Your cruise at a glance
Hand-crafted highlights
We have designed this cruise so you can experience the riverside cities of France and Portugal, with a particular highlight of traditional foods and drinks. In Bordeaux, take time to sample the wines of the region or join us on a tour to meet the owners of Château Boutinet, where you can discover this fine city's wine history. Immerse yourself in local life and learn how to make pastéis de nata with a pastry chef in Lisbon, or participate in a Calvados and cheese tasting session from Honfleur. Enjoy a Scenic Discovery along the River Seine – lined by quaint villages and rich, hilly countryside – en route to Rouen, a journey only possible on smaller ships such as Balmoral.
Explore the ItineraryHighlights
Riverside Cities
This cruise has been designed to highlight your journey along the River Seine as Balmoral glides through Normandy’s Parc naturel régional des Boucles de la Seine, linking the historic cities of Rouen and Honfleur. As you sail along these picturesque waterways, you’ll see traditional houses and churches that have inspired artists such as Monet and Matisse. Bordeaux, located along the Garonne River, is renowned for its wine industry, so you'll see numerous vineyards dotting the surrounding countryside, while from Rouen, you'll have the opportunity to visit Paris for the day, along with a lunch cruise on the Seine. Your arrival into Lisbon is preceded by a cruise under the magnificent 25 Abril Bridge, along the Tagus River, lined with iconic buildings and monuments like the Belém Tower and Monument of Discoveries.
Renowned Cuisine of Portugal & France
Both France and Portugal have rich culinary traditions, each influenced by unique flavours and specialities. When in Lisbon, learn to make the mouth-wateringly good Pasteis de Nata under the guidance of a local chef, or from Bordeaux, join us on a tour to the 18th century Château Boutinet, where you can stroll through the vineyards and learn more of the winemaking methods used here. You’ll have the opportunity to taste the wines alongside delicious tapas, which pair perfectly with the selected Château Boutinet wines. The Normandy region is well-known for its production of Calvados apple brandy, which is delicious when accompanied by camembert and French bread. You'll be joined on this Balmoral cruise by Mark Southon, an expert on wines and spirits, who will talk about the food and drink you will discover and the histories behind them.
Life On Board
Introducing Balmoral
Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral retains a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open deck space.
Balmoral
Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral offers a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open-deck space.
Our Signature Experiences
To make your experience even more special, our Journey Planners have designed a unique programme of Signature Experiences which will allow you to discover real insights about the culture and nature of the places we are visiting, so you can arrive in each destination fully prepared to get the most out of your visit.
We have carefully curated a programme of events to give you a deeper understanding of each of the destinations you will be visiting
Our Scenic Discoveries are designed to allow you to enjoy seeing the world from the unique perspective of our ships
Maritime is in our DNA - our history in shipping goes back almost 200 years
There’s very little in the natural world more beautiful than a clear night sky, sunrise or sunset seen at sea
We love to bring a taste of the region's food, drink, local tastes and culinary traditions to life on board
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.
Saint-Émilion Village & Vineyard By Little Train
There is no better place to begin exploring this attractive region than at the Medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and the centre of Merlot grape growing. Enjoy a vineyard tour by a traditional, open-air train, followed by a guided walking tour of the upper part of the village, before concluding with some free time to explore this charming village at your own pace.
££££
Bordeaux
Visit Château Boutinet
Visit Château Boutinet, an 18th-century family-owned wine estate in Villegouge. Here, you will meet Nathalie and Jérôme, the owners of the château and Jericho, their Saint Bernard and mascot of the estate. Stroll through the vineyards and soak in the beautiful panoramas of the surrounding property, as Nathalie shares her knowledge and passion for winemaking. The tour concludes in the tasting room, where you will enjoy some French aperitif, prepared by Jérôme, that pair perfectly with a selection of Château Boutinet’s wine tasters.
££££
Bordeaux
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
Age of Discovery
Learn about the Golden Age of Discovery with visits to the Belém Quarter, Navigator’s Memorial, Belém Tower, the Maritime Museum and the Royal Monastery of Jerónimos, which houses the tomb of the great navigator, Vasco da Gama.
££££
Lisbon
Lisbon Southern Hills
Enjoy a drive over the 25 de Abril Bridge to the statue of Christ the King. Admire the views of the city, before continuing through the Serra da Arrábida that encompasses green forested hills, white sandy beaches and the Atlantic. Conclude with a drive along the Setubal Peninsula and the ten-mile-long Vasco da Gama Bridge.
££££
Lisbon
Pastéis de Nata Workshop
In this hands-on baking class, learn the secrets of how to bake the iconic pastéis de nata under the guidance of a local chef, before enjoying your creations with a coffee.
££££
Lisbon
Visit a Calvados Distillery & Cheese Tasting
Begin your tour with a scenic drive to the charming village of Cormeilles, located in the heart of Pays d’Auge. Here, you will visit a Calvados distillery situated in the Busnel Estate. Explore the flourishing orchards, distillation room and cellar before enjoying a Calvados tasting accompanied by a selection of cheeses and locally made bread. Afterwards, your tour will conclude with the scenic journey back to your awaiting ship.
££££
Honfleur
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.
Graham Stirrup
Historian Graham Stirrup will be on hand throughout the cruise sharing insights into the conquests and conflicts in some of our ports of call throughout the cruise.
Mark Southon
On this cruise Mark Southon will be on hand to undiscover the provenance and people behind the history of whisky and fine spirits, including Calvados, French wine and Port.
Wil Cheung - 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.
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 01:00 29/04/2024, 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 01:00 29/04/2024, 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)
Balmoral's Balcony Junior Suites have a large cabin area and private balcony
| Freedom Fare | From £4,699 pp |
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360°
Balcony Cabin (BA)
Located on Deck 8 & 9, Balcony Cabins have a private balcony and spacious cabin area
| Freedom Fare | From £4,499 pp |
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360°
Ocean View (F)
Two portholes in Balmoral's F Grade Ocean View cabins offer ocean views
| Freedom Fare | From £2,099 pp |
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360°
Interior Cabin (H)
Balmoral’s H Grade Interior cabins offer all the features you need on a cruise
| Freedom Fare | From £1,799 pp |
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360°
Single Interior Cabin (N)
N Grade Single Interior cabins are located on decks 3 & 6
| Freedom Fare | From £2,999 pp |
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360°
Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)
Balmoral's Balcony Junior Suites have a large cabin area and private balcony
| Freedom Fare | From £8,928.10 |
|---|
360°
Balcony Cabin (BA)
Located on Deck 8 & 9, Balcony Cabins have a private balcony and spacious cabin area
| Freedom Fare | From £8,548.10 |
|---|
360°
Ocean View (F)
Two portholes in Balmoral's F Grade Ocean View cabins offer ocean views
| Freedom Fare | From £2,999 |
|---|
360°
Interior Cabin (H)
Balmoral’s H Grade Interior cabins offer all the features you need on a cruise
| Freedom Fare | From £3,148.25 |
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360°
Single Interior Cabin (N)
N Grade Single Interior cabins are located on decks 3 & 6
| 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.