Balmoral was built in Southampton in 1949 and operated under the Southampton Red Funnel Fleet for 20 years. She then moved round to the Bristol Channel where she became the last member of P&A Campbell's famous White Funnel Fleet. When they ceased operation in 1980, Balmoral moved to Dundee to become a floating restaurant, and there she stood, unsuccessful & gradually falling into disrepair, until she was rescued by the friends & supporters of the Waverley.
She returned to service in 1986 and to this day operates her main summer season in the Bristol Channel, offering day excursions to popular Coastal Resorts, as well as making visits to other ports & piers throughout the UK in Spring & Autumn. Coastal cruising, once a great British tradition, remains alive & well in the care of Waverley Excursions and the operation of the Balmoral and Waverley.
In Winter 2002, Balmoral was fitted with new engines. The Project was dependent on nearly £150k being raised through the help of the Public Sector & local Councils, Supporter Societies and on-board Fund raising Activities which in turn secured a further £3/4m contribution from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money has now been used to replace the engines but has also helped carry out additional improvements to enhance passenger comfort. For more detailed information on the Balmoral, please visit our supporters website at www.pswaverley.org.
Balmoral can comfortably accommodate up to 750 passengers and has a self-serve restaurant on-board along with two licensed bars, heated observation lounge and the souvenir shop.
SAFETY INFORMATION Welcome Aboard Balmoral - for your comfort & safety we would ask you to note the following:- - Please listen to the loudspeaker announcements made throughout the voyage and take note of the posters giving safety information that are on display throughout the ship. - Please proceed with care when moving around the ship. Decks may be wet due to spray or effects of the weather and sea condiitons may make the ship roll or pitch. - Please supervise children and in doing so note the comfort of others. Do not allow them to run around the decks or climb on seats and under no circumstances allow them to climb the guardrails at the side of the ship. - Please take care when moving onto or from stairways and over the step provided at doorways. - Only consume alcohol in moderation. The ship's captain has powers to refuse to embark passengers he judges to be intoxicated or to remove them from the ship. - If you are disabled, have impaired mobility are infirm, or for any other reason have difficulty in moving around the ship, please ask the purser or any other crew member for assistance. - If you have any observations or suggestions for safety aboard Waverley or Balmoral, please write to: Director of Safety; Waverley Excursions Ltd; Waverley Terminal; Anderston Quay; Glasgow G3 8HA
