Introduction to The Atlantic Islands Cruise

The Canaries and Azores are your destination on this 14 night cruise aboard Black Watch. Sailing from Dover, you will visit ports in Lisbon, Lanzarote, Tenerife, The Azores and more.

Itinerary

Day 1: Dover, England:

On arrival in London you will be met by your driver and transferred to the port to board Black Watch. The ship departs in the evening.

Day 2 – 3: At Sea:

Your first days are spent cruising south, to Lisbon, your first port of call. Take some time to get acquainted with your surroundings and fellow guests, and explore Black Watch.

Day 4: Lisbon, Portugal:

Memories of a glorious past linger amid the grand avenues and elegant squares of this attractive capital.

Spread out over seven hills on the north of the River Tagus, Lisbon is a delightful mix of palaces, churches, art nouveau cafés, gardens, ancient castles and splendid bridges. These include the Ponte 25 de Abril – similar to the Golden Gate in San Francisco – and the Ponte Vasco da Gama, which includes over 11km of viaducts.

Lisbon has many fascinating museums, including the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Coach Museum and the Carmo Archaeological Museum. It’s also a shopper’s paradise, with the Centro Commercial Colombo – the biggest shopping mall on the Iberian peninsula – and the elegant Avenidas Novas, full of upmarket shops. Alternatively, search for bargains alongside the locals in the flea market at Campo de Santa Clara.

Day 5: At Sea:

Leave Lisbon behind and set sail for Lanzarote, your next port of call today. Find somewhere to curl up with a refreshing drink and a good book, or get involved in the events happening on Black Watch.

Day 6: Arrecife, Lanzarote:

Arrecife is the gateway to the island of Lanzarote.

Arrecife is a bustling port, with the biggest fishing fleet in the Canaries. Back in the 16th and 17th centuries the city was regularly attacked by pirates: to defend against these raiders, the court of Spain built two splendid castles overlooking the harbour. Castillo San Gabriel is the older of the two, built in 1590. It now houses the island’s Ethnographic Museum, which tells the fascinating story of the original inhabitants of the island, the Gaunche.

The Castillo San Jose was built to provide employment and alleviate poverty on the island following volcanic eruptions in the 1730s: as a result it became known as the Fortress of Hunger. Today it is home to the Museum of International and Contemporary Art, with a small but impressive collection of modern paintings and sculpture. Appropriately, given the name, it also has an excellent restaurant in the basement where diners enjoy panoramic views over the harbour area.

Day 7: Santa Cruz, Tenerife:

The lively, cosmopolitan capital of the largest of the Canaries.

Easily reached are the elegant beach resort of Puerto de la Cruz, the lively leisure complex of Playa de las Americas, the banana and pineapple plantations of the beautiful Orotava Valley, and the stunning volcanic scenery and views of El Teide National Park, dominated by the 12,000ft snow-tipped peak of Spain’s highest mountain.

Day 8: Santa Cruz, La Palma:

Santa Cruz is undoubtedly one of the prettiest towns in the entire archipelago.

Conquered by the King of Castile in the 15th century, Santa Cruz de La Palma became an important trading post between Spain and the Americas. This wealthy past has left its legacy in palaces, colonial buildings and sumptuous merchants’ houses in the Old Quarter of the town. The Town Hall was built during the reign of Phillip II, whose image has pride of place on the façade, while the inside has fabulous coffered ceilings.

There are also magnificent religious buildings, including the Renaissance-style Church of El Salvador, with a tower of volcanic stone, and the Church of Santo Domingo, which houses a superb collection of Flemish paintings. Around the town are cafés and bars offering local dishes, many made with tiny potatoes, cooked in their skins and served with different sauces.

Day 9: At Sea:

Set a course from the Canaries to the Azores today, as you cruise to your next port of call, Praia da Vittoria. Relax aboard Black Watch and watch the world float by.

Day 10: Praia da Vitoria, Azores:

Praia da Vitoria is home to massive sandy beaches, and a lively town centre, located not far from the port. You are sure to find something of interest here, whether you are a history buff or a sun worshipper.

Day 11: Ponta Delgada, Azores:

On São Miguel part of the eastern group of islands of the Azores, you will discover Ponta Delgada.

The main town on the island of San Miguel, Ponta Delgada has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere, combining modern facilities in a traditional environment. San Miguel itself is lovely, with lakes, mountains and lush valleys, together with fine sandy beaches surrounded by the deep blue ocean. Ponta Delgada dates back over 500 years and it has many fine buildings – a reminder that this was once an important staging post between Europe and the Americas. Intermingled are parks, narrow cobbled streets and squares, a modern marina, restaurants and waterside cafés.

Portas da Cidade, the City Gates, once stood in front of the harbour and are now in Gonçalo Velho Cabral Square, dedicated to the Portuguese navigator who discovered the Azores. There is an interesting church here – Igreja Matriz – with a splendid clock tower, one of a number in the town.

Day 12 – 14: At Sea:

Your final days onboard are spent cruising away from the Azores and back to Dover. The crew will keep you entertained while at sea, with games and activities organised during the day.

Day 15: Dover, England:

Your cruise ends this morning with your arrival in Dover. Disembarkation begins after breakfast, when you will be met by your driver for your transfer to the airport and flight home to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Direct flight from Dublin to London
• Airport transfer to the port
• 14 nights accommodation onboard based on 2 sharing an inside cabin
• Full Board basis
• All onboard entertainment
• Return transfer from port to airport
• Flight from London to Dublin
• Taxes and charges of €108

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit of €200 per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €36 (conditions apply)
• Outside Cabin Supplement from €260
• Single Supplement (inside) from €950
• Drinks onboard not included.
• Gratuities are payable at your discretion
• Prices are correct at time of going to press, flight or fuel supplements may apply depending on availability of negotiated airfares.

Accommodation details

Black Watch

Relax and experience a cruise aboard the resplendent Black Watch

Emerging refreshed and improved from a two week dry dock in December 2009, this is the third Fred. Olsen ship of this name. Sister ship to Boudicca, Black Watch is sleek and elegant, with the intimacy and sophistication for which all cruise ships used to be known. Black Watch is a perfect size in which to enjoy the stylish service for which Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is famed.

The ship’s main restaurant, Glentanar, with the smaller Orchid Room leading off it, are used for formal dining, with evening meals served in two sittings, as on all of the company’s ships. The new Braemar Garden Cafe, with courtyard area, offers informal dining and themed evenings. There’s a new bar in the Braemar Room, which is on the lounge deck, as is the newly refurbished Piper’s Bar, which leads into the Neptune Lounge, the main show lounge. At the stern on the marquee deck, the Marquee Bar adjoins the pool and jacuzzis, while on the same deck, the Observatory provides a relaxing place for a pre dinner drink with expansive views out to sea.

Dates and Prices

Date	Cabin	Price
08 Nov 2012	Inside	€1,649
08 Nov 2012	Outside	€1,909
08 Nov 2012	Single	€2,599

Code:W1217