Cruise to Portugal & The Islands of Madeira & the Azores
Portugal’s islands are bursting with fascinating landscapes filled with flora and fauna, making this the ideal region for those wanting to get closer to nature. Cruising is a great way to explore the hard-to-reach, remote archipelago of the Azores, which boast dramatic, volcanic landscapes. Our Azores cruises feature the ‘Garden Island’ of Madeira too. With its fragrant flora, unique levada trails and sweet wines, a visit here always feels enlivening.
Portugal & The Islands of Madeira & the Azores - The Olsen Way
Whale Watching in the Azores
The sparkling crystalline waters of the Azores are home to an abundance of magnificent marine mammals including the humpback, minke, blue, sei, and northern bottlenose whales. You may also catch a glimpse of turtles, sunfish or schools of tuna. These resident species live here all year round, giving you a fantastic opportunity to watch them as they breach the surface along the coastline.
The Volcanic Landscapes of the Azores
For those who have a passion for outstanding natural landscapes, a visit to the Sete Cidades crater lakes are a must when sailing to the Azores. Made up of two lagoons, the Blue Lake and the Green Lake, named after the way the sun reflects off them both, the lakes are situated within a volcanic crater and are best seen from a number of viewpoints situated around the crater.
Scenic Discovery highlights
Our cruises to the Azores and Madeira have been planned to show you some scenic highlights as we sail between ports. These include sailings past Santa Maria, a remote island with historical links to Columbus, and the mighty Cape Girão sea cliff in Madeira.
"interesting places to visit, good tours, Madeira was wonderful".
Mrs Seddon, Vistas & Volcanoes of Azores & Madeira - Feefo Indpendent Review
Portugal & The Islands of Madeira & the Azores
Our team of Journey Planners have created a number of cruises with destinations selected to really showcase the diverse landscapes and fascinating flora and fauna of the hard to reach Azores and Madeira.
As part of our re-imagined on board experience, every Madeira and Azores cruise will feature our five Signature Experience products, enabling guests 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.
On our cruises to the Azores and Madeira, special guest speakers will bring each destination to life, providing insights on unmissable highlights and hidden gems. From the native wildlife that inhabit the waters in this region to the geological history of these volcanic islands.
All of our Scenic Discovery routes are designed to take in the interesting seascapes that are out there. On selected cruises, soak in the scenic sights of the Azores, the rugged volcanic landscapes of Madeira, and enjoy a sail past the barren Desertas Islands.
We know a lot of our guests are curious about what it takes to operate a cruise, so join us for our Audience with... sessions and learn all about what life is like as a member of our Show Company team, or maybe a live Q&A session with the Captain himself!
As we sail past the rugged, volcanic landscapes of Madeira and the Azores, head out on deck to take in the stunning sunrise at sea, or make the most of the little light pollution (and hopefully clear skies) and join us for spot of stargazing as we bring the night sky to life.
As we explore Madeira and the Azores together you’ll be able to sample various treats of the region in our on board restaurants – such as Espetada. Our talented Chefs will also provide cookery demonstrations throughout your cruise, where you will learn to recreate traditional dishes.