Charms of the South Coast onboard Fred. Olsen's Balmoral

Balmoral, one of three ships in the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet, was built in 1988 and exudes the brand's signature charm and character. From its welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff to its excellent food and diverse onboard activities, Balmoral feels like a true home at sea. With five restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools, and wide-open decks perfect for scenic cruising, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Scarlett and I began our journey by taking the train down to Southampton. The journey was smooth, and check-in was quick and efficient, with Fred. Olsen staff throughout the terminal on hand to assist and answer any questions passengers had.

We boarded the ship around 1:30pm, and headed straight to Ballindalloch for lunch which was a relaxed buffet-style restaurant at lunchtimes, with optional table service. After our meal, we returned to our room to find our cases had been delivered. We stayed in a twin Oceanview Cabin on Deck 4 (Coral Deck), which offered plenty of space and storage – which was ideal, especially considering we packed for a fortnight despite only being away for five nights!

Once unpacked, we started to explore - discovering everything that Balmoral had to offer! The Daily Times newsletter was very useful, as it included a tear-off handy guide that you could take around with you on the ship to ensure that you knew what activities and entertainment were happening and when!

That evening, we dined at the onboard speciality Asian fusion restaurant, Colours & Tastes – which was a standout experience to say the least! I started with chicken laksa with prawn dumplings and egg noodles, followed by a tiger prawn and pork fish cake with sweet chilli dip, and an Asian salad with soy and ginger dressing. For dessert, I chose a delicious mango and lychee mille-feuille – which definitely satisfied my sweet tooth! As this is a speciality restaurant, there is an additional charge to dine here, £15pp before you cruise, or £20pp if you’d prefer to book onboard – but it was worth every penny!

Later, we explored the ship’s evening entertainment at the Neptune Lounge, Lido Lounge, and Morning Light Pub. We enjoyed listening to a guitar player, a string band trio, and even joined a quiz! The variety of entertainment truly offers something for everyone. Once we were back in our cabin, we found it had been turned down for the night which was a true luxury. There was also a chocolate on the pillow and a copy of the next day's Daily Times, making it very easy to plan the next day’s activities.

The following day we were at sea, and started by having breakfast in Ballindalloch which offered a broad selection of continental, classic English breakfast and delicious healthy options. Whilst onboard it was great to see that each restaurant catered really well for Gluten Free, Vegan and Vegetarian diets. Also, I dined with a gentleman with a dairy intolerance who pre-ordered his meals to allow for preparation.

We spent a lot of our spare time on the Marquee Deck, which quickly became a favourite spot. With the Observatory, Marquee Bar, pool, and comfy rattan furniture, it’s the perfect place for relaxing - though a jumper is a good idea as it gets breezy! We discovered that at around 6:30pm it quietens down, making it the perfect time to jump in the jacuzzi while watching the world go by – not only was it incredibly relaxing but the views were fantastic!

During our cruise, we visited two ports of call: the Isles of Scilly and Falmouth, Cornwall. Both destinations were beautiful in their own way, and we were incredibly lucky with the weather we experienced. Fred. Olsen also offer a great variety of Shore Excursions for customers to make the most out of their trip at an additional charge – on this itinerary, they included a visit to the Eden Project, an evening wildlife tour, a coach trip to St Ives plus many more!

Our first stop was St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly. As it is a tender port, cruise ships anchor offshore and passengers are transported to land using smaller boats called tenders which were running regularly throughout the day.

Whilst we were there, the annual World Pilot Gig Championships were taking place, creating a lively buzz. With about 450 crews rowing these sleek 6-oar boats, and thousands of spectators, the island was full of energy and you could tell that there was a real community spirit!

Something else that I can’t stop talking about are the fantastic exotic plants that the Isles of Scilly are home to! Thanks to the islands’ mild climate, you’ll spot colourful succulents, palm trees, and other subtropical plants that you wouldn’t usually expect to see in the UK, adding to the destination’s unique charm.

We walked to Juliet’s Garden for a well-earned afternoon tea after a steep climb, then explored Hugh Town and the Garrison Walls for great views of the races. We then ended the day with a classic dish of fish and chips at The Atlantic pub – a truly British day!

We travelled overnight to Falmouth and disembarked the ship at 10:30am, having until 9pm to explore! There was the option of getting shuttle buses from the cruise port into town, or you could walk, which was only around 10-minutes. Falmouth’s main high street was lovely, full of independent cafés and boutiques. I found a café which enticed me in with their fresh pastries and Cornish pasties! I treated myself to a pistachio croissant and a chorizo and mozzarella Cornish pasty, which I enjoyed on Gylly Beach. After a busy day, back onboard we opted for room service, easily ordered via the TV and cabin phone. Our food arrived within half an hour, and we spent a relaxing evening with a film – sometimes - you just need a cosy night in!

Our final day was another sea day, cruising past Guernsey and Jersey on our way back to Southampton. We enjoyed a late breakfast in the Thistle buffet restaurant, whilst sitting on deck, soaking in the views. Sea days are also a good time to shop in the tax-free boutiques or explore parts of the ship we hadn’t yet seen, including the art studio, laundry room, card room, flower room, Atlantis Spa, and fitness studio. Though the ship was busy, we always found a quiet spot to unwind.

The ship was immaculate, service was impeccable, and the food was consistently outstanding. As a true foodie, I was amazed with the quality and variety of meals onboard.

One thing to bear in mind: the lead passenger receives all documentation and updates about the cruise via email or post. So, if you’re travelling with a friend or, in my case, a colleague, you'll need to forward them all the information to stay aligned. Thankfully, Fred. Olsen’s website is very user-friendly. The “My Cruises” section is particularly handy, giving both passengers access to key details.

Final Tips:

• Bring seasickness tablets just in case - Stugeron worked well for me!

• Book into the speciality restaurants like Colours & Tastes – you won’t regret it!

• Buy a drinks package to avoid signing for each drink.

• Consider the Wi-Fi package: £12/day or £50 for five nights.

I had a fantastic time on Balmoral. It was wonderful to meet and chat with fellow passengers and discover why they love cruising the Fred. Olsen way. It’s simple really: their smaller ships allow for access to more interesting destinations, from Norway’s lesser-known fjords to the hearts of beautiful cities. Every itinerary is thoughtfully planned, with regional touches like local cooking demonstrations, destination-specific lectures, and stargazing talks. But most of all, it’s the people that make Fred. Olsen cruises special. Their smaller size allows crew members to offer a more personal, attentive service. As Mr. Olsen himself says, “It’s all about the people. All of it, everything.”

If you would like more information on Fred. Olsen Cruises please speak to one of our travel specialists.‍