Your cruise at a glance
Hand-crafted highlights
This sailing showcases the natural beauty of Portugal’s islands, home to geological wonders such as volcanoes, calderas, crater lakes, and sea cliffs, all set amongst lush landscapes. In the Azores, you can connect with nature by bathing in thermal pools and hiking amidst lush landscapes. There will also be chances to spot dolphins and whales, both from the comfort of Borealis – assisted by wildlife charity ORCA – and on tour. Meanwhile, Funchal is ideal for exploring botanical gardens and sipping Madeiran wine, while Leixões is your gateway to the Port wine city of Oporto. You can gain an insight into the islands’ diverse agriculture and horticulture, including winemaking, pineapple cultivation, flower growing and dairy farming.
Explore the ItineraryHighlights
Discover verdant volcanic vistas
The volcanic peaks, craters, and lakes that make up the Azores archipelago offer a diverse range of outstanding vistas for those who visit. Sete Cidades is home to unique twin lakes, one a vivid green and the other a bright blue, which are the subject of many mythological tales, the most famous being the story of the young princess and the shepherd boy whose love was quashed by her father, the King. Algar do Carvão lava tube offers visitors the chance to explore caverns and magma chambers created by the cooling and solidification of lava flows. Furnas Valley on São Miguel Island is renowned for its verdant surroundings and geothermal features, such as boiling mud pots and hot springs; on the other hand, the Caldera de Guilherme Moniz crater, including rocky outcrops, caverns, and lava fields, begs to be explored.
The Portuguese way of life
You'll have many of chances on this Borealis cruise to fully immerse yourself in Azorean culture by trying regional food, and discovering local cultures. In Madeira, savour the deliciously flaky pastry pastéis de nata, discover the origins of its famous wine, or unwind in Furnas Valley's geothermal spas. The island is also home to the vibrant, traditional music of Bailinho, which has a rich history dating back to the 1800s and is still fundamental to Madeiran identity and culture. The vibrant lyrics, catchy melodies, and upbeat rhythms of Bailinho da Madeira are well-known for reflecting the customs, folklore, and way of life here.
Whales & Dolphins of the Azores
Join the team from ORCA out on deck as they assist you with spotting marine life – particularly whales and dolphins – around the islands of the Azores, well known for being home to sperm whales and other visiting cetaceans, due to the crystal-clear waters and abundance of food. The team will observe the whale behaviours allowing them to identify and protect critical whale and dolphin habitats, ultimately to promote the health of our seas.
Life On Board
Introducing Borealis
Sister ship to Bolette, Borealis is perfectly suited for enjoying scenic cruising of the world's lesser-known waterways. From cruising past remarkable landscapes and historical sites to capturing the beauty of the natural world.
Borealis
Sister-ship to Bolette, Borealis is perfectly suited for taking guests on a journey around the globe, enabling more exploration in more exciting ports. Her smaller size, spacious public areas, open deck spaces and impressive array of restaurants make her perfect for longer voyages, and shorter journeys alike.
Sample Shore Tours
At each port of call on your cruise, we carefully research and hand pick Shore Tour options for you, designed for you see as many of the world's best destinations as possible.
Below, you will find some sample Shore Tours which will give you an example of what to expect on your cruise. Your Shore Tours will be available to book approximately 8-13 weeks prior to departure via your My Cruises account.
Explore Inside Algar Do Carvâo Volcano
Explore Algar do Carvã, an ancient volcano located in one of Terceira's geological nature reserves. Journey 330ft below the Earth’s surface where extraordinary caves, magma chambers and even an underground lake with crystal clear waters await you.
££££
Praia da Vitória
Sete Cidades Jeep Adventure
Enjoy an exhilarating Jeep adventure up into the mountains to soak up the magnificent surroundings. Visit Sete Cidades and the main crater of this extinct volcano to admire the views of the two lakes below. Finish with a visit to Santiago Lake, situated at the bottom of an extinct crater.
££££
Ponta Delgada
Furnas Valley
Explore some of the natural highlights of the island of São Miguel with this special tour of Furnas Valley. Visit the historical town of Ribeira Grande, the smaller Vila Franca do Campo and a pineapple plantation to learn about the cultivation of pineapple and tea.
££££
Ponta Delgada
Whale Watching
Embark on a captivating catamaran cruise for a wildlife encounter. Departing from the pier, traverse crystalline waters in search of dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. Spot humpback, minke, blue, sei, and northern bottlenose whales, along with turtles, sunfish, and schools of tuna, while your knowledgeable crew guides the adventure.
££££
Ponta Delgada
Made in Madeira
Embark on a journey to Quinta das Vinhas, an organic vineyard overlooking the Atlantic, steeped in history and antiques. Explore its restored charm and learn about its heritage, grape cultivation, and traditional Madeiran wine-making process. Enjoy a wine tasting with tapas and visit the Hinton family’s rum distillery to sample unique Madeiran rum.
££££
Funchal
Flowers of Funchal
Begin with a scenic drive to Palheiro Gardens to explore the beautiful garden before continuing to the family-owned Quinta Jardins do Lago, where Pedro, a local botanical enthusiast, will conduct an insightful orchid workshop.
