Azores Cruises

The Azores are nine volcanic islands sitting in the middle of the Atlantic, roughly 1,500 kilometres west of Lisbon, remote enough to feel genuinely apart from the rest of Europe, and different enough from each other to reward more than one visit. An Azores cruise is one of the few ways to see more than one island without the complexity of island-hopping by ferry or small plane.

Fred. Olsen sails to the Azores from UK ports as part of our wider Atlantic Islands programme, with Ponta Delgada on São Miguel the most common port of call. The island's two crater lakes at Sete Cidades, the bubbling hot springs at Furnas and the network of walking trails across the interior give you more than a day could reasonably cover. Faial and its harbour town of Horta, known for the colourful murals left by transatlantic sailors, and Terceira, home to the UNESCO-listed old town of Angra do Heroísmo, may also feature depending on your itinerary. [ReadMoreMob][ReadMoreDesk]

The islands take their environmental responsibilities seriously. A network of natural parks and marine reserves covers much of the archipelago, and the waters around the Azores are among the best in the world for whale watching, sperm whales are present year-round, and blue whales pass through in spring. It's the kind of place that tends to stay with people long after they've returned home.

Fred. Olsen's smaller ships are particularly well suited to cruises to the Azores. The island ports are compact and the approach by sea, watching the volcanic peaks rise from the water, sets the tone for everything that follows ashore.