Fly-Cruise 2026
Journey on a smaller ship through the Mediterranean’s cultural heartlands and the Atlantic Islands, exploring iconic destinations and lesser-visited ports.
Fly-Cruise 2026
Journey on a smaller ship through the Mediterranean’s cultural heartlands and the Atlantic Islands, exploring iconic destinations and lesser-visited ports.
Smaller ship, more charm
A more relaxed, intimate atmosphere on board, and the chance to experience characterful ports that larger ships can’t reach.
Scenery that’s part of the journey
Scenic cruising is woven into your itinerary, as you sail past coastlines and landmarks with a closer connection to the sea.
A more immersive journey
Explore more of each region, rather than simply passing through.
Time to take it all in
Extended stays in selected ports gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Why choose fly-cruise?
Straight to your destination
Fly directly to warmer climes, without the longer journey by sea.
Less time at sea
More time to enjoy each destination, with fewer days spent sailing.
See more in one trip
Travel further and experience a greater variety of places along the way.
Find your perfect cruise
Balmoral will be sailing a series of fly-cruises to the Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands.
Choose a sector for a shorter escape or combine back-to-back sailings for a longer adventure.
Fly-Cruise Deals
Fly Your Way
Whether you prefer to have everything arranged for you, or if you like to plan things your own way, there’s a range of flight options making it easy to shape your journey.
Fly Your Way
1. Exclusive Fred. Olsen flights
Whether you prefer to have everything arranged for you, or if you like to plan things your own way, there’s a range of flight options making it easy to shape your journey. [ReadMoreMob][ReadMoreDesk]
Enjoy a fully escorted journey, with every detail taken care of from the moment you arrive at the airport to when you step on board.
End to end chaperoned flights & transfers included
- Chartered return flights exclusively for Fred. Olsen guests
- Fly from Gatwick or Manchester
- Return transfers between the airport and your ship
- One hold bag (23kg) and one cabin bag per person
- Fred. Olsen representatives guide you throughout your journey, to and from Balmoral
- Luggage delivered directly to your cabin after your transfer to meet Balmoral
- Reassurance that your ship will wait if your flight or transfer is delayed
- ATOL protection for complete peace of mind
2. Standard flights
A simple, convenient way to travel, with flights and transfers arranged for you.[ReadMoreMob][ReadMoreDesk]
Scheduled flights & transfers included
- Scheduled economy return flights
- Fly from Gatwick or Manchester
- Return transfers between the airport and your ship
- One hold bag and one cabin bag per person
- A Fred. Olsen representative will meet & accompany you for your return transfers
- Luggage delivered directly to your cabin after your transfer to meet Balmoral
- Reassurance that your ship will wait if your flight or transfer is delayed
- ATOL protection for complete peace of mind
3. Make your own way
Enjoy the freedom to plan your travel around you, with complete flexibility on when and how you arrive. [ReadMoreMob][ReadMoreDesk]
Arrange your own flights
- Make a cruise-only booking with us
- Arrange your own flights and transfers
- We’ll provide full guidance on how to meet your ship
- The choice to arrive earlier or stay longer in your departure or arrival port
4. Tailor-made packages
Create a package that suits you, with the flexibility to choose your departure airport and flights. [ReadMoreMob][ReadMoreDesk]
Choose your departure airport & flights
- Build a tailor-made package, with flights and transfers to suit you
- Call us to arrange your package through Fred. Olsen Travel, or book through your travel agent
FAQs
What's included in my fly-cruise fare
When you book a fly-cruise with us, getting to and from your ship couldn’t be easier. From flights and transfers to added reassurance along the way, everything is thoughtfully arranged so you can relax from the very start.
Included with all fly-cruises
- All port taxes, fees and charges
- ATOL protection for complete peace of mind
If you’re on our exclusive Fred. Olsen flights
- Chartered return flights
- One hold bag (23kg) and one cabin bag per person
- Escorted travel from airport to the ship and on return
- Return transfers between the airport and your ship
If you’re on our standard flights
- Scheduled economy return flights
- One hold bag and one cabin bag per person
- Accompanied return transfers between the airport and your ship
Plus, so much more included
Our cruises include all the essentials, along with thoughtful extras to enhance your experience, from full-board dining and selected drinks with lunch and dinner to gratuities and our Satisfaction Guarantee.
For the full list of what’s included, click here.
What transport is available to get to the port or airport?
Eavesway Cruiselink is a great way to travel to and from your next Fred. Olsen cruise* from Southampton. As the official UK coach travel provider to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, you can be confident of an efficient and punctual service, making getting to and from the port as relaxing and stress-free as possible.
