
Cruise · 13 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
A 13-night cruise on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral visiting five Canary Islands and Madeira, timed to meet a rare solar eclipse at sea, with a circular route from Málaga calling at Lisbon and Portsmouth on the return.
Highlights
Annular solar eclipse viewing at sea
Calls at five Canary IslandsIncluding Tenerife and El Hierro
Visit to Madeira’s capital, Funchal
Stops in Lisbon and Portsmouth on return leg
Starting in Málaga, this cruise sets a thoughtful pace through the five main Canary Islands and Madeira aboard Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral. There is a chance to watch the annular solar eclipse from the ship, an unusual celestial event not often scheduled on cruises.
Ports include Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Canaries’ largest town where colonial buildings sit alongside more modern developments; Las Palmas, a city known for its wide beaches and busy port; and Funchal, Madeira’s capital, with its botanical gardens and sheltered bay. There’s also the lesser-visited El Hierro, where volcanic landscapes hold few tourists.
Calling at Lisbon and Portsmouth en route back to Málaga adds a contrasting taste of mainland Europe and the south of England to this Mostly Atlantic itinerary. The ship is small enough to slip into ports that might feel too tight for larger vessels, and the mix of islands means days at sea balance well with land time.
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
When to go
Lowest price each month, per person.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site
The operator
Smaller-ship cruises, many from UK ports
A Norwegian family name in shipping since the nineteenth century, known for smaller ships that can reach the narrower fjords and harbours.
You book with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.
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