MV Balmoral

MV Balmoral is a cruise ship identified by IMO number 8506294 and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The vessel was constructed by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, West Germany, and entered service in 1988 as Crown Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line. Its career subsequently followed the consolidation of the cruise industry: after Royal Cruise Line was acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line in 1989, the ship was integrated into Norwegian’s operations and renamed Norwegian Crown. It later returned to the Crown Odyssey name after the acquisition of Orient Lines by Norwegian Cruise Line, before being renamed Norwegian Crown again when it re-entered Norwegian Cruise Line’s main fleet following a 2003 refurbishment. In 2006, Star Cruises, the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, agreed to sell the ship to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The transfer was completed in 2007, although the vessel remained chartered back to Star Cruises and continued in Norwegian Cruise Line deployment until late October 2007. Fred. Olsen selected the name Balmoral, referring to the Balmoral estate, and prepared the ship for its new role in the company’s fleet. The transition involved a substantial reconstruction at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. A 30-metre midship section was inserted, increasing the vessel’s length and adding 186 passenger cabins and 53 crew cabins. The refit also created and modified public areas. The enlarged ship began service under Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in February 2008, initially operating from Florida on Caribbean itineraries. Its profile has remained associated with smaller and mid-sized upscale cruising rather than the very large resort-style ships operated by mass-market cruise groups. Balmoral attracted considerable public attention in 2012 when it was chartered by Miles Morgan Travel for a centenary voyage following the final route of RMS Titanic. The ship departed Southampton on 8 April 2012, called at Cherbourg and Cobh, and reached the Titanic wreck site on the night of 14 April, one hundred years after the sinking. An onboard memorial service included the laying of floral wreaths at sea before the ship continued toward New York. The vessel also received attention after encountering severe weather in the Bay of Biscay in January 2009. The ship reportedly encountered very large waves and strong winds during a cruise, and two passengers were taken to hospital in A Coruña, Spain, with serious injuries. This incident is recorded as an operational event rather than a documented corporate scandal. Balmoral has eleven decks, including nine designated passenger decks, and represents Fred. Olsen’s emphasis on relatively intimate, traditional cruising aboard smaller ships.

MV Balmoral was built by Meyer Werft at Papenburg in West Germany and completed in 1988 for Royal Cruise Line. It entered service under the name Crown Odyssey. In 1989, Royal Cruise Line was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line, which continued to operate the ship. During a subsequent reorganization of Norwegian’s fleets, the vessel was brought into the main Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and renamed Norwegian Crown. After Norwegian Cruise Line acquired Orient Lines in April 2000, the ship was transferred to the Orient Lines operation and resumed the Crown Odyssey name. A refurbishment in September 2003 preceded its return to Norwegian Cruise Line service, when it again became Norwegian Crown. On 25 May 2006, NCL Corporation announced that Star Cruises had agreed to sell Norwegian Crown to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The ship was delivered to Fred. Olsen on 7 November 2007, while a transitional charter allowed Star Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to continue deploying it until late October 2007. Fred. Olsen’s focus on smaller and mid-sized upscale ships made the vessel a suitable addition to its fleet. Before beginning Fred. Olsen operations, the ship underwent a major reconstruction at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. The project added a 30-metre section amidships, produced in cooperation with Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven. The insertion increased capacity by 186 passenger cabins and 53 crew cabins and led to modifications and additions in the ship’s public spaces. The vessel was renamed Balmoral after the Balmoral estate and made its first Fred. Olsen voyage on 13 February 2008, initially operating from Florida on Caribbean cruises. In January 2009, Balmoral encountered severe conditions in the Bay of Biscay. Reports describe waves of about 50 feet and winds of approximately 60 miles per hour. Two passengers were seriously injured and transported to hospital in A Coruña. No further consequences are detailed in the supplied reference material. The ship’s most prominent public event was a 2012 charter by Miles Morgan Travel marking the centenary of the Titanic disaster. Balmoral left Southampton on 8 April, visited Cherbourg and Cobh, and reached the Titanic wreck site late on 14 April. A memorial service took place aboard the ship, ending with three floral wreaths being committed to the sea. Balmoral remained at the site overnight before departing toward New York, Titanic’s intended destination. The vessel has eleven decks, nine of them designated for passengers.

• 2012

  Titanic centenary voyage

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  Balmoral followed the Titanic’s final route and held a memorial service at the wreck site on the centenary.

• 2009

  Bay of Biscay heavy-weather incident

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship encountered severe weather during a cruise, resulting in two passengers being hospitalized.

• 2008

  Lengthened and launched as Balmoral

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  A 30-metre midship section was inserted at Blohm + Voss, and the ship began Fred. Olsen service in February.

• 2007

  Delivered to Fred. Olsen

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  Fred. Olsen took delivery of the vessel on 7 November 2007 before its major reconstruction.

• 2006

  Sale to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines announced

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  Star Cruises agreed to sell Norwegian Crown to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

• 2003

  Refurbished and renamed Norwegian Crown

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship underwent refurbishment and returned to the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet as Norwegian Crown.

• 2000

  Returns to the Crown Odyssey name

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  Following Norwegian Cruise Line’s acquisition of Orient Lines, the ship was transferred and renamed Crown Odyssey.

• 1996

  Transferred into Norwegian Cruise Line’s main fleet

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  A fleet reorganization resulted in Crown Odyssey being renamed Norwegian Crown.

• 1989

  Royal Cruise Line is acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship became part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s operating network after the acquisition of Royal Cruise Line.

• 1988

  Enters service as Crown Odyssey

  [1]MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org

  Meyer Werft completed the ship for Royal Cruise Line under the name Crown Odyssey.

A smaller, mid-sized upscale cruise ship emphasizing traditional shipboard cruising, regional itineraries, and distinctive commemorative or charter voyages rather than high-capacity resort cruising.

• Cruise ship · 1988

  MV Balmoral cruise ship

  A mid-sized passenger cruise ship operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Originally launched in 1988 as Crown Odyssey, it was substantially lengthened before entering Fred. Olsen service. Its design and operating profile support traditional cruise itineraries with passenger accommodation, public spaces, and nine designated passenger decks.

• 2012Titanic Memorial Cruise

  United Kingdom · Ireland · France · North Atlantic · United States

  Miles Morgan Travel chartered Balmoral for a centenary voyage tracing the route of RMS Titanic. The itinerary included Southampton, Cherbourg, Cobh, the Titanic wreck site, and an intended continuation toward New York.

  Outcome. The ship reached the wreck site on 14 April 2012 and conducted a memorial service with floral tributes.

  Source

• 2007

  Major lengthening and reconstructionGeneration change

  Background

  Fred. Olsen undertook a substantial refit before placing the acquired ship into its fleet.

  Action taken

  Blohm + Voss inserted a 30-metre midship section and modified public areas, adding 186 passenger cabins and 53 crew cabins.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt vessel entered Fred. Olsen service as Balmoral in February 2008.

  Source

• 2006

  Sale from Star Cruises to Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesM&A

  Background

  Star Cruises and its Norwegian Cruise Line interests determined that the ship’s smaller size was less aligned with their ambitions in Asia, while Fred. Olsen specialized in smaller and mid-sized upscale vessels.

  Action taken

  Star Cruises agreed to sell Norwegian Crown to Fred. Olsen, with a transitional charter keeping the ship in Norwegian deployment until late 2007.

  Aftermath

  The vessel was delivered to Fred. Olsen in November 2007 and prepared for a new identity and operating role.

  Source

1. 1MV Balmoral (2008)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Balmoral (8506294) in Equasisequasis.org