24 Mar 2023
Southampton
13 nights
Balmoral
The cruise at a glance
The Olsen Way Highlights
Your escape to the Canaries, Spain and Madeira includes visits to four islands and the city of La Coruña. Experience sandy beaches, volcanic landscapes and floral scenes, all while enjoying the region’s balmy climate. Balmoral’s smaller size makes it possible to dock closer to the centre of Funchal, where an extended stay gives you plenty of time to take in the colourful gardens, ride the historic cable car and watch people tobogganing down the narrow, winding streets. Other highlights include Lanzarote’s active volcano, Tenerife’s Mount Teide and the Olsen family-owned Tecina Hotel on La Gomera.
Explore the ItineraryHighlights
Explore the ‘Garden Isle of Madeira’
Take a tour with a local botanical enthusiast and find out just why Madeira is famed as the ‘Garden Isle’. Explore Palheiro Gardens, famous not only for the variety of plants that can be found here but for the beauty of its location in the lush green hills of Funchal. At the family-owned Quinta Jardins do Lago, your guide will conduct an orchid workshop, demonstrating how to pot an orchid or mount it on a branch and offering tips on how to keep these elegant plants at home.
The Fred. Olsen Story
From our early beginnings transporting Norwegian ice to the tables of Victorian London through to our notable ships of today, join guest speaker Chris Mason for this informative and intriguing talk on the history of Fred. Olsen. He will guide you through our unique story so you can discover how we’ve always done things differently and see that maritime, is indeed, in our DNA.
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
Cabins, Prices & Offers
Cabin Options On Your Cruise
Please call our Reservations Team for latest pricing and availability.
What's Included
SO MUCH ALREADY INCLUDED
As well as our Signature Experiences, there is 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
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.
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 FAQ's
What do I pack for a cruise?
The handy checklist below has been created to assist in making sure you remember all the important things to pack for your cruise.
Are there any visa requirements I need to be aware of?
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.
What's the difference between Freedom and Saver fares?
On certain sailings we offer two types of cruise fares; Freedom and Saver Fares.
I'm travelling alone, how will I get to meet people?
Our single guests feel right at home on board our ships; Fred. Olsen have the reputation of sailing the friendliest fleet afloat.
How do I get off the ship if we're at anchor?
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.