Fred. Olsen Balmoral Cruise Reviews
4.5 / 5.0
3 Awards
Cruiser Rating
3.7
Average
231 reviews
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Featured Review
Ports Excellent but Some Disappointments on the Ship
"It was really good with the room, hotel and staff being excellent, so I would definitely recommend that as somewhere to stay pre-cruise.We ate lunch in the deck ten restaurants on a few sea days, which was again good and went to the self service at breakfast time and other lunch times as it was open a bit later than the other restaurants...."Read More
tring
10+ Cruises
•
Age 70s
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1-10 of 231 Fred. Olsen Balmoral Cruise Reviews
Review for Balmoral to Europe - British Isles & Western
Maid Marrion
10+ Cruises • Age 60s
We are seasoned cruisers and have been on 30 plus cruises over the past 15 -20 years, however this was our first experience of Fred Olsen. This is the only time I have felt the need, or rather obligation to go into print to warn others.
We fancied a Christmas market cruise and had previously done the Rhine/Danube etc and loved it so fancied going further afield. Olsen cruises advertised this ...
Read MoreSail Date: December 2022
Cabin Type: Superior Suite
Review for Balmoral to Europe River
basherdrummer
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s
Dover is only 30 mins from us and this is the second time we have done a French river cruise as it’s so picturesque, however when we booked the cruise although it said ‘evening sailing’ it didn’t say that the ship was relocation from Southampton so embarkation wasn’t until 6pm!
For us embarkation day (usually from around midday) is a important as we love having lunch, exploring the ship and ...
Read MoreSail Date: September 2022
Cabin Type: Marquee Suite
guzzinevada
10+ Cruises • Age 60s
Chosen for the itinerary - Iceland.
Fred Olsen is absolutely not worth the money.
Food is mediocre, drinks are expensive (particularly if you pay for their awful drinks package), entertainment is abysmal (apart from a fantastically talented bloke called Drew Levi), and they are clearly only interested in maximising profit and cutting customer benefits to the bone.
There was NO sanitation ...
Read MoreSail Date: August 2022
Cabin Type: Superior Outside
Review for Balmoral to Europe - All
tring
10+ Cruises • Age 70s
We stayed in the Travelodge, Cobalt Business Park before our embarkation from Newcastle, which was a fairly new hotel. It was really good with the room, hotel and staff being excellent, so I would definitely recommend that as somewhere to stay pre-cruise. We stayed three nights, taking the opportunity to go on a boat ride to The Farne Isles one day with Serenity, which again I would recommend as ...
Read MoreSail Date: May 2022
Cabin Type: Inside
Review for Balmoral to Europe - All
pillock
10+ Cruises • Age 70s
rewards for oceans members appalling compared to previously: no fred olsen pens [surely this is a free advert when cruisers leave them around or lend them , miserable selection snacks as only reward for diamond oceans members [one between two!!]. guest entertainers very poor. tap dancers may be talented but who want to have to endure two shows of them. comedian OK but other musicians no one wants ...
Read MoreSail Date: December 2019
Review for Balmoral to Europe - All
Mark Richards
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s
Very first cruise so chose a very short 2 night trip Southampton – Honfleur just to get a taste.
We were told in advance that boarding would be from 13.00 (or 13.30) and we would board at 16.30 (different times for different cabins/decks so not all together in one big mad rush) and must be at the dock in time but not earlier. We arrived at 15.30 (just in case of traffic, parking etc) and sat & ...
Read MoreSail Date: December 2019
Cabin Type: Outside
Review for Balmoral to Europe - British Isles & Western
feljen
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s
There were lots of good things about this cruise. Embarkation and disembarkation were wonderfully swift and painless. there was no pressured up-selling, such as we'd experienced on other, more high-profile cruise lines. The food was good, even for a vegetarian like me; the drink prices on the Balmoral are far cheaper than on other cruise lines; the coffee bar is superb, with prices much cheaper ...
Read MoreSail Date: November 2019
Cabin Type: Outside
Review for Balmoral to Europe - British Isles & Western
dianebrad
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s
Chose cruise to visit cities not yet visited in Spain. Because three destinations were cancelled we still have not seen some of them. We were told of bad weather but did not experience much. Seemed premature to cancel two stops. Otherwise cruise was just as good as previously especially the food! Entertainment with a singer and comedian very good but ships company only average I would say. The ...
Read MoreSail Date: November 2019
Cabin Type: Inside
Review for Balmoral to Europe - British Isles & Western
ES5331
10+ Cruises • Age 60s
First time with Fred Olsen and got a great saver deal. Sailing from Dover was so easy with excellent parking arrangements at the port and easy embarkation. This smaller ship is has a very friendly crew and staff. Excellent shows and entertainers in the bars and loung areas. Drinks and spa treatments are a reasonable price - much better than any other cruise line I have been with. Five course ...
Read MoreSail Date: October 2019
Cabin Type: Outside with Porthole
Review for Balmoral to Europe - British Isles & Western
Martyn 33
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s
Cruise L1917 Isles of Scotland 1.8.2019
This was our first ever cruise and we had expected much better considering the cost. The M.S. Balmoral had its last refit some 10/11 years ago and it is looking very tired. Our cabin was showing the signs of wear and tear with the bathroom being particularly poor - cracked tiles in the shower and not very clean. Soundproofing between cabins was below ...
Read MoreResponse from ShonaM, Digital Marketing
Thank you for taking time to provide us with feedback following your recent Fred. Olsen cruise - we're sorry that you felt certain aspects weren't as you were expecting. Balmoral has had...
Sail Date: August 2019
Cabin Type: Outside
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