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At a glance
Visiting:
Spain
Portugal
Length:
13 nights
Make your own way
no flight
Price from:£1,999pp
Request Brochure - Springtime Canary Islands & Portugal
To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA
Springtime Canary Islands & Portugal
Visiting four beautiful islands in the Canaries and Madeira, as well as two culture-rich Portuguese cities, makes for a very special start to spring. You’ll get to bask in soothing seasonal warmth, revel in spectacular scenery, and discover an abundance of diverse sights and highlights – the perfect way to recover after a long, cold winter. Your island-hopping begins amongst the fragrant, colourful scenes of Madeira. Delight in the beauty of the ‘garden island’, perhaps trailing the scenic levada walking route or exploring botanical gardens under the guidance of a local flower expert; or maybe visit Cabo Girão sea cliff for stunning Atlantic Ocean views. The Canaries will then await you, with La Palma the first of three of the archipelago’s islands on your itinerary. The entire island of La Palma is a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve ripe for exploration, with scenery ranging from untouched forests and tumbling waterfalls, to soaring volcanos and rugged craters.
In Tenerife, a day docked at Santa Cruz allows ample time to take in interesting museums, elegant parks and pretty squares, and stop-by welcoming restaurants for a taste of authentic local cuisine. Elsewhere on the island, the secrets of the mysterious Pyramids of Güímar are yours to unravel, while majestic Mount Teide provides views of Spain’s highest peak. For a more relaxing experience, you may opt to simply stop-by your pick of Tenerife’s beaches. This Canarian discovery concludes with a visit to Arrecife, from where the unmissable attractions of Lanzarote await discovery, such as the lunar-like landscapes of Timanfaya National Park, the magnificent Fire Mountains and the beautiful saltwater lagoon of Jameos Del Agua Cave. Bookending your island-adventures are two diversions to the Portuguese mainland; as you sail south, enjoy a stop at Leixoes for tours to nearby Oporto, famed for its port wine and fine architecture, and take the chance to explore Lisbon, with its fascinating museums, maritime history and monuments, before returning home.
Special Offer:
FREE Door to Door or £200pp On Board Spend
Holiday Highlights
Begin spring in style with an island-hopping adventure in the Canaries and Madeira
Explore volcanic landscapes and beautiful gardens, relax on sun-kissed beaches and more
Enjoy visits to the culture-rich Portuguese cities of Oporto and Lisbon too
What's Included
Comfortable, stylish cabins and suites equipped with a Smart TV, hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge and individually controlled air conditioning
A tempting choice of cuisine every day throughout your cruise – with five-course à la carte dinners, casual breakfast and lunch buffets, late-night snacks and much more
Unlimited, self-service tea and coffee available 24hrs at selected venues, complimentary afternoon tea* with sandwiches and cakes, and in-room sandwiches and snacks
A full programme of evening entertainment, including cabaret shows, comedy, dancing and live music
Full use of on board leisure facilities, including swimming pools, Jacuzzis and gym
A wide choice of engaging on board activities and lectures throughout the day
All UK port taxes (where collectable in advance)
Luggage porterage between your cabin and the drop-off/pick-up point
Formal welcome and/or Captain’s Drinks Party and Gala Buffet
Itinerary
1
Tuesday 2 April 2024 Departs Newcastle
Depart: Late PM
2
Wednesday 3 April 2024 Cruising
3
Thursday 4 April 2024 Cruising
4
Saturday 6 April 2024 Leixões
Arrive: Early AM
Depart: Early PM
5
Sunday 7 April 2024 Cruising
6
Monday 8 April 2024 Funchal
Arrive: Early AM
Depart: Late PM
7
Tuesday 9 April 2024 Santa Cruz de La Palma
Arrive: Late AM
Depart: Late Night
8
Wednesday 10 April 2024 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Arrive: Early AM
Depart: Late PM
9
Thursday 11 April 2024 Arrecife
Arrive: Early AM
Depart: Early PM
10
Friday 12 April 2024 Cruising
11
Saturday 13 April 2024 Lisbon
Arrive: Early AM
Depart: Early PM
12
Sunday 14 April 2024 Cruising
13
Monday 15 April 2024 Cruising
14
Wednesday 17 April 2024 Arrive back at Newcastle
Arrive: Early AM
Balmoral
With departures from Dover, Southampton, Newcastle and Rosyth, Balmoral cruises offer the chance to explore some of the world's most spectacular destinations. What's more, despite being one of the largest Fred Olsen ships, Balmoral is small enough to take advantage of the tighter waterways along each route, so guests do not miss out on remarkable sights along the way, such as the Norwegian fjords or Germany's Kiel Canal.
As well as incredible scenery, Balmoral cruises provide the very best in amenities and dining experiences, as well as stylish and comfortable accommodation. With fewer than 1,400 guests, there is ample room for every passenger to enjoy the spacious venues and public areas, while still having plenty of chances to enjoy the company of others. Whether you're travelling around the culture-filled Americas or the Scottish Lochs, you're sure to have an unforgettable experience on board Balmoral.
Chargeable Extras
Cruise descriptions include optional, chargeable experiences that may be enjoyed independently and/or with optional Fred. Olsen Shore Tours.
*Premium Traditional Afternoon Tea not included.
Upgrade to All Inclusive Drinks Package is available as a chargeable optional extra and can be added to your booking up to six days prior to your cruise departing.
Travelling to Europe
Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.
Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.
Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").
These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.
Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.
European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Commencing in 2023, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.
Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.
Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information.
You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.