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European River Cities & Christmas Markets
Balmoral
16th Dec 24
6 Nights
1
Southampton, UK
Arrive and board Balmoral for your 6-night cruise.
2-3
Antwerp, Belgium
The Belgian port city of Antwerp nestles on the River Scheldt. At the centre of the city, you'll discover the ancient Diamond District which is home to thousands of diamond traders, cutters, and polishers. Admire the Flemish Renaissance architecture as you stroll around the Grote in the Old Town. Pay a visit to the 17th-century Rubenshuis to view artworks by the Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Roberts. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Museum Plantin-Moretus, the impressive MAS complex, and the Gothic-style Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal are well worth visiting too. Get up close to sharks and piranhas at Aquatopia aquarium or visit the animals at Antwerp Zoo.
4
At Sea
5
Rouen, France
The port city of Rouen sits on the River Seine and is the capital of northern France's Haute-Normandie region. Tracing its routes back to the Roman era and the Middle Ages; the city's skyline is dominated by the spires of Cathedrale Notre-Dame. Explore the Gothic Saint-Ouen and Saint-Maclou churches and medieval half-timbered houses in the cobblestoned pedestrian centre. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Place du Vieux Marche in 1431 and her illustrious history is brought to life at Historial Jeanne d'Arc museum. Admire artworks by Rubens, Modigliani, Pissarro, Renoir, and Monet at Musee des Beaux-Arts.
6
Rouen, France > Cruising Seine River
7
Southampton, UK
Disembark and make your own way home.
Why Book
Balmoral
Overview
Balmoral is named after the Scottish residence of the British Royal Family, and the Scottish theme runs throughout the main dining venues – the Ballindalloch, Avon and Spey – where guests can enjoy tantalising menus prepared by our expert chefs. Featuring 710 well-appointed rooms and suites and a selection of comfortable lounges, bars and inviting public areas, Balmoral provides guests with ample space in which to relax and share a memorable cruise experience with hundreds, not thousands, of fellow travellers. And, as Fred. Olsen’s guests have come to expect, there is always an array of superb entertainment on offer throughout the day, from lectures and hobby classes to live cabaret and comedians, ensuring you can make the most of your time on board. Balmoral is small enough to navigate size-restricted waterways such as the Kiel Canal, providing fantastic scenic cruising opportunities, and retains the warm, intimate and friendly atmosphere that the Fred. Olsen fleet is renowned for.
Food & Drink
Whether you're visiting far-flung destinations on an epic Grand Voyage or taking a relaxing short trip to European cities, dining on board Balmoral is always a highlight of any cruise. With six fantastic dining venues to choose from, you'll always find there's a tempting selection of dishes, all perfectly prepared by our expert chefs.
Take a seat in the beautiful Ballindalloch, Spey and Avon restaurants∘ to start the day with a breakfast cooked just the way you like it, or indulge with a mouthwatering five-course á la carte dinner∘ every evening; and help yourself to the tempting buffet at the Palms Café. For an extra special treat, The Grill offers cooked-to-order steaks and seafood; while al fresco dining at its finest can be enjoyed at the newly installed The Poolside.
Fred. Olsen’s team of talented chefs are passionate about creating great food. Their vibrant choice of dishes means you can enjoy everything from British favourites to exciting new tastes from around the world and specialities from the destinations you are visiting.
On board bakers and pastry chefs ensure freshly made breads, pastries, cakes and biscuits are available each day.
Sommeliers are on hand to help you choose the perfect wine or champagne to accompany their meal and they love to create signature cocktails from the regions being visited.
Main restaurants:
The elegant main restaurants are at the heart of the Fred. Olsen dining experience and are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Every evening, enjoy a delicious five-course à la carte menu. Changing daily, guests will find options including steaks, seafood, freshly made soups, pasta and salads. They also feature regional dishes, so you will have the chance to experiment with local cuisines alongside their usual favourites.
For a more relaxed experience, guests can visit the buffet restaurant where they will find a delicious choice of freshly prepared options each day.
Speciality restaurants:
Colours & Tastes – Fred. Olsen’s Colours & Tastes restaurant features a tempting variety of Asian Fusion dishes, from spiced grilled meats and seafood to gyozas, dim sum and sushi. Located on board Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral.
Vasco - Named after the famous explorer Vasco Da Gama, Vasco offers a fresh and modern take on Indian cuisine. The menu is inspired by their chefs from Goa and focuses on the unique culinary traditions of this area – a place where the tastes of Europe first met the tropical warmth and spices of western India. Located on board Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral.
Speciality dining is available for £10pp when booked in advance or £15pp when booking on board.
Entertainment
Whether you want to relax and watch the world go by, or fill your day meeting fellow guests and taking in our entertainment programme, we have plenty of options for you to try.
Enjoy wonderful live music in one of our bars, join a sociable gathering with other guests at our Book Club or perhaps sip a coffee as you take in the scenic sea view. Details of all daily events can be found in your Daily Times.
Health & Fitness
Cruising with Fred. Olsen is about being able to rest, relax and leave all the daily stresses of life at home behind, and on board Balmoral it's easy to switch off from it all. You'll find there's plenty of ways to unwind, from a sunrise stroll along the promenade to visiting the Atlantis Spa for an indulgent treatment accompanied by beautiful scenic views. With fantastic fitness facilities and a range of classes on board too, you don't have to stray too far from your lifestyle while on holiday either.
Kids & Teens
Children of 6 months and over are very welcome on our ships. On peak-time holiday cruises, our Little Skippers Club keeps kids between 5 and 11 years old entertained with a variety of fun activities. They will enjoy arts and crafts, discos, treasure hunts and loads more, all run by our friendly team of hosts and hostesses*.
A list of the day's events are included in the Little Skippers Club's mini-version of the Daily Times, which also shows the separate pool times for kids. Activities also stretch across the evenings, to suit the individual needs of families on board. Please note: our Little Skippers Club also welcomes children under 5, however parents must provide supervision at all times. The club operates subject to minimum numbers being achieved.
**Please note we will not be operating any Little Skippers clubs aboard our Welcome Back sailings this summer. This is because cruising restart guidelines require all guests, including children, to remain in their household or dining bubbles on board.
European River Cities & Christmas Markets
£449
From PP
Balmoral
16th Dec 24
6 Nights
£449
From PP