All of their coaches come free equipped with air conditioning, WC/washroom and ample legroom, with Wi-Fi available on most vehicles. And with selected pick-up points across the UK taking you right up to the terminal, it’s easier than ever to join one of our comfortable and spacious Cruiselink vehicles driven by our team of friendly, experienced drivers.
To book your Cruiselink seats today simply call us on 01942 727 985, speak to your travel agent or visit www.eaveswaytravel.com
*Cruiselink service only available for Fred. Olsen cruises of 5 nights and above, operating to/from Southampton. Offices open Mon-Fri 0900-1700hrs, Sat 0900-1300hrs. Closed Sun & Bank Holidays. Routing and service details subject to change; please check before booking your cruise. Full T&Cs at www.eaveswaytravel.com/terms
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make your own way to your ship, you'll find that there are great road and rail links to each of our ports. For driving directions, parking, trains routes and taxi information for your specific port, please click the relevant button below.
When booking one of our fly cruise programme, with flights booked with Fred. Olsen, including connecting transfers to/from the ships, everything is arranged for you, making your journey easy.
Please note that you can also book cruise only, where you book your own flights with the times and airport that suit you best. You will then need to arrange your own transfers to/from the ship, as well as your flights.
Do you offer door to door transfers?
Offering seamless door-to-door transport for our guests, and allowing you to enjoy a streamlined experience, CMAC provide a pre-booked vehicle that is ready and waiting to get you to your chosen departure port.
For door-to-door transfers from all of our UK departure ports, please contact -
CMAC on: 03333 207 100
or visit their website: www.cmacgroup.co.uk/doortodoor
Please be advised that door to door transfers only operate from/to Mainland UK addresses
What are the flight times?
Our Fly Cruise itineraries start in the Mediterranean ports of Alicante, Spain; Valletta, Malta; Heraklion, Greece; Limassol, Cyprus; Athens, Greece and Tenerife, Spain.
Below are the estimated outbound and inbound flight times for our exclusive charter flights. Please note timings are subject to alterations (we'll of course let you know if anything changes) and flight durations are subject to variables such as weather conditions.
Outbound Flights from London Gatwick (Please note if viewing on a mobile device that you may need to scroll to the right):
| Departure Date | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time (local time) | Direction of Travel | Duration |
| 8th October 2026 | Alicante (Spain) | 09:00 | 12:30 | Outbound | 2hrs 30mins |
| 19th October 2026 | Valletta (Malta) | 08:00 | 12:15 | Outbound | 3hrs 15mins |
| 29th October 2026 | Heraklion (Greece) | 07:30 | 13:25 | Outbound | 3hrs 55mins |
| 9th November 2026 | Limassol (Cyprus) | 07:00 | 13:40 | Outbound | 4hrs 35mins |
| 19th November 2026 | Athens (Greece) | 07:30 | 13:10 | Outbound | 3hrs 40mins |
| 30th November 2026 | Tenerife (Spain) | 07:00 | 11:35 | Outbound | 4hrs 32mins |
Outbound Flights from Manchester (Please note if viewing on a mobile device that you may need to scroll to the right):
| Departure Date | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time (local time) | Direction of Travel | Duration |
| 8th October 2026 | Alicante (Spain) | 08:30 | 12:20 | Outbound | 2hrs 50mins |
| 19th October 2026 | Valletta (Malta) | 08:00 | 12:30 | Outbound | 3hrs 40mins |
| 29th October 2026 | Heraklion (Greece) | 07:30 | 14:40 | Outbound | 4hrs 30mins |
| 9th November 2026 | Limassol (Cyprus) | 06:30 | 13:20 | Outbound | 4hrs 45mins |
| 19th November 2026 | Athens (Greece) | 07:30 | 13:25 | Outbound | 4hrs |
| 30th November 2026 | Tenerife (Spain) | 07:00 | 11:40 | Outbound | 4hrs 50mins |
Inbound Flights to London Gatwick (Please note if viewing on a mobile device that you may need to scroll to the right):
| Departure Date | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time (local time) | Direction of Travel | Duration |
| 8th October 2026 | Alicante (Spain) | 13:30 | 15:10 | Inbound | 2hrs 40mins |
| 19th October 2026 | Valletta (Malta) | 13:15 | 15:35 | Inbound | 3hrs 25mins |
| 29th October 2026 | Heraklion (Greece) | 14:25 | 16:35 | Inbound | 4hrs |
| 9th November 2026 | Limassol (Cyprus) | 14:40 | 17:40 | Inbound | 4hrs 50mins |
| 19th November 2026 | Athens (Greece) | 14:10 | 16:10 | Inbound | 4hrs |
| 30th November 2026 | Tenerife (Spain) | 12:35 | 16:55 | Inbound | 4hrs 20mins |
Inbound Flights to Manchester (Please note if viewing on a mobile device that you may need to scroll to the right):
| Departure Date | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time (local time) | Direction of Travel | Duration |
| 8th October 2026 | Alicante (Spain) | 13:20 | 15:10 | Inbound | 2hrs 55mins |
| 19th October 2026 | Valletta (Malta) | 13:30 | 16:05 | Inbound | 3hrs 35mins |
| 29th October 2026 | Heraklion (Greece) | 15:40 | 18:05 | Inbound | 4hrs 25mins |
| 9th November 2026 | Limassol (Cyprus) | 14:20 | 17:35 | Inbound | 5hrs |
| 19th November 2026 | Athens (Greece) | 14:25 | 16:30 | Inbound | 4hrs 15mins |
| 30th November 2026 | Tenerife (Spain) | 12:40 | 17:05 | Inbound | 4hrs 30mins |
What happens if there is a change to my flight?
