MV Balmoral (2008)

Last updated

Balmoral turning (cropped).jpg
Balmoral in Antwerp, Belgium on 19 March 2016.
History
Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas
Name
  • 1988–1996: Crown Odyssey
  • 1996–2000: Norwegian Crown
  • 2000–2003: Crown Odyssey
  • 2003–2007: Norwegian Crown
  • 2008 onwards: Balmoral
Owner
Operator
Port of registry
Builder Meyer Werft, Papenburg, West Germany [1]
Cost$178 million [3]
Yard number616 [1]
Launched1 November 1987 [1]
Christened14 May 1988 [1]
AcquiredJune 1988 [1]
In service1988–present [1]
Identification IMO number:  8506294 [1]
Statusin active service
General characteristics (as rebuilt, 2007) [3]
Tonnage43,537  GT [2]
Length217.91 m (714 ft 11 in) [1]
Draught7.25 m (23 ft 9 in) [1]
Decks10 (passenger accessible)
Speed15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph)
Capacity1,325 passengers
Crew530
NotesOtherwise the same as built
General characteristics (as built, 1988) [1]
Type Cruise ship
Tonnage
Length187.71 m (615 ft 10 in)
Beam28.21 m (92 ft 7 in)
Draught6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
Installed power
  • 2 ×  MaK 8M601/ 4 × 6M35
  • 28,200 kW (combined)
PropulsionTwo propellers [3]
Speed22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Capacity1,230 passengers (maximum)

Balmoral is a cruise ship owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1988 by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, West Germany, as Crown Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line. She has also sailed for the Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Crown and Orient Lines as Crown Odyssey. In 2007–2008 she was lengthened by 30 m (98 ft) at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg prior to entering service with her current operator. [1] [4]

Contents

History

Crown Odyssey in Key West, February 1995. Crown Odyssey (ship, 1988) (15190850555) (cropped).jpg
Crown Odyssey in Key West, February 1995.

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 the fleets owned by Norwegian Cruise Line saw Crown Odyssey enter service with NCL's main fleet, where 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.

Norwegian Crown at New York City, New York on 22 July 2007. Norwegian Crown (876515432) (cropped).jpg
Norwegian Crown at New York City, New York on 22 July 2007.

On 25 May 2006, NCL Corporation 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 28 October 2007.

On 21 January 2009, during a cruise, the ship sailed into rough weather in the Bay of Biscay, smashing through 50 ft (15 m) waves and 60 mph (97 km/h) winds. Two passengers were sent to a hospital in A Coruña, Spain, with serious injuries. [5]

Reconstruction

Balmoral in Tallinn, Estonia on 9 July 2013. Balmoral departing Tallinn 9 July 2013.JPG
Balmoral in Tallinn, Estonia on 9 July 2013.

Fred. Olsen took delivery of the ship on 7 November 2007, renaming her after the Balmoral estate in 2008. The company initiated a major refit at the Blohm + Voss repair shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, before her inaugural cruise on 13 February 2008, to Florida—her base for Caribbean cruising. The work lengthening the ship with an insertion of a 30-metre (98 ft) midsection, built in conjunction with Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, and floated into Hamburg at the end of October 2007. [6] [7]

The reconstruction added a further 186 passenger and 53 crew cabins as well as creating new and modified public areas. [6] [8] [9]

Titanic commemoration

Balmoral at the Port of Liverpool prior to the Titanic commemoration, April 2012. Balmoral (cruise ship).jpg
Balmoral at the Port of Liverpool prior to the Titanic commemoration, April 2012.

Balmoral was chartered by Miles Morgan Travel to follow the original route of RMS Titanic, intending to stop over the point on the sea bed where Titanic rests on 15 April 2012, to honor the 100th anniversary of her sinking. She set sail from Southampton on 8 April 2012, passing Cherbourg and then on to Cobh, formerly Queenstown, in the Republic of Ireland, arriving on 9 April 2012. [10] Cobh was the last port of call for RMS Titanic before she set off across the Atlantic.

Balmoral reached the site of the wreck of Titanic in time for the 100th anniversary of the sinking at 11pm on 14 April 2012. A memorial service was held onboard which culminated in three floral wreaths being cast overboard. Balmoral remained at the location overnight and then departed early the following morning, with the intention of reaching Titanic's intended destination of New York City.

Public spaces

Balmoral has eleven decks, nine of which are designated passenger decks, numbered 3 to 11.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwegian Cruise Line</span> American cruise line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is an American cruise line founded in Norway in 1966, incorporated in the Bahamas and headquartered in Miami. It is the fourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling about 8.6% of the total worldwide share of the cruise market by passengers as of 2021. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

<i>Norwegian Spirit</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Spirit is a Leo-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She was built in 1998 for Star Cruises as SuperStar Leo by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. In 2004 she was transferred to NCL and renamed Norwegian Spirit.

<i>Norwegian Dawn</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Dawn is a cruise ship that entered service in 2002 and is in operation with Norwegian Cruise Line.

MV <i>Dreamward</i> Ship built in 1992

MS Dreamward was a cruise ship owned and operated by Star Cruises. She was built in 1992 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France as MS Dreamward for traffic with Norwegian Cruise Line. In 1998 she was lengthened at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany and renamed as Norwegian Dream. In late 2012, she was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises and renamed SuperStar Gemini.

