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Natural Wonders & Wildlife of the Azores & Madeira

T2408

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Beautiful view of Seven Cities Lake, Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Azores Aerial view of the city of Angra do Heroismo , Azores Portugal

19 Apr 2024

Liverpool

14 nights

Bolette

Your cruise at a glance

Hand-crafted highlights

This cruise offers the chance to see the natural wonders of Portugal from both the sea and ashore. In the hard-to-reach Azores, you can discover the Sete Cidades crater lakes and the Furnas Valley hot springs, or go in search of resident dolphins and sperm whales. Scenic cruising follows, with Bolette sailing by Santa Maria – a remote island with links to Columbus, and the mighty Cape Girão sea cliff. With an overnight stay on Madeira, there’s ample time to wander the unique levada walking trails and perhaps explore the botanical gardens with a local orchid expert. On the mainland, your calls include Lisbon, with its rich maritime history, and Leixões, gateway to Oporto. 

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Highlights

Algar Do Carvao Volcano

Volcanic Landscapes

The remote islands of the Azores and Madeira are a hotbed of volcanic peaks and craters. One blue, one green, the twin lakes of Sete Cidades in Ponta Delgada hold a tragic tale of a princess and shepherd boy; and are watched over by the dormant volcano towering 575 metres above sea level. In Praia da Vitoria, you are perfectly placed to explore inside Algar Do Carvao, by descending down the lava-free volcanic chimney to discover extraordinary caves and magma chambers. You will be joined on board Bolette by science communicator, Anjana Khatwa, who will be speaking about the unique volcanic landscapes of the Azores, their formation, craters and lakes.

Wine tasting

Portuguese Way of Life

Strongly influenced by a sense of community and family, the way of life in the Azores and Madeira is often based upon traditional activities, such as Fado music; and delicious food and drink. The origins of Fado music trace back to mainland Portugal, but the islands have made it their own with its hauntingly melancholic tones. Madeira is renowned for its fortified wine, which still tastes the same as it did when first produced 300 years ago. The unique taste of the wine comes from repeatedly heating it with toffee or caramel flavours, and is aged in a different way to other wines; so do join our Sommelier on board Bolette to learn about the intricacies, history and production of a selection of Port and Madeiran wines. No trip would be complete without tasting the Portuguese delicacy of Pasteis de Nata; join us at a workshop where you’ll learn how to bake this iconic sweet treat under the guidance of a local chef.     

Bottlenose Dolphins seen from a boat tour

Whales and Dolphins

You will be joined on board Bolette by conservationists from wildlife charity, ORCA, who will be on hand to assist guests with spotting marine and wildlife at sea, and will also hold talks and workshops to enable you to get the most out of your time at sea. The team's aim is to locate whales and dolphins, observe their behaviours, and enable ORCA to collect vital data on the species and numbers of marine life sighted. They will also identify wildlife hotspots, which will feed directly into the charity’s Cruise Conservationist Programme. 

Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, Funchal, Madeira

Sub-tropical Climate of the Azores and Madeira

The Azores’ are located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America, meaning it experiences a sub-tropical climate that provides the ideal growing conditions for both plants and fruits. When in Funchal, take time to explore the beautiful Palheiro Gardens, best known for its array of plants and views of lush green hills, and stroll around the Monte Palace Tropical Garden to see historical botanical treasures; or join a workshop to learn how to care for orchids with a local botanical enthusiast. Ponta Delgada is home to a Pineapple Greenhouse, and the oldest tea garden in Europe, the Gorreana Tea Plantation. See first-hand how the greenhouses here are used to cultivate and market intensely flavoured pineapples, which grow beautifully in the rich volcanic soil.

Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

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Life On Board

Introducing Bolette

With just 690 cabins Bolette fits perfectly in our fleet of smaller ships. With her warm, welcoming atmosphere, timeless style, and classic open deck spaces providing a place to fully immerse yourself in the magic of ocean cruising.

Bolette in Olden, Norway
Bolette at sunrise

Bolette

Bolette is one of the largest ships, by overall size, in our fleet. With its warm, welcoming atmosphere and timeless style, and classic open deck spaces providing a place to fully immerse yourself in the magic of ocean cruising, Bolette is very much in keeping with what our guests have come to expect from a Fred. Olsen ship.

690 cabins
1,338 guests
657 crew
62,735 GT
24.5kts max speed
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Our Signature Experiences

To make your experience even more special, our Journey Planners have designed a unique programme of Signature Experiences which will allow you 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.

Itinerary Insights

We have carefully curated a programme of events to give you a deeper understanding of each of the destinations you will be visiting

Scenic Discoveries

Our Scenic Discoveries are designed to allow you to enjoy seeing the world from the unique perspective of our ships

The Ship and the Sea

Maritime is in our DNA - our history in shipping goes back almost 200 years

The Sky at Sea

There’s very little in the natural world more beautiful than a clear night sky, sunrise or sunset seen at sea

Treats of the Region

We love to bring a taste of the region's food, drink, local tastes and culinary traditions to life on board

Sample Shore Tours

At each port of call on your cruise, we carefully research and hand pick Shore Tour options for you, designed for you see as many of the world's best destinations as possible.

