Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has revealed an 87-night Grand Voyage cruise scheduled to depart from Southampton, UK, on January 5, 2028. The journey aboard the ship Borealis will sail around five continents, covering 28 ports in 17 countries.
Itinerary and Route Highlights
The itinerary includes immersive cruising along the Amazon River with calls at Manaus, which features an overnight stay, and Santarém, Brazil. Passengers will experience the Amazon’s diverse ecosystem, including opportunities to spot pink river dolphins and vibrant birdlife. The voyage proceeds southward, rounding Cape Horn and entering the Drake Passage twice.
Three days are dedicated to scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula,
allowing guests to witness glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and varied wildlife such as penguins and seabirds. The voyage incorporates overnight stops in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, providing time to explore iconic South American cities. Caribbean calls include Samaná Bay in the Dominican Republic and Dominica, notable for whale-watching opportunities.
Additional ports along the route span Santa Cruz, Tenerife; Santa Cruz, La Palma; St John’s, Antigua; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Puerto Limón, Costa Rica; Cartagena de Indias, Colombia; Willemstad, Curaçao; Fort-de-France, Martinique; St George’s, Grenada; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; Boca da Valéria, Brazil; Alter do Chão, Brazil; Fortaleza, Brazil;
Búzios, Brazil; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Chile; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Montevideo, Uruguay; Salvador, Brazil; Mindelo, Cape Verde; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria; and La Coruña, Spain before returning to Southampton.
Booking Details and Pricing
Bookings open on July 22, 2026. Travelers who reserve their place by August 19, 2026, qualify for Fred. Olsen’s Freedom Fare Price Promise, which guarantees no lower price within the first four weeks of sales. This offer includes no single supplement for solo travelers on select cabins during that period.
The Freedom Fare also covers full-board dining with selected drinks at lunch and dinner, entertainment, enrichment talks, complimentary shuttle
buses in selected ports, fitness center access, port taxes, fees, gratuities, and Fred. Olsen’s Satisfaction Guarantee. Prices for the voyage start at £10,999 per person.
Fred. Olsen’s Position on the Journey
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines stated this Grand Voyage is the only round-trip UK sailing offering both the Amazon and Antarctic regions, marking the company’s first return to the Amazon in nine years. The itinerary was curated to combine natural wonders, diverse wildlife, and cultural experiences within a single extended itinerary.
Executives described the cruise as designed to immerse passengers in the vast biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest aboard the Borealis, followed by rare access to
Antarctica’s remote and scenic peninsula. The route balances extended natural explorations with time in South America’s major cities and Caribbean destinations.
Traveler Experience and Benefits
Guests on the cruise can expect immersive wildlife encounters, including sightings of Amazonian pink river dolphins and Antarctic penguins. The Caribbean segment offers chances for memorable whale-watching adventures. Inclusive amenities cover dining, drinks, entertainment, educational talks, fitness options, and transport services while ashore.
Early bookings benefit from pricing guarantees and single traveler cabin offers, enhancing the appeal for solo cruisers. The extended itinerary offers a unique combination of river, ocean, and polar cruising in a single journey departing and
returning to Southampton.
