Tourism

What is the Balmoral cruise ship and when does it visit Gibraltar?

The cruise ship Balmoral
Photo: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

Balmoral is the smallest ship in the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet, carrying 1,275 guests mainly from the UK. Its upcoming visits to Gibraltar, with times and expected passengers, are listed on this page.

Upcoming visits to Gibraltar

  • Thursday 26 November 2026, in port 11:30–18:30, about 1,350 passengers expected

  • Monday 25 January 2027, in port 13:00–23:00, about 1,350 passengers expected

  • Monday 10 May 2027, in port 08:30–23:00, about 1,350 passengers expected

    Also in port: AIDAcosma.

  • Wednesday 4 August 2027, in port 07:30–18:30, about 1,350 passengers expected

    Also in port: MSC Virtuosa.

  • Tuesday 5 October 2027, in port 08:30–17:00, about 1,350 passengers expected

    Also in port: Ambition. Combined: about 2,594 passengers where known.

  • Friday 24 December 2027, in port 08:00–17:30, about 1,350 passengers expected

    Also in port: Ambition. Combined: about 2,594 passengers where known.

From the Port of Gibraltar schedule, last checked 15 October 2026.

Detailed answer

Balmoral was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and entered service in 1988 as Crown Odyssey. It later sailed as Norwegian Crown. Fred. Olsen took it over in 2007, and in 2007 and 2008 Blohm and Voss in Hamburg lengthened it by 30 metres. Fred. Olsen gives a gross tonnage of 43,537, a length of 218.91 metres, 1,275 guests at standard occupancy and a crew of 590. The line calls it a classic gem offering an intimate cruising experience. Its size lets it sail under the cable across Norway's Akrafjord, up the River Seine to Rouen and through the Kiel Canal. Dining includes the Ballindalloch and Spey restaurants and the Colours and Tastes speciality restaurant. The Thistle buffet restaurant was rebuilt in a Falmouth refit in December 2024.

How busy will town be?

The upcoming visits listed on this page show the passengers expected on each call and any other ships in port the same day. Town is busiest when several ships are in at once or a large ship arrives at a weekend. A ship carrying a few hundred passengers makes little difference on its own.

Can you sail on it from nearby?

Yes, from Southampton. The call on Thursday 26 November 2026 is part of a 71-night Mediterranean voyage that left Southampton on Wednesday 30 September 2026 and returns on Thursday 10 December 2026. The 13-night Spain and Portugal round trip from Southampton on Wednesday 20 January 2027 calls at Gibraltar, Malaga and Cadiz. Balmoral sails more Southampton round trips through 2027, and fly-cruises from Alicante in autumn 2027.