Below, you will find some sample Shore Tours which will give you an example of what to expect on your cruise. Your Shore Tours will be available to book approximately 8-13 weeks prior to departure via your My Cruises account.

Algar do Carvão

Explore Inside Algar Do Carvâo Volcano

Explore Algar do Carvã, an ancient volcano located in one of Terceira's geological nature reserves. Journey 330ft below the Earth’s surface where extraordinary caves, magma chambers and even an underground lake with crystal clear waters await you.

££££

Praia da Vitória

Jeep Adventure

Sete Cidades Jeep Adventure

Enjoy an exhilarating Jeep adventure up into the mountains to soak up the magnificent surroundings. Visit Sete Cidades and the main crater of this extinct volcano to admire the views of the two lakes below. Finish with a visit to Santiago Lake, situated at the bottom of an extinct crater.

££££

Ponta Delgada

Furnas Valley

Furnas Valley

Explore some of the natural highlights of the island of São Miguel with this special tour of Furnas Valley. Visit the historical town of Ribeira Grande, the smaller Vila Franca do Campo and a pineapple plantation to learn about the cultivation of pineapple and tea.

££££

Ponta Delgada

Flowers of Funchal

Flowers of Funchal

Begin with a scenic drive to Palheiro Gardens to explore the beautiful garden before continuing to the family-owned Quinta Jardins do Lago, where Pedro, a local botanical enthusiast, will conduct an insightful orchid workshop.

££££

Funchal

Your Guest Speakers

We’ve arranged for some wonderful guest speakers to join us for this cruise. They will be delivering a programme of insightful talks and activities to deepen your cultural, artistic and historical understanding of the destinations we will be exploring, well as helping you to enjoy the natural beauty of the places we visit.

Dr Anjana Khatwa
Geology & Earth Science

Dr. Anjana Khatwa

Anjana has over 25 years' experience working within the natural conservation sector and holds an international reputation for excellence in geoscience and communciation. Throughout your cruise, she will be speaking about the volcanic landscapes and formation of The Azores Archipelago.

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ORCA
Ocean Wildlife

Orca

Founded in 2001, ORCA is a group of Ocean Conservationists. Join them out on deck to search the seas for marine life.

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Steve Timms
Maritime History

Stephen Timms

Captain Stephen Timms OBE served in the Royal Navy during the Cold War and will be delivering engaging talks on a range of naval and maritime history themes, covering the Portuguese Age of Discoveries, including Henry the Navigator.

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Astronomy

Wil Cheung - Go Stargazing

Go Stargazing is formed of a group of astronomers, all of whom are keen to encourage public interest in astronomy to as wide an audience as possible. On your cruise, expect to find them out on the top deck in the evenings conducting stargazing sessions.

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Treats & Pastimes

In addition to our Signature Experiences, we have a selection of lovely Treats & Pastimes for you to enjoy when on board. Just check your Daily Times each day for full details.

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Cabins, Prices & Offers

Cabin Options On Your Cruise

* Prices correct as of 06:00 19/03/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on two people sharing a twin cabin. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

* Prices correct as of 06:00 19/03/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on sole occupancy. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

Cabin Grades

Standard Pricing Solo Pricing
Suite

Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)

Bolette's Balcony Junior Suites have a private balcony and sitting/bedroom area.

Freedom Fare From £4,499 pp
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Suite

Balcony Junior Suite Wheelchair Adapted (BJD)

Bolette's Balcony Junior Adapted Suites have a balcony and sitting/bedroom area.

Freedom Fare From £4,499 pp
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Suite

Balcony Suite (BS)

Located on deck 6, Bolette's Balcony Suites have a private balcony

Freedom Fare From £4,799 pp
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Suite

Premier Suite (PS)

Bolette’s Premier Suites are located on Deck 7, and have a private balcony.

Freedom Fare From £5,999 pp
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Suite

Premier Suite Wheelchair Adapted (PSD)

Bolette's Premier Adapted Suites are spacious and stylish, and located on deck 7.

Freedom Fare From £5,999 pp
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Suite

Olsen Suite (OW)

The Olsen Suite is the largest suite on Bolette, with a private balcony and sitting area.

Freedom Fare From £7,599 pp
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What's Included

SO MUCH ALREADY INCLUDED

As well as our Signature Experiences, there is a host of other treats to enjoy on board our ships.

  • À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Daily buffet dining options
  • Late night Supper Club
  • Afternoon tea
  • Self-service tea & coffee
  • In-cabin dining & snacks
  • Evening shows
  • Live music & dancing
  • Dance classes
  • Lectures & talks
  • Cookery demonstrations
  • Traditional deck games
  • Daily games & quizzes
  • Swimming Pools
  • Jacuzzis
  • Fitness Centre
  • Fitness Classes

Enhance your cruise

Each of our cruises has been carefully designed for you to get the very best out of your time on board; and now you can enhance your cruise to make it even more special.

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