 The Norwegian Crown docked in Hamilton, Bermuda |
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| Status: | undergoing refurbishment |
| Placed in Service: | 1988 as Crown Odyssey |
| Tonnage: | 43,000 gross tons |
| Length: | 218.18 m (716 ft) |
| Draft: | 7.3 m (24 ft) |
| Beam: | 28.2 m (93 ft) |
| Decks: | 10 |
| Cabins: | 745 |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Complement: | 1,340 passengers, 741 crew |
| Registry: | Bahamas |
Balmoral (previously known as Norwegian Crown) is a cruise ship currently owned by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
History
The vessel was built by Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany in 1988, for service with Royal Cruise Line as the Crown Odyssey. In 1989, Royal Cruise Line was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line, which continued operation of the company, along with the Crown Odyssey until 1996. A reorganization of all of the fleets owned by Norwegian Cruise Line saw Crown Odyssey enter service with NCL's main fleet, and it was renamed Norwegian Crown Following the purchase of Orient Lines by NCL in April, 2000, Norwegian Crown was transferred, regaining her original name, Crown Odyssey, in the process.
In September, 2003, Crown Odyssey was refurbished and returned to the NCL fleet, again with the name Norwegian Crown. On May 25, 2006 – NCL Corporation (“NCL”) announced that its parent company, Star Cruises, had agreed to sell Norwegian Crown to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines effective August 2006. Star Cruises concurrently chartered the vessel back from Fred. Olsen and NCL continued her deployment through to November 2007. “Although a beautiful and well-maintained vessel, Norwegian Crown’s smaller size is less suitable for Star Cruises’ ambitions in Asia,” said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. “Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines specializes in operating smaller and mid-sized upscale vessels and this ship should fit perfectly in their fleet.” Her last NCL cruise was on October 28, 2007. Fred. Olsen took delivery of the ship on November 7, 2007 and will have her refurbished and lengthened via insertion of a 30 meter midsection at Blohm + Voss Repair GmbH, in Hamburg, Germany before her inaugural cruise on January 30, 2008.
