Fred. Olsen – Wonders & Wildlife of the Azores and Madeira – 2023

Departure from Southampton, United Kingdom

Board the ship mid-afternoon before you set sail.

Cruising at Sea

Cruising at Sea

Cruising at Sea

Praia da Vitoria, Portugal

Pretty Praia da Vitoria, the former capital of the Azores, is a town steeped in history. Originally heavily fortified, Praia has a fascinating historic quarter, and a stunning natural harbour that’s overlooked by the impressive 16th century Fort of Santa Catarina.Translated as the Beach of the Victory, Praia da Vitoria is a popular destination thanks to a bustling, modern harbour, vibrant town centre and gorgeous sandy beaches.The pick of which is the uncrowded Praia Grande, which is a safe, dark sand beach with barely any waves.Praia’s centre has a pleasant pedestrian zone with many attractive shops and some notable historic buildings that deserve a glance. The most notable monuments include the imposing bell towers of 15th century Igreja Matriz de Santa Cruz and the stunning Town Hall in the main square.

Ponta Delgada, Portugal &  Cruising By Santa Maria, Azores

Ponta Delgada, the main town on the island of São Miguel, is the capital of the Azores archipelago of Portugal. The town’s cosmopolitan atmosphere belies its 500 year history, and the surrounding island boasts beautiful lakes, mountains, sandy beaches and the stunning crater lakes of the extinct Sete Cidades volcano. A fine collection of buildings, narrow cobbled streets and squares, are a firm reminder that this was once a key staging post between Europe and the Americas. Intermingled are cool parks, enchanting squares, a modern marina, restaurants and waterside cafés. Its lakeside, whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs look out to enchanting mountain plains.The striking, three-arched city gates, Portas da Cidade – which once stood in the harbour and now reside in Gonçalo Velho Cabral Square, were dedicated to the Portuguese navigator who discovered the Azores. The Gothic Church of St. Sebastian and The Convent and Chapel of Our Lady of Hope, which is home to a revered image of Christ, are both worth uncovering. The Carlos Machado Museum offers diverse artefacts of Azorean culture, while Igreja Matriz Church, with its splendid clock tower, is one of many beautifully ornate towers to be found.The ‘Green Island’ also offers canoeing and other sports activities on lakes located in the craters of its dormant volcanoes. The island’s beauty can also be enjoyed by horse riding or cycling.

Cruising at Sea

Cruise By Cabo Girão, &  Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Towering 580 metres above sea level, making it one of the world’s highest sea cliffs, Madeira’s mighty Cabo Girão is a magnificent sight. While Cabo Girão is a popular attraction for visitors to Madeira, who journey here to take in the Atlantic Ocean views from its famous SkyWalk, not many get to see the cliff from the ocean.On your Fred. Olsen cruise by Cabo Girão, you’ll get to revel in its imposing stature from a rarely-experience perspective, as your smaller ship sails the waters surrounding Portugal’s ‘garden island’.

Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeiran archipelago, has a timeless old-world charm. Enhanced by a subtropical climate that fills this ‘floating garden’ with the year-round colours and perfumes of flowers and fruit, Funchal was a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill. His praise of the city has ensured British visitors always receive a warm welcome from locals. Backed by rolling hills, the town is famous for its harbour, the 17th century São Tiago Fortress (now the Contemporary Art Museum) and world renowned Madeiran wine cellars. Funchal’s parks and gardens are a delight, and a hike through the Laurel Forest nearby is highly recommended. The ancient Funchal Cathedral mixes Gothic and Romanesque architecture, and is noted for its impressive carved wooden ceiling.

Cruising at Sea

Leixões (For Oporto), Portugal

A short journey from Leixões takes you into the heart of Oporto, with its fortress-like Cathedral and the Baroque Church of Clérigos. Head to the historic Ribeira District, where the narrow, cobbled lanes wind their way down to the Douro River. Don’t forget to visit one of the many wine cellars for a taste of the tipple named after the city, Port. On the ground floor of the Museu Romantico is the Port Wine Institute, where port is served with great ceremony. Oporto sits deep in the gorge of the River Douro and on the riverside – dominated by the two-level Luis I bridge – it’s possible to look up at the narrow old town streets climbing out of the valley. Pastel-fronted houses with red-tiled roofs line the streets, mixed with neo-classical buildings and wonderful baroque churches. Dominating the centre of the city is the fortress-like Cathedral, which is worth visiting for the views alone.

La Coruña, Spain & Cruising the Tower of Hercules Lighthouse, Spain

The city of La Coruña is the capital of the province and a busy seaport situated in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. Most famous for its Roman lighthouse, the diverse architectural styles of La Coruña make the city an absolute delight for sightseeing.La Coruña boasts an impressive seafront promenade, beautiful beaches and a host of attractions such as the Domus Museum, the Casa del Hombre and Torre De Hercules – said to be the only Roman lighthouse in existence – which offers sweeping coastal views from the top of its 60 metre high tower. The Paseo Marítimo, a lovely 13km walkway and bike path, runs from the port, around the peninsula, and along the ocean beaches.The compact Ciudad Vieja – La Coruña’s old quarter – is a must-visit area.

One of the oldest active Roman lighthouses in the world, and arguably one of the most architecturally impressive too, the Tower of Hercules – located between the Orzán cove and the Gulf of Ártabro – is a sight to behold as you sail into, and depart from, the historic Spanish city of La Coruña.While the light cast by the tower is visible from 32 miles out to sea, from on board your smaller ship you’ll enjoy a much closer view of this Roman gem, which originally dates from 2nd century CE and was restored to the glory it is today by order of King Charles IV of Spain in 1788.

Cruising at Sea

Arrival at Southampton, United Kingdom

After an early breakfast, disembark the ship for your journey home.