There appears to be roughly 45 single cabins [no, I didn't count exactly]. I don't know the ship at all, so have no idea how many she currently has? or what other alterations will be made. If anyone is interested, do you want me to scan the deck plans?

These do not appear to be available on FOCL's website yet, nor are the itineraries; only the first 2 are mentioned in a Press Release, along with a note saying they will be availble on the website from 1st September.

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Originally posted by PamM:
I An interesting set of itins; most noticeable is the number of fly cruises in the Med as against sailing ex UK to that region.

Pam

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I think this will become more and more the norm : the market will be bigger, and with the contemporary busy time craze, is 2 x 2 days on the Bay of Biscay a bit too leisurely

Cunard and P&O should do it too

I would love to see the deckplans please - I know the ship well and like her a lot...

The inaugural is the only UK/UK cruise until the end of June 08 where the brochure ends.. it is rather tempting, even though one should not sail inaugurals or after refits!!

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Originally posted by Johan:

I think this will become more and more the norm : the market will be bigger, and with the contemporary busy time craze, is 2 x 2 days on the Bay of Biscay a bit too leisurely

Cunard and P&O should do it too

J

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Originally posted by Johan:

2 x 2 days on the Bay of Biscay a bit too leisurely

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Roundtrip voyages from Southampton would solve that, as its a few hours west of Dover.

With less huge winter storms over Southern England over the last couple of winter's, the season in Dover before transferring to Southampton is getting longer.

When the ships finish each season in either port, they do a transfer voyage with no pax.

Hope us in Southampton will see the Balmoral at some point, as she is a very good looking vessel.

What happens when they meet???

I wonder if the 2 Balmorals will ever meet.. a cruise out of Bristol may be nice.

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I would have thought that, as airport security increases, and flying becomes more of a hassle, the exact opposite would apply, with more Brits preferring to sail from UK home ports.

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That's a factor, but in our case not the most important. And in practice, as long as you get there in the end, an extra hour checking in is not the issue.

We came back from Galaxy this June deciding that we really wanted to cruise the Aegean again. We looked very hard at P&O and Fred Olsen, but it's just too long - 16 or 17 days for cruises that far east. That compares with 10 days in Galaxy next summer, plus the cost of our flights. The fly/cruise option is still preferable - for us, at least.

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Originally posted by Ernst:
You made my day! Fantastic news! The spa is gone - she has her observation deck back - Yiepie!

(well, she will have it back - let's hope they don't change their mind or that it's not a misprint)

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I would have moved the spa a la FOCL but left the structure intact - turning that into a spectacular Obs Lounge and the Top of the Crown into a much larger Library.

Odd that the largest ship in the fleet has the smallest Library.

But the main reason to remove it is:
She needs forward facing open deck space!
(I know there are some otherwise fine ships which don't have that either )

Her promenade deck is even more narrow in the front sections. (the narrow promenade deck is for me her weak link)

Also, the spa spoils the view for the observation lounge, see here:

(whoever had the idea to paint the top of the spa white: bad idea)

And for completeness, the forward facing part of the promenade deck. (presently this is the only forward facing open deck space!)

some more photos here

[ 08-22-2006: Message edited by: Ernst ]

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Originally posted by Thad:
Was the Spa previously towards the stern before the hideous addition up top, as it will now be?

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It was originally on the lowest deck, below Marina Deck, but where it was immediately before being moved up top I don't know.