Balmoral by Jayne

Balmoral is the largest ship in the Fred Olsen fleet. It has 9 decks and holds 1350 passengers.

I joined the cruise in Greenock part way through it’s British Isles cruise. I had an outside cabin on Coral Deck with a picture window which was lovely and spacious.

The public lounges where very bright and spacious with plenty of seating areas. The main dining room is called The Ballindalloch located on Main deck, but if you’re looking for something a little smaller and intimate you can chose to eat in The Avon or Spey restaurants located on Highland deck.

The entertainment was very professional from the Crew Shows to Singers and Comedians. Ballroom dancing was held every evening in The Lido Lounge accompanied by a singer or a band.
The nightclub on Marquee deck is open until the early hours.

I had a chance to use the facilities in the Spa & Fitness centre which I found to be very professional and reasonably priced. The drinks on board are charged in sterling and very similar to UK pub prices.

Ocean Countess by Richard Cross

With its distinctive dark blue hull, the Ocean Countess takes 800 passengers on a variety of Cruises including Northern Lights, Norwegian Fjords, The Baltics & Russia, Iceland, the British Isles, Canaries and Mediterranean with regional departures available from Hull, Liverpool & Greenock.

I went for lunch and a tour of the Ocean Countess whilst it was in port in Liverpool on a cruise turn around.

The ship is decorated to a high standard with comfortable surroundings and friendly services. The ship was originally the Cunard Countess, before undergoing a major renovation in 2009, prior to her maiden season as Ocean Countess in 2010.

The ship has six passenger decks, comprising of comfortable cabin accommodation including Inside, Ocean View and Superior Cabins, Boutiques, 24 hour reception and a tour desk.

Our tour started in the Hamptons, which comes alive at night with its cabaret entertainment. We then were taken through to the Gym & Sauna, the Jade Wellness Centre with its spa, massage, hairdressing and beauty facilities available to all passengers whilst on board for a small charge.

On the top deck, the Tower Piano Bar has panoramic views, ideal for spotting the sights whilst in port, if you choose not to get off the ship. There is also a well stocked library, card tables and even an internet room for you to check emails whilst away if you want.

The food on board is fantastic, we were treated to a four course dinner in the Kensington Restaurant, which was delicious. The staff went out of their way to cater for our needs and kept the wine flowing!

The Holyrood Show Lounge is on the Promenade Deck and hosts nightly performances from the on board show team.

Children and teenagers are welcome on board Ocean Countess, although there are no dedicated facilities for them, there is plenty of time to read, surf the internet or relax on deck.

Crown Princess by Tamara

I went on the Crown Princess in July 2011 for an afternoon visit, and wow, what an amazing ship.

The first thing that amazed me, was the fantastic atrium which is piazza-styled, offering an array of bars and cafes with performing entertainers, as well as excellent duty free shops for all the gifts you may wish to purchase.

For an adult only experience for utter relaxation, the Sanctuary is a MUST.

This ship also offers a fantastic alternative to normal cinema, with their ‘Movies under the stars’, which is poolside. You will be offered a warm cosy blanket, as well as popcorn, whilst watching new release films with the night time stars flickering down at you.

Last but not least was the divine food onboard. Catering for all tastes, Princess Cruises should be a definite on your to do list.

Boudicca Mini Cruise - September 2011 by Joe

I have just returned from the 4 night mini cruise on Boudicca which visited the Orkney Islands and Bergen. My last few cruises have been on very large ships, and I really enjoyed being on a ship where the staff got to know you quickly and called you by your name. I was impressed by the friendliness of the staff on board, and their obvious pride in their ship.

