Enjoy the best of the Caribbean and Cuba with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests the chance of a Winter sun getaway with Balmoral’s 34-night L1417 ‘Caribbean with Cuba’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 3rd November 2014. This exotic longer cruise boasts more than just sand, sea and surf: heralding a welcome return to Bermuda for the cruise line, it offers an overnight stay in the iconic, beguiling Cuban capital, Havana.

The first port of call is Funchal, on the ‘Garden Island’ of Madeira, before Balmoral heads across the Atlantic to Bridgetown, Barbados. Situated on the island’s only natural harbour, this paradise offers a plethora of stunning white sandy beaches and clear blue seas for sunshine and relaxation; guests can also take a tour to the very special natural phenomenon of Harrison’s Cave, formed from crystallised limestone, which is now one of Barbados’ ‘Greatest Wonders’.

Next, it is onto St. George’s, Grenada, ‘The Spice Island’, with its beautiful horseshoe-shaped harbour and natural beauty; this is no more spectacular than at the popular Annandale Falls and the Seven Sisters Falls. And for those sports fans out there, don’t miss the popular West Indies Cricket Tour!

The stunning Caribbean islands of St. Lucia and Antigua follow, with calls at Castries and St. John’s, before Balmoral arrives in Grand Turk, capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands. It is said that this was where Christopher Columbus first made landfall on his first voyage to the New World in 1492. Guests should not miss a tour to Gibb’s Cay, an uninhabited island with beautiful coral reefs, and take the rare opportunity to swim with stingray.

The cruise then arrives at the legendary, laidback Cuban capital of Havana, for an overnight stay. The original walled ‘Old Havana’ was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, but today there is also so much more to experience – a visit to the Hemingway Museum, take a tour of the city in a classic American car or sample some of the local rum!

Nassau in the Bahamas is the next port of call, with the skyline dominated by Atlantis, the luxury hotel resort. Here, guests can visit the Pompey Museum, with its large collection of Bahamian artefacts, or simply relax on one of the many white, sandy beaches.

After a final stop in the port city of Hamilton – the capital and administrative centre of Bermuda since 1815 – Balmoral returns across the Atlantic Ocean to Ponta Delgada, in the Azores. The island of San Miguel, of which Ponta Delgada is the capital, is well worth a visit, with its breathtaking lakes, mountains and sandy beaches – as is the island’s oldest city, Ribeira Grande.

Prices for this sun-drenched longer cruise start from just £2,999 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, Inside cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port dues. Guest can choose to upgrade to the ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package for just £10 per person per night.