I Cruised on a 36-Year Old Cruise Ship , and it Shocked Me! | Fred. Olsen's Balmoral

Key Moments
Editorial Summary
The creator evaluates the Fred Olsen ship Balmoral, a 36 year old vessel, to determine if it has aged well following a recent refit. The review covers various aspects of the onboard experience, including technical updates like new stainless steel propellers and structural quirks such as cambered decks. The creator examines three different suite categories, noting that while the accommodations offer significant storage, they sometimes lack modern amenities like USB ports and can feature idiosyncratic design choices or aging decor. Dining is described as a highlight for its lack of upcharging and adherence to traditional British favorites, though the creator notes issues with food temperature in main dining rooms and limited variety in specialty dining. The video concludes that while the ship lacks the glitz and high tech features of modern mega ships, it excels in providing a cozy, intimate, and homely atmosphere. The creator praises the high standard of service and the cruise line's commitment to a traditional cruising experience that avoids the gimmicks and constant product evolution seen in the wider industry.
Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.
How This Review Compares
This review is more critical than the all-time creator consensus.
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
I'm back on board now to find out whether Bal moral has been aging gracefully or whether time has really been catching up on this old girl
the service is as good as it was back then the food is as good as it was back then
I would honestly say consider a cruise with Fred Olsen because not only are you getting an elevated level of service compared to what else is offered these days
Bal moral is a fantastic ship not glitzy not glamorous but incredibly cozy and homely
Creator's Tips & Advice
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Scale: 0β5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = βmehβ, 5 = βbacon blissβ. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
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