Information on Balmoral, please

[lincslady]

We are hoping to go on Balmoral soon - not having been on a Fred for a few years - and never on Balmoral. Two questions I hope someone might help with - are there any 'no go' areas for cabins (i.e. noisy ones), and is it possible to get a table for two for dinner?

Any advice welcome; thanks.:)

[Parsman]

A purely personal opinion,I would avoid Marina Deck. There are quite a number of tablesfor two but book early. Remember you have a choice of three restarants, Ballindalloch on Main Deck, Avon and Spey on Highland Deck. All I have found excellent.

[KenQE2]

lincslady - you might also like to peruse a thread I started some time ago seeking information about sailing on Balmoral: Balmoral Topic (http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1363381)

As far as dining arrangements are concerned, you will be asked to express a preference at the time of booking for early or late sitting, and what size table (I can't remember what the options were), but these are only preferences and not guaranteed.

Personally I would rather be on a larger table with more chance of stimulating conversation, but I guess if you are in the height of romance...

[Host Sharon]

I posted a recent review on Balmoral here. As you will see. I had a very noisy cabin when arriving/departing port !

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=83515

[lincslady]

Thanks everyone for your help - and Sharon, for your review, which reminded us of the good and not so good sides of a Fred cruise. However, the two cruises we were interested in - both departing fairly soon - were full, so it seems unlikely that we will be doing a Fred. in the near future. Our main reason for hoping to go on Fred again was the no flying aspect, as we are fed up with airports, paying to stay in an airport hotel, and missing cruises due to volcanic ash etc. etc.

We will have a rethink again in the spring, as Dover or Southampton are not a big problem for us. Thanks anyway.

[Host Sharon]

Thanks everyone for your help - and Sharon, for your review, which reminded us of the good and not so good sides of a Fred cruise. However, the two cruises we were interested in - both departing fairly soon - were full, so it seems unlikely that we will be doing a Fred. in the near future. Our main reason for hoping to go on Fred again was the no flying aspect, as we are fed up with airports, paying to stay in an airport hotel, and missing cruises due to volcanic ash etc. etc.

We will have a rethink again in the spring, as Dover or Southampton are not a big problem for us. Thanks anyway.


Why not have a look at some of the smaller P&O ships in the meantime? The sail from Southampton and are as good as Fred IMO (if not better in many aspects, although not in others!)