo

Exterior Photographs

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Balmoral's Funnel

Balmoral's Funnel 13/18 Feb 2008 [For more photos (60) see my album here]

Balmoral's Bow Area

Balmoral's Bow Area 13/18 Feb 2008 [For more photos (35) see my album here]

Fantail

In, On & Around the After Decks of Balmoral. Every Cruise Ship should have a Fantail like this. Wherever you are; Glorious views. Deck 7 up to Deck 11 - 13/18 Feb 2008 [For more photos (45) see here]

aft pool

Aft Pool - filled with sea water, heated & chlorinated. 2 Jacuzzis filled with fresh water and heated to 30°. The Palms Café opens out to this pool - 13/18 Feb 2008 [For more photos (30) see here]

Marquee Pool

Marquee Pool midships Marquee Deck, 2 jacuzzis, & Saunas. Further aft & around the funnel is the Sun Deck full of loungers - 13/18 Feb 2008 [For more photos (86) see here]

Balmoral's Promenade

Balmoral has a complete teak decked Wrap around Promenade, Lounge Deck 7. It is very narrow in places & no room for loungers even at the widest points - 17 Feb 2008 [For more photos (47) see my album here]

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Balmoral at La Coruna

Balmoral - Alongside Muelle de Trasatlánticos - La Coruña, Spain - 15 Feb 2008 [For more photos (31) see my album here]

Balmoral's Bell

A few views on deck while berthed in La Coruña. Aft Pool area, some Promenade, night shots of the Prom, Aft decks, Bow area & Balmoral's Bell - 15 Feb 2008 [For more photos (40) see my album here]

Stretch Marks - Balmoral

Balmoral's - Stretch Marks - 13 &15 Feb 2008 [For more photos (22) see my album here]

Balmoral's Close-ups - of hull & superstructure; anchor well, bulbous bow, portholes, stern etc while alongside Muelle de Trasatlánticos - La Coruña - 15 Feb 2008 [For more photos (69) see my album here]

Balblom Figurehead

Balblom* Figurehead - Situated ahead of the midships pool on Marquee Deck [from the Fred. Olsen Vessel Balblom* 1948] - Feb 2008 [29 images] * See below

New deck furniture stacked at Dover on aft deck

New Deck Furniture - stacked high on the aft decks of ms Balmoral on departure from Dover - 13 Feb 2008 [9 images]

Aft Decks at Night Balmoral

Balmoral at Night - Just a few & not too good photos of Marquee Deck, the Funnel, Aft Decks and Balblom Figurehead at night - Feb 2008 [29 images]

Balmoral alongside at Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Balmoral - Alongside Dique Muelle, Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 18 Feb 2008 [For more photos (38) see my album here]

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Interior Photographs

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Main Deck 6

Ballindalloch Restaurant

Ballindalloch Restaurant - [Seven Seas Restaurant on Norwegian Crown] Menus the same as in Avon & Spey. Plenty of shiny chrome off-set by the furniture - Feb 2008 [For more photos (54) see my album here]

Art Gallery - Balmoral

Ballindalloch 'Hallway' and Art Gallery Main Deck 6 - Photos of Ballindalloch Castle followed by abstract art; 2 quite different areas - Feb 2008 [more photos, Ballindalloch Castle (29), Art Gallery (35)]

Photo Gallery

Reception/Shore Ex/Photo Gallery - lower level of the 2 storey Atrium. A glitzy chrome, glass & shiny ceiling area with an Arnaldo Pomodoro 'Globe' - Feb 2008 [For more photos (32) see my album here]

Lounge Deck 7

Palms Café

Palms Café - light & informal meals; alternative dining, located aft on Lounge Deck 7. A pleasant room with a central buffet area - Feb 2008 [For more photos (48) of Palms Café, see my album here]

Morning Light Pub

Morning Light Pub - named after Fred. Olsen's largest sailing ship*, with a model therein. Full of pictures of previous Olsen* vessels - 15 Feb 2008 [For more photos (78) of the Pub, see my album here] * See below

Midships Hallway - Balmoral

Midships Hallway - Between Morning Light Pub & Library, to port - Erling Enger images, a Suchi piece, & 2 Bhairavi Modi pieces. Used for Carpet Bowls & Golf Putting Comps! - Feb 2008 [27 images]

Balmoral Model

Balmoral Model - A large model of Balmoral is located on the 2nd Level of her Atrium, Lounge Deck 7 - Feb 2008 [For more photos (41) of the model, see my album here]

Balmoral Library

Balmoral's Library/Reading/Writing Room & Internet Room - Feb 2008 [For more photos (34) see my album here]

Card Room - Balmoral

Balmoral's Card Room - More Fred. Olsen ship pictures* - Feb 2008 [For more photos (26) see my album here] * See below

Neptune Lounge Bar area

Neptune Lounge Bar Area - A fibre optic caged 'Peacock' surrounded by mirrors mingles with 3 large images of Fred. Olsen Figureheads - Feb 2008 [For more photos (22) see my album here]

Balmoral's Jewelery Boutique

The Braemar Lounge is really an extension to the Upper Level Atrium with its Boutiques, seating & acts as a walk through to the Morning Light Pub - Feb 2008 [For more photos (23) see my album here]

Neptune Lounge

Neptune Lounge - Main ent'ment venue. Concerts, Port Talks, Lectures, Captain's Parties. Show each evening [2 Performances] & Grand Tea Dance - Feb 2008 [For more photos (18) see here]

