We Boarded the UK’s Oldest Cruise Ship. Day One was a Shock!

Travelling Light

Travelling Light

🥉Knowledgeable

👁️ 28K views📅 5 months ago⏱️ 34:38

What This Creator Said

½ Sad Bacon

Creator Had Mixed FeelingsCruise Vlog🥉Knowledgeable Creator

❤️ Best for CoupleMediterranean · Fall · 7 nightsFrom MalagaOccasional Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I'm really shocked at how many people are embarking today. I mean, I'm really shocked at how many people are embarking today. Have a look at the queue. It's massive.

I think that's the smallest buffet I've ever ever come across on a ship. It is so small. I mean, I think that's the smallest buffet I've ever ever come across on a ship.

It's not about the decoration. And it's not about the size. It's what you do with it. And how it flows.

Creator's Tips & Advice

✓On your first day, if you have an allergy or intolerance, make sure to inform the staff immediately and confirm they have noted it.

✓When going out for your first meal, make sure you know your table number and seating time beforehand.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Joining a cruise mid-voyage — Be prepared for a high number of people embarking at once if joining at the end of a leg.

Ship age and space — Older ships may have dated decor and feel more cramped compared to newer, larger vessels.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat is it like to join a cruise part-way through a long voyage?

QHow does the food and buffet on an older, smaller ship compare to newer ships?

QIs it a good value to book a Fred Olsen cruise including flights?

QHow are dietary requirements and allergies handled on board?

Topics Covered

Ship Condition1½ Sad BaconCrowd Capacity2 Sad BaconCabin Interior1 Happy BaconDining Buffet3½ Sad BaconDining Main2½ Sad BaconService Crew2 Happy BaconValue Pricing3 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Malaga2½ Happy Bacon

Southampton

How to read the Trip Bacon Score

Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect

Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this

Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

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YouTube Video Description↓

In this video we share our first impressions of Fred Olsen’s Balmoral as we join the ship in Malaga at the end of a 56-day cruise. We talk you through embarkation day, travelling by flight from the UK, boarding the ship, and what it feels like to join a cruise part-way through a long voyage. We show you our cabin, share our early thoughts on Balmoral as an older and smaller Fred Olsen ship, and give an honest account of our first evening on board, including the buffet, main dining room experience, and how dietary requirements and food allergies were handled on the first night. We also discuss how much we paid for this cruise, including flights and onboard credit, and whether we think it represents good value. With recent experience on Fred Olsen Borealis, we begin to compare the two ships and explain why Balmoral feels very different so far. If you are considering a Fred Olsen Balmoral cruise, joining a cruise by flight, or wondering what embarkation day is really like, this video gives a realistic look at day one on board. This is the start of our Balmoral cruise series, where we’ll be sharing honest reviews of the ship, food, cabins, entertainment and destinations as the week goes on. Follow us on Socials: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/travellinglightlisa/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550871332897 Website | travellinglighter.co.uk