Cruise · 7 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth
A seven-night cruise on Balmoral with Fred. Olsen, calling at Porto’s gateway Matosinhos, Gibraltar’s rocky promontory and the palm-lined promenades of Alicante.
- Duration
- 7 nights
- Departs
- 30 Sep 2027
- Sails from
- Southampton
- Returns to the same port
- Ship
- Balmoral
- From
- £749
- per person, sharing
Highlights
What makes this one worth it
Port wine lodges and markets at Matosinhos, Porto’s gateway
The Rock of GibraltarWith its Barbary macaques
Roman ruins around Cartagena’s old town
Palm-lined promenades and Mediterranean beach at Alicante
About the trip
Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral sets off from Southampton for a week spent in the mild early autumn weather of Spain and Portugal. The first port is Matosinhos, the coastal town that serves Porto—home to its famous port wine lodges and fish markets, where fresh Atlantic catch is easy to find.
Next comes Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory known for its Rock, crammed with Barbary macaques and boasting views down to the Strait. Later the ship docks at Cartagena, an old naval port with Roman ruins around its streets. Alicante offers a more relaxed pace, with palm-lined promenades backing onto a Mediterranean beach.
The cruise returns to Southampton after seven days, having crossed three countries from the UK to the Iberian Peninsula. It’s a straightforward route with enough variety to remind passengers that autumn doesn’t mean retreating indoors anywhere south of the Bay of Biscay.
- 1 Southampton
- 2 Matosinhos
- 3 Gibraltar
- 4 Cartagena
- 5 Alicante
Itinerary
The route, day by day
Day 1
Southampton, United Kingdom
Day 2
Matosinhos, Portugal
Day 3
Gibraltar
Day 4
Cartagena, Spain
Day 5
Alicante, Spain
When to go
Departures and prices
Lowest price each month, per person.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
Before you book
- Price based on
- Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
- Travelling alone
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Flights
- Not needed if you join at Southampton
- What’s included
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Accessibility
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Cabin
- Interior Room
For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site
Questions people ask
- How long is Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth?
- Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth is a 7 nights cruise holiday.
- Where does Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth depart from?
- Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth departs from Southampton.
- Who operates Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth?
- Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines aboard Balmoral.
- How much does Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth cost?
- Prices for Spain & Portugal Autumn Warmth start from £749, subject to availability.
The operator
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
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.
New to United Kingdom? Our United Kingdom guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.
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