In the unlikely event of a change to your flight, we’ll contact you to discuss alternative arrangements.
What happens if I need to cancel my booking?
We understand that plans can change for many reasons. If you need to cancel, please get in touch with our Guest Services team who'll be there to help. If you booked through a travel agent, please contact them directly.
What are the passport and visa requirements?
Keeping informed about entry requirements, health guidance and safety advice for the destinations you’ll be visiting is important.
We recommend checking the latest expert advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the National Travel Health Network and Centre, as these sources are regularly updated with the most accurate and up‑to‑date information.
- Visit the FCDO website
- Visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website
No matter where you’re heading in the world, we recommend that your passport:
- Has more than six months validity left after the date of arrival into your destination country/countries
- Is less than 10 years old from the date of issue
When travelling to Europe, UK Passports must be less than 10 years old from the date of issue. If your passport was renewed prior to October 2018, it could have a date of issue which is more than 10 years ago.
For more information and to understand the entry requirements of the countries you’ll be visiting, please go to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website using this link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- Require a valid UK passport
- The passport must be valid for three months from the date of disembarkation
- And be less than 10 years
You will likely be required to present an Electrical Travel Authorisation (ETA) to Immigration Officers at the UK border. Visit here for information on obtaining an ETA.
Please also check what other entry requirements are required for your ports of call (including but not limited to health, passport and visa requirements) via your government travel advice website.
For more information on the EU Entry / Exit Scheme (EES) click here
Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place which covers your cruise and all planned activities (including flights if applicable).
- Find all the details and apply for your GHIC by clicking here
- This is not a replacement for travel insurance
- If you still have a valid EHIC, this can be used until the expiry date, when you'll need to apply for a GHIC
- This applies to UK passport holders and residents only
- Ensure you have sufficient accessible funds in case of emergencies
- Whilst very unlikely to be needed when ashore, be aware of local British Consulates - details can be found by clicking here
- Understand what support can be provided by consulates by clicking here
Get the very latest updates by following Travel Aware on Instagram, Facebook or X (Twitter).
We cannot accept liability for any disruption to your travel resulting from incorrect or incomplete documentation or failure to meet entry requirements.
EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EU EES)
Please note EES only applies to fly-cruises to European destinations.
If your cruise starts and ends in the UK, you won’t need to register for the new EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES).
Even better - when you step ashore for the day in European ports, you won’t need to do anything extra. Just enjoy your time ashore!
Flying to Join Your Cruise?
If you're joining us on a fly-cruise in 2026, EES may affect your journey.
If you haven't travelled to the Schengen area since the launch of EES, or been registered even if you have, on arrival at your destination you'll be required to provide mandatory biometric data at Border Control.
What Is the EES?
The EU is introducing the Entry/Exit Scheme (EES) to modernise border checks.
Instead of manual passport stamping, travellers will eventually use biometric data (face and fingerprint) for entry and exit.
When Is This Happening?
- Initial rollout started 12 October 2025 in some EU countries.
- Full rollout is expected by 10 April 2026.
What to Expect When EES Is Live
If you're flying into or out of an EU country after rollout:
- You may be asked to provide biometric data at border control.
- This is mandatory - without it, you won’t be able to travel.
Can I Register My Biometric Data Before Travel?
Not yet, but the EU is working on it. We’ll let you know as soon as this becomes available.
Which Countries Are Part of EES?
The scheme will apply to travel in the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Coming Soon: ETIAS Visa Waiver
In the future, the EU will also introduce ETIAS, a visa waiver for non-EU visitors (including UK travellers):
- Expected cost: around €20 per person
- Valid for 3 years or until your passport expires
- Must be purchased before travel
Call us, or have a look at our help centre.