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Hosted Exclusive: Scenic Coastlines of the British Isles

Balmoral

19th Aug 26

9 Nights

From

£1,279PP

Itinerary
Ship

Day 1

Newcastle, UK

Arrive at the port and board Balmoral for your 9-night cruise.

Day 2

Cruising Duncansby Sea Stacks, cruising Pentland Firth & cruising by Old Man of Hoy

Day 3

Stornoway, Scotland

The ports town of Stornoway sits proudly on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Step ashore and pay a visit to 18th-century Lews Castle baronial mansion and the adjoining Lews Castle Museum and Archive. Stop by the art gallery, shops, and cafe-bar at An Lanntair Arts Centre. Watch wool-spinning and weaving demonstrations and explore the history of the famous Harris Tweed at Lewis Loom Centre. Venture out to the west coast of the isle to view the famous Standing Stones of Callanish.

Day 4

Cruising Sound of Mull & cruising Past Duart Castle, cruising by Dutchman's Cap & cruising by Fingal's Cave

Day 5

At Sea

Day 6

St Mary's (Isles of Scilly), UK

St Mary's is the largest island in the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off south west England's Cornish coastline. This island is home to the Isles of Scilly Airport and serves as gateway to the rest of the islands via the inter-island boats from St Mary's Quay. In the island's main centre of Hugh Town you can visit the fascinating Isles of Scilly Museum and the many artist’s studios and art galleries. Venture over the hill from Hugh Town to Old Town overlooking Old Town Bay, where you'll find the picturesque Old Town Church and a few galleries, cafes, and a pub. Follow the Nature Trail from the heart of St Mary's to visit the Holy Vale Vineyard & Winery and sample locally-produced wines. Learn about St Mary's and St Agnes' history of flower farming at Scented Narcissi and maybe order a box to be delivered to your home after your cruise.

Day 7

St Peter Port (Guernsey), UK

St Peter Port is the capital of the Channel Island of Guernsey and also its main port. Stroll around the harbour to hear the Noon Day Gun at Castle Cornet and explore the Maritime Museum. Pay a visit to the idyllic Candie Gardens or get up close to tropical marine life at the Guernsey Aquarium. Follow the Esplanade into the town centre to indulge in retail therapy on the High Street and in the Old Town. Step back to wartime at La Vallette Underground Military Museum or trace 1000 years of island history on the Baliwick of Guernsey Millennium Tapestry. Take a tour around Victor Hugo House in Hauteville where the author wrote 'Les Misérables’ or go to see the seashell and pebble encrusted The Little Chapel.

Day 8

Portland, UK

Today the ship drops anchor on the isle of Portland - located off the World Heritage Coast in the South of England. The isle is rich in bird, animal and plant life and is also home to a wide selection of indigenous butterflies. Head to the east of the island to visit Church Ope Cove and the East Weares rocky landscape. Pay a visit to Portland's Quarries, the Merchant's Incline, Portland Castle and Portland Bill Lighthouse. Follow the Legacy Trail circular walk - taking in Pulpit Rock and the east and west cliff tops en-route. Admire the sculptures and scenery at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and Nature Reserve. The off-shore waters are also perfect for angling, sailing and diving.

Day 9

At Sea

Day 10

Newcastle, UK

Disembark and make your way home.

Hays Extras

Travel inclusions:

✓ No flying - Sail from Newcastle

Fred. Olsen onboard standard benefits:
(new for 2026 sailings and beyond)

✓ Small and friendly UK ships
✓ Breakfast, lunch & dinner with daily buffet dining
✓ House beer, wine & draught soft drinks with lunch and dinner in selected venues
✓ Self-service tea & coffee
✓ Late Night Supper Club
✓ In-cabin dining & snacks
✓ Evening shows to live music
✓ Lectures & talks
✓ Traditional deck games, daily games & quizzes
✓ Fitness centre & classes
✓ Guided walks in port* (subject to availability & weather conditions)
✓ Onboard gratuities

Hays Exclusive onboard benefits:
✓ Hays Travel Meet & Greet staff at departure port
✓ Hosted by Hays Travel staff member(s) throughout
✓ Onboard Hays Travel Hospitality Desk
✓ Onboard private drinks reception
✓ Onboard spending money - £90pp onboard spend

Add-ons:
✓ Options to upgrade to premium drinks package for £40pp per night

Get in touch now to book this deal or make an enquiry

Balmoral

Overview

Balmoral is named after the Scottish residence of the British Royal Family, and the Scottish theme runs throughout the main dining venues – the Ballindalloch, Avon and Spey – where guests can enjoy tantalising menus prepared by our expert chefs. Featuring 710 well-appointed rooms and suites and a selection of comfortable lounges, bars and inviting public areas, Balmoral provides guests with ample space in which to relax and share a memorable cruise experience with hundreds, not thousands, of fellow travellers. And, as Fred. Olsen’s guests have come to expect, there is always an array of superb entertainment on offer throughout the day, from lectures and hobby classes to live cabaret and comedians, ensuring you can make the most of your time on board. Balmoral is small enough to navigate size-restricted waterways such as the Kiel Canal, providing fantastic scenic cruising opportunities, and retains the warm, intimate and friendly atmosphere that the Fred. Olsen fleet is renowned for.

