Bolette, 14 Night Natural Wonders & Wildlife of the Azores & Madeira ex Liverpool, England Return

Our team has designed this cruise to take in the natural and historical wonders of Portugal. Visiting the hidden gems of the Azores archipelago presents chances to explore the Sete Cidades crater lakes and Angra do Heroísmo – a stopover for navigators crossing the Atlantic. Meanwhile, wildlife charity ORCA will have representatives on board to help you search for marine life from Bolette; and experts from Go Stargazing will be on hand to help you discover more about the different planets and constellations in the starry skies out there. The world’s largest Gothic cathedral – said to be the resting place of explorer, Columbus – can be seen on a tour to Seville (from Cádiz). Elsewhere you will find maritime history in Lisbon and levada trails and gardens in Madeira. Bolette will also sail past Santa Maria – an island with links to Columbus. 

Our flagship Bolette is everything that our loyal guests have come to expect from a Fred. Olsen ship. Proudly bearing the name of Fred. Olsen Jr.’s great-great-grandmother, as many other Olsen vessels have over the years, she exudes classic, elegant style in her exterior and interior design, features spacious and comfortable public areas, and has all the facilities and special touches you need for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

While she’s one of the largest ships, by overall size, in our fleet, Bolette has capacity for less than 1,400 guests. So, in keeping with our smaller-ship ethos, you’ll find that you’re not overcrowded on board, and have plenty of space in which to indulge yourself in the stylish dining venues, enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple and fantastic entertainment at the bars, lounges and theatres, and while away the hours by the all-season pool. And of course, with our friendly staff providing our typical level of personal, attentive service, there’s an intimate feel to the on board experience too.

Bolette features eleven stylish, spacious and comfortable bars and lounges, providing plenty of choice and variety.

While each Fred. Olsen ship has its own distinctive personality, across the fleet you’ll find a consistent approach to bar and lounge themes which help to create the familiar, home-from-home feel that our guests know and love to enjoy time and time again. Every public area has plenty of space in which to relax and make the most of your time on board – this is the case for both Bolette and her sister ship, Borealis.

There's an undoubted sense of occasion to dining in Bolette's main restaurant, a grand two-tiered venue featuring classical, elegant décor and a variety of seating options and table sizes, perfect for both intimate and large group dining. Guests can choose to dine in one of the smaller supplementary dining venues too, or perhaps at the more relaxed buffet restaurant.

You'll find that there's plenty to keep you entertained during the day on board Bolette, whether you prefer to while away the hours relaxing or engaging your body and mind. The ship's facilities include two swimming pools, two jacuzzis and an impressive spa with a Thermal Spa, Aroma Room, Hydro Pool, two saunas and nine treatment rooms, while there are tennis and basketball courts and a Culinary Theatre – which hosts fantastic cookery classes and demonstrations – too.

When the lights go down and you settle into your evening, we'll treat you to a selection of live shows ranging from music and cabaret to quick-fire stand-up comedy, all enjoyed in the space and comfort of our stylish lounges and theatres. And, of course, throughout the ship you can sit, relax and enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple accompanied by the gentle sounds of live acoustic music.

As a family-run cruise line, Fred. Olsen really take your experience personally. While the cruise industry has gone for bigger ships, brimming with more and more people, they have always believed that smaller is better. They treat passengers as guests, they dock at smaller ports in more interesting places and they avoid overcrowding both aboard and ashore. At capacity, their smaller ships will only ever sail with between 900 and 1,400 guests.

They have a small team of specialist itinerary planners. They take great pride in handcrafting each journey, to ensure they show you hidden gems as well as highlights on each of their sailings. It is a passion that has won them the Cruise Critic award for Best Itineraries for five consecutive years.

With Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, you can cruise from seven regional UK ports to hundreds of destinations worldwide in the classic style and comfort aboard their smaller-sized ships.