Fred Olsen Cruise Lines welcomed TV presenter Nick Knowles on board Balmoral during its dry dock to record a behind-the-scenes YouTube video.
The video is now live on the line’s YouTube channel and shows Knowles joining the team on December 10 during the two-week maintenance programme in Falmouth.
He spoke to different members of staff, including the captain, and oversaw a complete refurbishment, a rebrand of the ship’s main restaurant, a technical refurbishment of its theatre and installation of a new propeller.
Speaking from the shipyard, Knowles said: “Visiting Fred Olsen’s ship Balmoral while she was in dry dock in Falmouth was an amazing experience.
“To have the chance to walk underneath a ship is an experience very few people have, and then to learn more on the technical detail on things such as the propellers, the steering, the antifouling paint that’s been applied to the hull to use less fuel, and everything that goes into running a hotel on the water, it’s all amazing.
“It’s been a really wonderful experience, full of technical knowledge for a nerd like me, but also reassuring that Fred Olsen are taking the environment very seriously in all they do.”
Speaking from the shipyard, Knowles said: “Visiting Fred Olsen’s ship Balmoral while she was in dry dock in Falmouth was an amazing experience.
“To have the chance to walk underneath a ship is an experience very few people have, and then to learn more on the technical detail on things such as the propellers, the steering, the antifouling paint that’s been applied to the hull to use less fuel, and everything that goes into running a hotel on the water, it’s all amazing.
“It’s been a really wonderful experience, full of technical knowledge for a nerd like me, but also reassuring that Fred Olsen are taking the environment very seriously in all they do.”
Sonia Holman, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines e-commerce and marketing director, said: “It was a real privilege to welcome Nick Knowles and his team to Balmoral’s dry dock in Falmouth.
“As a cruise line, we always get really excited about taking our ships out of the water and making enhancements for guests – while also conducting much of the maintenance that simply isn’t possible while she is sailing.
“This is the first time we have documented a dry dock programme in this way, and it is a great opportunity to be able to bring such a technical operation to life for our guests, and to show the love, care and attention to detail that really goes into maintaining our ships, that we know our guests love just as much as we do.”