We set sail from Rosyth on the Saturday afternoon, and I was on deck to see just how close we got to the Forth Bridges. It felt like you could touch the cars and trains travelling above you. As the ship is mid sized, it was easier to get your bearings on board and find where you wanted to get to. After I had explored the ship, it was time to get ready for dinner. I had booked on second sitting dining, so there was time to enjoy an aperitif in one of the bars. I was in the Four Seasons Restaurant, and my waiter, also called Joe, really looked after me well. Service was professional but far from stuffy. I don’t think I ever saw him without a smile on his face the entire time I was on the ship, and nothing was ever too much trouble. There was plenty of choice on the menu, and I felt I made good selections. The food was delicious, cooked to perfection, and just the right amount. After dinner, it was time to go to the Neptune Lounge to see the show. Throughout the cruise there was a good choice of entertainment from the ship’s company and guest entertainers. Once I had seen the show, I then went to the Lido Lounge which is Boudicca’s late night venue. I enjoyed a few drinks at the bar, and I was very impressed with how reasonable the prices were on board, and as it’s sterling on board, it’s easy to keep track of how much you’re spending.

On the Sunday morning, the ship was sailing towards the Orkney Islands capital, Kirkwall, and we arrived late morning. I had an excursion booked here, and the organisation was excellent. We gathered in the Neptune Lounge until our coach number was called, then it was straight off the ship and away, stopping just long enough to pose for the ship’s photographers when disembarking. I enjoyed a well guided and very informative tour of the Orkney Mainland. We saw the standing stones of Stennes from the coach, but had a full visit to the Ring of Brodgar which is a fuller ring of standing stones. The guide said they don’t know what the stones were for, but we were shown Viking graffiti on one of the stones. From there, it was on to Skara Brae, which is a 5000 year old village that was unearthed after a storm and found by the local Laird when he was walking his dog. The Laird’s house is also now open to visitors, and it has been preserved as it would have been in the 1950s. After leaving there, we went back to the ship, passing the burial cairn at Maeshowe which also has Viking graffiti inside after some Vikings sheltered from a storm on their way towards Ireland. Sadly then it was time to leave Orkney behind and sail set for Norway.

Sunday evening was the time for the Captain’s Cocktail Party and the formal evening in the restaurant. Before going in for dinner, we met the Captain and he introduced everyone to the Officers on board, and we had a chance for a photograph with the Captain. After another very enjoyable meal, I went to the Lido lounge to see the duo they had on board rather than going to see the main show.

We arrived in Bergen just before lunchtime on Monday. Boudicca was able to berth right in the heart of the city, and we only had to walk for about 5 minutes before we arrived at Bryggen and the Fish Market. A few minutes further and we were at the station for the funicular railway to take us up Mount Floyen for panoramic views over the city. It was a shame the weather was not a little kinder, as there was a range of walks from there to explore the natural beauty of the area. We did have good, clear views of Boudicca below us in the harbour, and it was a great spot for photographs. Even on the railway carriage it was possible to take good photos, as they had huge panoramic windows and a glass roof. When I got back down into the city, I just had a look around the shops and tourist sights there. Bergen was somewhere I had always wanted to see, and it was this port of call that had really attracted me to the cruise.

Sadly, the weather was not being kind to us, and we were advised we would sail earlier than expected from Bergen to avoid the worst of the weather that the tail end of hurricane Kata was throwing at us. The crossing back to Newcastle was a little lively at times, but the Captain changed course to make it as comfortable as possible.

Tuesday was the day at sea, so I had a leisurely breakfast, then consulted the Daily Times on the ship to see which activities I could join in. On our cruise, the guest lecturer was one of the Concorde pilots, and he spoke with passion about the aircraft, and gave two very informative lectures that filled the lounge on both occasions. I particularly enjoyed going for afternoon tea in the Observatory. There is a small charge for this, but it was definitely worth doing it. You have to book a table, and you are welcomed and taken to your table and presented with a tea menu. There was a good selection of sandwiches, delicious cakes, then warm scones with jam and cream. My last experience of afternoon tea on a ship was nowhere near as good as this! It is a good job there is a well equipped gym on board to work off those extra calories.

I had an outside cabin, midships on Marina deck. The cabin was larger than ones I have had on the bigger ships, and it was very comfortable. Daisy, our maid, looked after us well and kept everything ship shape.

It was a real shame that it was then time to disembark in Newcastle on the Wednesday morning. I left Boudicca with fond memories of a lovely ship, happy and caring staff, and being treated as a person, not just a cabin number. I hope to return to Boudicca soon, in better weather, so I can take advantage of the large areas of open deck space to relax on the sea days.