Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has joined forces with television presenter Nick Knowles on a new YouTube collaboration, offering viewers a rare insight into the work of a busy dry dock programme.

The cruise line's smallest ship, Balmoral, entered the shipyard at A&P Falmouth on 1st December for a two-week programme of maintenance, including a complete refurbishment and rebrand of the ship's buffet restaurant, removal and reapplication of anti-fouling paint to the hull to reduce fuel consumption, a technical refurbishment of The Neptune Lounge theatre, and installation of a new propeller.

Nick Knowles joined the team on Tuesday, 10th December, to learn more about what goes into a ship's time in dry dock, and had the unique opportunity to walk beneath the 43,500-tonne ship while it was out of the water.

He spent time with many of the 700-strong workforce who together have made the dry dock programme possible, including some of the 30 apprentices involved.  

The episode went live on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' YouTube channel on Monday, 24th February.

Speaking from the shipyard, Nick 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, E-Commerce and Marketing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, 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.”

It is a requirement for all cruise ships to enter a dry dock at least twice every five years, so that inspections and maintenance can be carried out of the parts of the ship that are usually beneath the water.

The collaboration shows the extent of routine maintenance and attention to detail conducted by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to its fleet, and highlights the benefits of using a UK-based shipyard and supporting the local economy through its workforce and supply chain.

To watch the episode, click here.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit www.fredolsencruises.com
Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 215 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Nick Knowles

For the last 23 years, Nick has been the face of BBC DIY SOS, which is now the channel's most watched and longest running prime time factual series. Now in its 24th year, DIY SOS continues to recruit friends, family and local trades to improve the homes and lives of families across Britain. He is one of the UK's highest rated TV presenters and is also an RTS award-winning writer.

Over the past decade, Nick has hosted BBC1 prime time Saturday night quiz shows such as Break the Safe, Secret Fortune and Who Dares Wins. In 2018, he appeared as a contestant in ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, winning a new legion of ITV fans. He has appeared across an extensive list of formats for over 30 years now, spanning news, factual, factual entertainment and entertainment.

After three series of the hit renovation show Big House Clearout for Channel 5, Nick has been busy filming some exciting programmes for C5 over the past few years. Including a two-parter called Into the Grand Canyon, Amazing Railway Adventures, and Into Death Valley, which were all released in March 2023. More recently, in 2024 Nick released two new series: The Mighty Mississippi, and Nick Knowles in South America. It was also recently announced that DIY SOS will be returning to BBC 1 once more, with Nick as presenter of the show.

Most recently, Nick took part in BBC 1's Strictly Come Dancing 2024, with Luba Mushtuk as his partner.

Balmoral's dry dock

For more information on Balmoral's dry dock programme, visit https://media.fredolsencruises.com/pressreleases/fred-olsen-cruise-lines-balmoral-sets-sail-following-multi-million-pound-dry-dock-project-3361998