<i>Norwegian Star</i> Ship from 2001

Norwegian Star is a Dawn-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Ordered by and intended for Star Cruises, it was originally named SuperStar Libra before being transferred to NCL. Norwegian Star is a Panamax cruise ship; its 294-meter-length (965 ft) and 32.2-meter-beam (105.6 ft) nears the limit for ships transiting the Panama Canal through the original set of locks.

<i>Norwegian Sky</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Sky is a Sun-class cruise ship owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. She was originally ordered by Costa Cruises as Costa Olympia from the Bremer Vulkan shipyard in Germany, but she was completed in 1999 by the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany for the Norwegian Cruise Line under the name Norwegian Sky. Between 2004 and 2008, she sailed as Pride of Aloha for NCL America.

MS <i>Crown Iris</i>

The MS Crown Iris is a cruise ship owned by Mano Maritime. She was originally ordered by Birka Line as MS Birka Queen from the Wärtsilä Marine Turku Shipyard in Finland, but completed by Kvaerner Masa-Yards as MS Royal Majesty for Majesty Cruise Line. In 1997 she was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line as MS Norwegian Majesty and lengthened by 33.76 m at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. She was sold to Louis Cruises as MS Louis Majesty from 2008 to 2012 when she was chartered to Thomson Cruises as MS Thomson Majesty before being returned to Louis Cruises/Celestyal Cruises, as the Majesty. In 2018 the ship was sold to Mano Maritime.

<i>Norwegian Jewel</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Jewel is a cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She is the lead vessel of NCL's Jewel-class cruise ships and entered service in 2005. The vessel sails primarily in the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Pride of America</i> Cruise ship

MS Pride of America is a cruise ship operated by NCL America, a division of Norwegian Cruise Lines, to sail itineraries in the Hawaiian Islands. Construction of the ship began in 2000 in the United States as part of a plan for a US-built and US-flagged cruise ship under Project America, but the project failed and she was eventually purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines and completed in Germany. She was inaugurated in 2005, and was the first new U.S. flagged, deep water cruise ship in nearly fifty years since the SS Argentina of 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines</span> Norwegian-owned company based in the UK

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is a UK-based, Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line with three cruise ships. The company is owned by Bonheur and Ganger Rolf and is headquartered in Ipswich, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom. The company is part of the Fred. Olsen Group.

Villa Vie <i>Odyssey</i> Cruise ship

Odyssey is a cruise ship, most recently operating with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. During her Cunard ownership, she was marketed as Cunard Crown Dynasty, but her official name remained Crown Dynasty. The vessel was handed over to Villa Vie Residences in February 2024 with more than 70% of cabins sold.

<i>MS Windward</i>

The MS Windward was a cruise ship that was built in 1993 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France for Kloster Cruise as Windward. In 1998 she was lengthened at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany and renamed Norwegian Wind. In 2007 she was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises as SuperStar Aquarius. The ship remained in passenger service for the cruise line until the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in 2020. The ship was sold for scrap as Arius in 2022 following the liquidation of the cruise line's parent company after filing for bankruptcy, which also led to the demise of Star Cruises.

MS <i>Black Watch</i> (1971)

MS Black Watch was a Royal Viking Star-class cruise ship. She was built by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland for Royal Viking Line as Royal Viking Star, entering service in 1972 as the lines first ship. She has also sailed for Norwegian Cruise Lines as Westward and Royal Cruise Line as Star Odyssey. As of June 18, 2022 she has been beached for scrapping as Odin at Alang, India.

<i>Norwegian Epic</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Epic is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line built under NCL's F3 Project by the STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. When built she was the third largest cruise ship in the world.

MV <i>Boudicca</i> Royal Viking Star-class cruise ship

MV Boudicca was a Royal Viking Star-class cruise ship that last served as accommodation vessel at Pendik, near Tuzla Shipyard. She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky for Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap, Trondheim, which placed the ship in Royal Viking Line service. In May 2021 the ship was beached in Aliağa, Turkey, for scrapping.

<i>Norwegian Getaway</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Getaway is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line. She was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and was delivered to her owner on 10 January 2014. At the time of her christening she was the world's ninth-largest cruise ship with a passenger capacity of 3,969 and a crew of 1,640.

<i>Norwegian Escape</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Escape is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. She was the fleet's first Breakaway Plus-class ship to be delivered and was designed with larger dimensions and gross tonnage than her older sister ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, at 164,998 GT.

<i>Norwegian Joy</i> Cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Joy is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and is the second of four Breakaway Plus-class vessels in the company's fleet. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, she was delivered in April 2017.

Royal Cruise Line was a Greek cruise line that operated from 1974 to 1996 and founded by Pericles Panagopulos. The line catered mainly to American passengers looking for an upscale cruise experience and sailed mainly worldwide routes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Asklander, Micke. "M/S Crown Odyssey (1988)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Balmoral (21506)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV . Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships . Singapore: Berlitz. pp.  216–217. ISBN   978-981-268-240-6.
  4. ↑ "Time-lapse shows cruise ship being lengthened by 30 metres". BBC News. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Cruise Ship Balmoral Slammed By 50 Foot Wave". cruisebruise.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. 1 2 "Fred. Olsen's Balmoral Undergoes Major Refit". Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. 29 November 2007.
  7. ↑ "Fred. Olsen's Balmoral". Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
  8. ↑ "Balmoral". Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  9. ↑ Molyneaux, David G (23 March 2008). "Old World style reborn aboard the Balmoral". Cruise Ship Review. The Miami Herald . Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  10. ↑ "Titanic Memorial Cruise". Miles Morgan Travel. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.