Balmoral (cruise ship)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 The Norwegian Crown docked in Hamilton, Bermuda |
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| Status: | In Service |
| Former Names: | Crown Odyssey, Norwegian Crown |
| Placed in Service: | 1988 as Crown Odyssey |
| Tonnage: | 43,537 GRT |
| Length: | 218.18 m (716 ft) |
| Draft: | 7.3 m (24 ft) |
| Beam: | 28.2 m (93 ft) |
| Decks: | 11 |
| Cabins: | 744 |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Complement: | 1,340 passengers, 471 crew |
| Registry: | Bahamas |
Balmoral (previously known as Norwegian Crown) is a cruise ship currently owned by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
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[edit] History
The vessel was built by Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany in 1988, for service with Royal Cruise Line as the Crown Odyssey. In 1989, Royal Cruise Line was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line, which continued operation of the company, along with the Crown Odyssey until 1996. A reorganization of all of the fleets owned by Norwegian Cruise Line saw Crown Odyssey enter service with NCL's main fleet, and it was renamed Norwegian Crown
Following the purchase of Orient Lines by NCL in April, 2000, Norwegian Crown was transferred, regaining her original name, Crown Odyssey, in the process.
In September, 2003, Crown Odyssey was refurbished and returned to the NCL fleet, again with the name Norwegian Crown.
On May 25, 2006 – NCL Corporation (“NCL”) announced that its parent company, Star Cruises, had agreed to sell Norwegian Crown to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines effective August 2006. Star Cruises concurrently chartered the vessel back from Fred. Olsen and NCL continued her deployment through to November 2007. “Although a beautiful and well-maintained vessel, Norwegian Crown’s smaller size is less suitable for Star Cruises’ ambitions in Asia,” said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. “Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines specializes in operating smaller and mid-sized upscale vessels and this ship should fit perfectly in their fleet.” Her last NCL cruise was on October 28, 2007.
[edit] Reconstruction
Fred. Olsen took delivery of the ship on November 7, 2007, renaming her after the Balmoral estate. The company initiated a major refit at the Blohm + Voss repair shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, before her inaugural cruise on February 13, 2008 to Florida—her base for Caribbean cruising. The work included the insertion of a 30 meter (99 ft) midsection, built in conjunction with Schichau Seebeck Shipyard in Bremerhaven, and floated into Hamburg at the end of October 2007.[1][2]
The reconstruction added a further 186 passenger and 53 crew cabins, making the ship currently the company's largest. It also introduced 60 new balconies, along with new and modified public areas, all designed to appeal particularly to the British cruise market.[1][3][4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Fred. Olsen's Balmoral Undergoes Major Refit. Travel Pulse. Modern Agent (2007-12-04). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ Fred. Olsen's Balmoral. News. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (2008-03-04). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ Balmoral. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ Molyneaux, David G (2008-03-23). Old World style reborn aboard the Balmoral. Cruise Ship Review. The Miami Herald. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. “A British line has come to Miami to ply the Caribbean with traditional charms. Don't forget to pack the tuxedo.”
[edit] External links
- Official Balmoral page at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines site
- Photos, Video Clips & Review of Balmoral from February 2008 at magwa.co.uk
- Photos and menus from Balmoral from CruiseSavvy.com