££££
Funchal
Viewpoints of Funchal
Explore Funchal’s most beautiful landscapes on this scenic tour, stopping at the Ponta do Garajau and Pico dos Barcelos viewpoints for sweeping vistas. Conclude at Cabo Girão, standing at 580m, it is the highest sea cliff in Europe and the second highest in the world. For the brave, there is a glass ‘Sky Walk’ offering a view of the cliff face directly beneath your feet.
££££
Funchal
Port Wine & Douro River Cruise
Immerse yourself in the magnificence of Oporto’s 18th-century splendour before enjoying a river cruise to view the city and its six impressive bridges from the unique perspective of the water.
££££
Leixões
Your Guest Speakers
We’ve arranged for some wonderful guest speakers to join us for this cruise. They will be delivering a programme of insightful talks and activities to deepen your cultural, artistic and historical understanding of the destinations we will be exploring, well as helping you to enjoy the natural beauty of the places we visit.
David Winpenny
Garden and landscape ethusiast David has extensive experience in leading garden tours and will be joining us to talk about the gardens of the Azores and Madeira.
Dr. Tony Waltham
Experienced geologist, Dr. Tony Waltham will be delivering a series of engaging talks during your cruise about the volcanoes and volcanic landscapes of the Azores and Madeira.
Mark Westmoquette - Go Stargazing
Go Stargazing is formed of a group of astronomers, all of whom are keen to encourage public interest in astronomy to as wide an audience as possible. On your cruise, expect to find them out on the top deck in the evenings conducting stargazing sessions.
Orca
Founded in 2001, ORCA is a group of Ocean Conservationists. Join them out on deck to search the seas for marine life.
Treats & Pastimes
In addition to our Signature Experiences, we have a selection of lovely Treats & Pastimes for you to enjoy when on board. Just check your Daily Times each day for full details.
Cabins, Prices & Offers
Cabin Options On Your Cruise
* Prices correct as of 15:00 28/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on two people sharing a twin cabin. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.
* Prices correct as of 15:00 28/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on sole occupancy. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.
Cabin Grades
Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)
Borealis' Balcony Junior Suites have a private balcony and sitting/bedroom area.
| Freedom Fare | From £3,799 pp |
|---|
360°
Terrace Cabin (TC)
Borealis' Terrace Cabins offer access to the Promenade Deck via sliding doors.
| Freedom Fare | From £3,299 pp |
|---|
360°
Ocean View (F)
Borealis' F Grade Ocean View cabins have two portholes and are on decks 1 & 2.
| Freedom Fare | From £1,999 pp |
|---|
360°
Interior Cabin (I)
Located on decks 1, 2 & 3, I Grade Interior cabins on Borealis have a bathroom with shower.
| Freedom Fare | From £1,699 pp |
|---|
360°
Single Superior Interior Cabin (M)
M Grade Single Superior Interior cabins on Borealis are on deck 7.
| Freedom Fare | From £2,999 pp |
|---|
360°
Balcony Suite (BS)
Located on decks 6 & 7, Borealis' Balcony Suites have a private balcony.
| Freedom Fare | From £5,848.50 |
|---|
360°
Terrace Cabin (TC)
Borealis' Terrace Cabins offer access to the Promenade Deck via sliding doors.
| Freedom Fare | From £6,268.10 |
|---|
360°
Superior Ocean Fully Obstructed View (CO)
CO Grade Superior Ocean View cabins have a fully obstructed picture view window.
| Freedom Fare | From £2,999 |
|---|
Interior Cabin (H)
H Grade Interior cabins on Borealis are located on decks 1 & 2.
| Freedom Fare | From £3,148.25 |
|---|
360°
Single Superior Interior Cabin (M)
M Grade Single Superior Interior cabins on Borealis are on deck 7.
| Freedom Fare | From £2,999 |
|---|
360°
Cruise Offers
What's Included
SO MUCH ALREADY INCLUDED
As well as our Signature Experiences, there are a host of other treats to enjoy on board our ships.
Dining & Lounges
- À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Daily buffet dining options
- Late night Supper Club
- Afternoon tea
- Self-service tea & coffee
- In-cabin dining & snacks
Treats & Pastimes
- Evening shows
- Live music & dancing
- Dance classes
- Lectures & talks
- Cookery demonstrations
- Traditional deck games
- Daily games & quizzes
Relaxation & Fitness
- Swimming Pools
- Jacuzzis
- Fitness Centre
- Fitness Classes
Enhance your cruise
Each of our cruises has been carefully designed for you to get the very best out of your time on board; and now you can enhance your cruise to make it even more special.
Need Some Help?
Take a look at our FAQs
The handy checklist below has been created to assist in making sure you remember all the important things to pack for your cruise.
Visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you check with a professionally qualified source and comply with such requirements. UK passport holders will need visas for certain Fred. Olsen cruise holidays and will advised at the time of booking. Your cruise booking information will also detail any requirements applicable to your holiday.
On certain sailings we offer two types of cruise fares; Freedom and Saver Fares.
Our single guests feel right at home on board our ships; Fred. Olsen have the reputation of sailing the friendliest fleet afloat.
Disembarking when your ship's at anchor is a very different experience to when it's docked portside. Getting ashore in this instance often involves the use of the ship's tender, which is accessed via the steps of a secure gangway.