Food & Drink

Dining is an important part of your cruise with us and there is always plenty of variety for you to enjoy: Delicious five-course dining in our main restaurants; speciality Asian dining at our signature restaurants, Vasco and Colours and Tastes; our casual, self-serve dining experience with table-service drinks; and, on Bolette and Borealis, there’s a menu of light bites at the poolside during the day.

All of our food is freshly prepared on board, including our mouth-wateringly delicious homemade bread.

Our restaurant teams take great pride in the food they prepare for you and they love nothing more than to chat and share their passion with you.

And, of course, our warm and attentive waiting team are always on-hand to assist you.

Our on board dining experience

Each of the main restaurants on our ships are beautifully decorated, where we know you’ll enjoy sampling outstanding food created by our talented chefs, who take great pride in making tasty meals using fresh ingredients, and for our Treats of the Region, they’ll source local ingredients to prepare dishes that are popular in the destinations you’re visiting.

We have two dinner sittings, first sitting is at 6.00pm and second sitting is at 8.00pm*, which you request when you make your booking, and our Maitre’D is more than happy to meet with you to discuss any special dietary requirements you may have.

*Please note second sitting dining time in the main restaurants on embarkation day and on formal evenings will be at 8.15pm.

Our main restaurants are:

Balmoral | Ballindalloch, Avon & Spey Restaurants

Dining at our Speciality restaurants on each of our ships is a really special experience. Our talented chefs are passionate about producing superb dishes, made fresh to order, where each delicious mouthful is an explosion of flavour. Vasco (available on Bolette and Borealis) offers an authentic taste of Goa, where each menu has been created by our Goan chefs, and for a taste of Asian Fusion, Colours & Tastes offers an eclectic combination of flavours in an intimate dining setting.

Colours & Tastes - Our Colours & Tastes restaurant features a tempting variety of Asian Fusion dishes, from spiced grilled meats and seafood to gyozas, dim sum and sushi.

In surroundings as vibrant as the food itself, each dish is lovingly created by our expert chefs and designed to give you an authentic taste of the Orient – with signature dishes from Japan, Thailand, China and the Philippines.

Casual dining

Our casual, self-serve dining experience on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral offer a feast of delicious dishes for each meal every day, making it incredibly difficult to know which appetising dish to choose! Select from a variety of salads or stir fries, catered to your request, or sample dishes at our Destination stations, where we'll feature meals related to the lovely ports of call you're visiting. They also provide a huge spread of complimentary afternoon tea options, including warm scones with jam and cream, tasty sandwiches and delectable cakes, all freshly baked on board.

Our casual dining restaurants are:

Balmoral | The Thistle

Entertainment

Beyond our Signature Experiences, there is so much more to enjoy while you are on board with us.

Once on board, you will find a copy of the Daily Times in your cabin every evening. This will tell you all about the activities and events available on the following day. But in the meantime, here is a taste of what you can enjoy...

FUN AND GAMES, QUIZZES AND PUZZLES

To ensure there’s always something stimulating and fun for your time on board, our entertainment team run a fabulous programme of activities every single day.

These include traditional deck games like Quoits, Deck Tennis and Shuffleboard as well as challenging quizzes, Bridge tournaments in our dedicated Card Room and puzzles you can solve with fellow guests.

Or, perhaps join our friendly Book Club, held in an inviting, sociable area, where you can openly and informally debate your thoughts and opinions on best-selling lighter reads, crime thrillers, traditional or contemporary classics with other like-minded guests.

THEATRE, MUSIC AND DANCE

Each of our three beautiful ships has its own Theatre Company, who proudly present live musical shows for our guests.

Our Companies are regularly joined by visiting professional artists and performers, comedians and illusionists to ensure a constantly varying programme.

No cruise experience is complete, of course, without live music and each of our ships has its own house band. We also bring classical musicians, bands, soloists and singers on board to create a wonderful programme of live music, performances and recitals.

For those who love to dance, we hold plenty of classes. Our Dance Hosts are on-hand to accompany the more proficient or teach steps for those keen to learn.

Health & Fitness

What better environments to find total relaxation in than the beautiful spas on all three of our ships?

Floor to ceiling windows offer unparalleled views of the blue skies and cobalt waters while you are pampered and cared for by our specialist beauticians, hair stylists and therapists.

Our Fitness Centres also claim some of the most spectacular views of any gyms in the world – views that are constantly changing, of course. The perfect setting for a good workout, yoga or pilates session.

And once you’ve finished your activity, how about relaxing and unwinding in our swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

Terms & Conditions

T&Cs apply.