Highland Deck 10

Spey Restaurant

Avon Restaurant and Spey Restaurant - Both lovely dining venues with glorious views. Different decor, but shre a central serving station for beakfast/lunch buffets - Feb 2008 [more photos, Avon (22), Spey (33)]

Atlantis Spa & fitness centre

Atlantis Spa & Fitness Centre - the best forward views on the ship, but you have to be on a treadmill or using the free weights to take advantage - Feb 2008 [For more photos (23) see my album here]

Highland Deck 10

Highland Deck 10 - Hallways and Midships Stairwell on Deck 10 - 16 Feb 2008 [20 images]

Atlantis Spa

Atlantis Spa & Fitness Centre booklet of treatments on offer and the pricing thereof - Feb 2008

Marquee Deck 11 & Other Interior Photos

Observatory Lounge

The Observatory Lounge - the observation lounge with a minmal forward view; nice enough and plenty of quizzes in here; live music on piano. Late night DJ - Feb 2008 [For more photos (32) see my album here]

Marquee Bar

Marquee Bar - serving the Marquee Pool area midships. Outside there is a nice seating area with hand woven wicker type chairs and tables - Feb 2008 [For more photos (31) see my album here]

Cabin 5170

Standard Outside Cabin 5170 - Atlantic Deck 5 port aft, 3 berth good sized cabin, clean, fresh with new carpets & pleasantly decorated - Feb 2008 [For more photos (60) see my album here]

Lido Lounge

Lido Lounge - Lido Deck 8 aft. Venue for all sorts & 2nd Show Lounge. Concerts, Music, Dolphin Racing, Gaming Tables, Evening Showtime Session. Aft is the Lido Bar [no photos] - Feb 2008 [For more photos (22) see my album here]

Art & Crafts Room

Marina Deck 3 midships - Arts & Craft Room Bright & White; no windows. Table Tennis, Darts too. Launderette, Medical Centre Info & Deck 3 Hallways - Feb 2008 [For more photos (23) see my album here]

Fwd Stairwell, Balmoral

Stairwells, Hallways, Signage & Lifts - Original Aft/Fwd Stairwells; giltzy, glass, shiny. New midships' plain, white walls top & bottom; faux panels in centre - Feb 2008 [For more photos (55) see my album here]

Balmoral Logo Passenger Information

Balmoral Logo Balmoral Postcards

Balmoral Logo Sample Menus

Balmoral Logo The Daily Times

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Ports & Other Vessels

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Castle of San Anton - Crounna

A Coruña [La Coruña, Corunna], the 2nd largest city in Galicia, NW Spain [after Vigo]. A busy port built on a promontory - Feb 2008 [18 images]

Tai Progress

Port of La Coruña views including other vessels spotted, the marina, Castle San Anton & some nights photos - Feb 2008 [53 images]

Super-Fast Galicia

Super-Fast Galicia & Super-Fast Andalucia - Trasmediterranea/Acciona RORO Passenger - Cargo Vessels at Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 18 Feb 2008 [ 24 images]

La Palma

La Palma - 1912 built at William Harkness’ Middlesbrough yard, has by all accounts been fully restored, but still waiting to get wet - 18 Feb 2008 [7 images]

Volcan de Tauce

Volcan de Tauce & Volcan de Tamadaba - Armas Passenger Ro/Ro Cargo Vessels at Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 18 Feb 2008 [33 images]

Bentago Express

Bentago Express - Fred. Olsen Express' HSC Passenger Ro/Ro Cargo Vessel which sails back & forth between Gran Canaria & Tenerife several times daily - 18 Feb 2008 [48 images]

LNG Lagos

LNG Lagos - LNG Tanker at Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 18 Feb 2008 [25 images]

All the ferries Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Ferries together - Benatgo Express, Super-Fast Galicia, Super-Fast Andalucia, Volcan de Tamadaba, Volcan de Tauce & Balmoral at Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 18 Feb 2008 [48 images]

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz de Tenerife - [Poor, not worth looking through] A few photos of the city, but mainly through the coach window on the way Los Rodeos (Tenerife North) Airport - 18 Feb 2008 [49 images]

Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Views around the port including tugs & other small vessels inc a restored Loco - 18 Feb 2008 [56 images]

Binter Canarias ATR

Los Rodeos (Tenerife North) Airport - A lovely airport, open & airy with plants & flower beds tended on the apron. Islas Airways, Binter Canarias, Spanair, Swift Air, Air Europa, Thomsonfly - 18 Feb 2008 [46 images]

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ms Balmoral Review

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The Fred. Olsen Line

For anyone interested in the History of Fred. Olsen Lines look no further than Anthony Cooke's "The Fred. Olsen Line and its Passenger Ships" (Dec2007). A comprehensive history, well illustrated, of the many passenger vessels, cruise ships along with the ferries & cargo liners, owned by the company since 1848. Pictures of many of these ships adorn the bulkheads of Balmoral, more specifically in the Morning Light Pub [named after Olsen's largest sailing vessel] & Card Room.

The Olsen Figureheads/Gallionsfigurer have a chapter to themselves. Practically every Olsen ship from BAYARD 1936 to BLENHEIM 1970 had a bronze figurehead or bow decoration; many of which were removed & saved from the ships when sold on or scrapped, with one even salvaged from a wreck. Some of these are displayed aboard the current cruise ships, Black Prince, Black Watch, Boudicca, Braemar & Balmoral, others are in Scotland, England, Norway & on La Gomera.