The cruise ship 'Balmoral' of Fred Olsen cruises passing Sunderland on the way from Newcastle to Southampton. Together with another Fred Olsen ship, the 'Bolette', this ship has been a regular visitor to Newcastle, usually sailing across the North Sea to Norway.

Built in 1988, the ship has been owned by a number of cruise companies, including Royal Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. It has a complement of 520 and carry up to 1,300 passengers.