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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral becomes an internet sensation, after dramatic time-lapse footage of the ship being extended goes viral

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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral becomes an internet sensation, after dramatic time-lapse footage of the ship being extended goes viral

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' 1,350-guest flagship, Balmoral, has become an internet sensation, after video footage of her dramatic 'stretch' by 30 metres at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany in 2008 was posted on popular websites for the BBC and 'Daily Mail', amongst others. The clip has now been seen and enjoyed by over 350,000 viewers online.

The incredible video footage was captured by production company MK Timelapse, and shows the long process of inserting the 3,500 tonnes, 30-metre mid-section - which took 70 days to complete - condensed into just minutes.

Balmoral was built in 1988 for Royal Cruise Line, and was originally named 'Crown Odyssey'. The vessel, which now weighs 43,537 GRT and is 218.18m in length, was purchased by Fred. Olsen in 2008, and was given a makeover shortly thereafter, to provide 186 guest cabins, 53 crew cabins and 60 balcony cabins and to create the new smaller, more intimate restaurants of the Spey and Avon, on Deck 10.

In a feat of engineering that defies belief, the ship is cut in half and extended by inserting the new mid-section, which had to match the existing fabric of the ship to absolute precision.

To see the incredible footage of Balmoral being stretched, watch the video below.


For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com


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Fred. Olsen Cruise Line operates in the UK with four intimately sized ships for a more personal cruising experience.

Contacts

Georgina May

Georgina May

Press contact Public Relations Executive Public Relations
Lauren Gardner

Lauren Gardner

Press contact Public Relations Manager Public Relations 07546807099

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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

At Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines we are very proud of our smaller ships – Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral - and the imaginative and unusual itineraries they allow us to offer. Every cruise is hand-crafted from scratch by our team of in-house Journey Planners to make sure you are not only visiting the best destinations, but at the best time to experience them.

For us, it’s not just about where we go but how we take you there. We put as much time into planning scenic cruising as we do in choosing the destinations themselves. On board, our Signature Experiences showcase the history, culture, nature and flavours of the destinations you’ll visit – from Treats of the Region, where you can enjoy local delicacies, to our Sky at Sea star-gazing sessions where you can relax with a hot toddy out on deck while our astronomer talks you through the night sky.

Plus, with each ship carrying 1,300 guests or less, our ships are small enough for us to offer a warm, friendly and personal service where nothing is ever too much trouble, as we visit a host of exciting ports in every corner of the globe.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen House, White House Road
IP1 5LL Ipswich, Suffolk
United Kingdom