UK-market veteran Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is aiming to make a big splash in the US with its latest ship, the 1988-built Balmoral, formerly Crown Odyssey and Norwegian Crown and newly stretched to 43,357 GT and 1,340 berths. She’s just begun the company’s very first season of Caribbean cruises from Miami, which has inevitably led many of us to wonder how Fred. Olsen will fare with its first serious attempt to compete in the US.
Spurred by British friends who constantly tell me I’d love it, I’ve always wanted to try Fred. Olsen, but haven’t yet had the chance. But Carolyn Spencer Brown of Cruise Critic and Peter Knego of Maritime Matters were both on hand for Balmoral’s first US-based voyage, and both have returned with wonderful things to say about the ship and cruise. If Fred. Olsen goes over as well with other Americans as it has with these seasoned veterans of “international” cruising, it will do very well indeed.
So for an American perspective on Fred. Olsen, read Carolyn’s blog here and Peter’s here. Both of which make me want to go on a Fred. Olsen cruise very, very soon!
2 Comments
Monday, 17 March 2008 at 4:02 pm
Glad to see you are back. I was beginning to think you had abandoned the website! Peter’s blog was great. The Fred. Olsen experience sounds very British and refined. I really would like to try one of the ex-Royal Viking ships that my grandparents always loved to sail on… but I’d settle for Balmoral since Miami is much closer than their other homeports.
Monday, 17 March 2008 at 9:37 pm
My apologies for my very long absence – unfortunately, the last month was a bit crazy for me and I just didn’t have the energy to keep the site up
.
Balmoral won’t be returning to the Caribbean next year; instead Miami gets the newly-stretched Braemar while Boudicca will operate cruises from Barbados.
There is also a Canada/New England cruise aboard Balmoral this coming October (a segment of a round-trip cruise from the UK).
I think Fred. Olsen looks great and really hope to be able to try it soon.
Best,
Doug