Fred. Olsen's Balmoral World Cruise

To see the entire 104-day 2009 itinerary, click here. To see all major segments of this world cruise, click here. To read more about the Balmoral, click here.

Valentine's Day marks the start of your journey as you head out from Dover, England, for the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, which inspired Lord Byron to write, "To travel the world and leave out Lisbon is to go blind about." The tiny island nation of Malta has a rich history, while ancient times and myths are brought to life in Alexandria, Egypt. Exotic Port Said awaits at the northern end of 101-mile long Suez Canal.

An overnight visit to Aqaba in Jordan allows ample time to see the impressive rose-red city of Petra, carved out of the rock. Then you'll travel to the "Garden City" of Salalah, Oman, which offers a contrast to the desert panoramas. After crossing the Arabian Sea, the Balmoral arrives at India, visiting historic Mumbai and Portuguese-influenced Goa.

While in Penang, Malaysia, visit the star-shaped, 18th-century Fort Cornwallis and the exotic Chinese Clan Temples. See the Mandai Orchid Garden, Jurong BirdPark and Ming Village in high-tech, high-energy Singapore, and the Notre Dame Cathedral and historic museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Hong Kong's superb shopping malls and ethnic markets invite serious spending, while Shanghai entices with its beautiful temples and famous waterfront district known as the Bund. At the South Korean port of Incheon, visit Jeju Island and Jayu Park, or head to Seoul.

Highlights in Japan include Kagoshima, famed for the unique sand baths at Ibusuki, and Chiran, known for ancient samurai houses. The Balmoral spends two days in Yokohama, allowing guests time to view the seventh-century temple of Asakusa or shop and sightsee in vibrant Tokyo. On Easter Sunday you'll arrive at Petropavlovsk, which serves as the gateway to the Kamchatka Peninsula, a natural wonderland. The ship then crosses the international date line and sails through the Aleutian Islands toward Alaska.

When the Balmoral ports in Seward, passengers can take in the magnificent glaciers and abundant marine wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park. Sail through spectacular College Fjord, explore Alaska's frontier past in Skagway, or take a flightseeing trip to Misty Fjords National Monument while docked in Ketchikan.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, popular sights include pretty Stanley Park, historic Gastown and cosmopolitan Robson Street. Then the Balmoral heads south along the U.S. west coast, stopping at Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and the quintessential California beach town of San Diego.

Glamorous Acapulco earned the nickname of "Pearl of the Pacific," and the ship overnights at this Mexican resort town -- make time to witness the daring feats of the cliff divers at La Quebrada. Visit the Mayan ruins of Tikal while in the Guatemalan port of Puerto Quetzal, then head through the locks of the Panama Canal. You'll also visit the San Blas Islands on Panama's Caribbean coast, home to the Kuna Indians.

Curacao's Dutch heritage is reflected in the tall, narrow 18th-century homes of Willemstad, while Fort James is a reminder of British naval dominance in St. John's, Antigua. Spend time at the chic Caribbean hot spot of St. Barthelemy before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Ponta Delgada in the Azores is your final port before the ship returns to Dover.

Due to the unique nature of this vacation experience, we allow only the most experienced of our 400+ travel counselors the opportunity to assist our world cruise customers. When you are ready to speak with someone in our office, please call us at 1-888-381-4642 or email us for a quote or reservation.

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