
Cruise · 17 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Seventeen nights aboard Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral, between Alicante and the islands of the western Mediterranean. Stops include Ibiza, Corsica’s Propriano and Milazzo in Sicily, with scenic cruising past Amalfi and Stromboli en route to Greece’s southern isles.
Highlights
Two stops on island Corsica including Propriano
Sailing past Stromboli volcano off Sicily
Cruising along Amalfi Coast cliffs
Two days in Greek islands: Crete and Santorini
Visit Malta’s historic capital, Valletta
This 17-night cruise on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral begins and ends in Alicante, tracing a wide arc through some of the western Mediterranean’s better-known islands. After a brief stop on Ibiza, the ship calls in Propriano on Corsica, a small town with limestone buildings tumbling to the marina. The Italian leg includes Golfo Aranci, near Sardinia’s rocky coast, and Milazzo, a town on Sicily’s northeastern tip with views of active Stromboli volcano—named in the itinerary for a day spent sailing past it.
The Amalfi Coast is passed from the ship’s deck rather than reached for a walk, so the chance to watch the cliffs and fishing villages slip by from the ship’s rail is something to note. The cruise then moves east to Malta’s capital, Valletta, a compact city of baroque facades and busy harbours. Greece follows with multiple stops including Piraeus for Athens, then further south to islands such as Crete’s Agios Nikolaos and the volcanic shapes of Santorini.
Balmoral is a ship of moderate size, suited to smaller ports like Propriano and Milazzo. The route balances familiar places with quieter harbours, backed by a slow enough pace to look up from the itinerary now and then. Nothing rushed here, just steady progress among well-trodden Mediterranean islands.
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Scenic cruising
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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