FRED.OLSEN'S LATEST SHIP,THE BALMORAL,IS NOW AT THE BLOHM & VOSS REPAIR SHIPYARD IN HAMBURG,GERMANY, WHERE SHE IS TO UNDERGO A MAJOR REFIT PRIOR TO HER 2008 CRUISE PROGRAMME WHICH IS TO BEGIN OUT OF DOVER ON 30TH JANUARY WITH A 14 NIGHT CRUISE TO THE CANARY ISLANDS.

SHE IS TO BE EXTENDED BY 30.20 METRES BY HAVING A NEWLY BUILT MID-SECTION INSERTED. THIS WILL ADD 186 PASSENGERS TO HER CAPACITY WITH 53 EXTRA CREW CABINS AND 60 NEW CABINS WITH BALCONIES. MODIFICATIONS WILL BE MADE TO PUBLIC AREAS WHILST NEW AREAS WILL BE ADDED.

BALMORAL,FORMERLY NORWEGIAN CROWN, WILL, SUBJECT TO EVERYTHING RUNNING TO SCHEDULE, DEPART THE SHIPYARD FOR SEA TRIALS ON 18TH JANUARY IN PREPERATION FOR HER INNAUGURAL CRUISE.