TV naturalist and broadcaster, Tony Soper, joins a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Canaries cruise

The beautiful Canary Islands, with their sub-tropical climate, are home to a colourful array of plants and animals, and many of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ guests enjoy visiting these delightful islands. In Autumn 2013, a cruise focusing on the natural wonders of the Canaries – Boudicca’s 12-night D1323 ‘Madeira & the Canaries’ cruise, ex Belfast on 3^rd October 2013 – will be hosted by TV naturalist, Tony Soper, through Fred. Olsen’s award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas.

The cruise will offer a splendid opportunity to enjoy the seabirds of the North Atlantic.  Gannets and Puffins will be in company with the ship, as they come together and migrate south to the Iberian Peninsula and the coast of West Africa. Tony Soper will be on board to enhance guests’ knowledge of the natural wonders that they experience, based on his own rich and varied career as a naturalist and bird watcher.

An acclaimed broadcaster, Tony's many credits include BBC Two’s 'Nature' and film series 'Discovering Birds' and 'Beside the Sea'. Tony co-founded the BBC's famous Natural History Unit, was its first wildlife cameraman and became its first-ever film producer.

Tony is a renowned bird watcher, and pioneer of expedition cruising, with over forty years’ experience of running small vessels on birding cruises, as well as lecturing on everything from seaside tripper-boats to the largest and grandest cruise ships. An enthusiastic diver and small-boat sailor, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Fred. Olsen’s nature-lovers’ Canaries cruise aboard Boudicca departs from Belfast – a new departure port for the cruise line – and calls first at the Portuguese port of Leixoes, for tours to Oporto, then at Funchal, the capital of Madeira. This lovely island is sometimes called ‘a floating garden in the Atlantic’, and is a paradise for plant enthusiasts. Next are the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote, both enjoying dramatic and varied landscapes and some amazing wildlife. Boudicca makes her final call at the bustling Portuguese capital, Lisbon, before returning to Belfast.

Prices for this sunshine Autumn cruise (with limited availability) start from £949 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin-bedded cabin, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no additional charge for taking part in Tony Soper’s enlightening nature talks, as part of the Vistas programme.