ONE of Britain’s best-loved cruise ships is to set sail from Portsmouth, with a range of festive breaks to Europe and the Canaries only weeks away.

Balmoral, a long-time Brit favourite in the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet, will depart on a 12-night voyage to Spain and Portugal on December 10 this year, taking in Christmas lights and markets.

Other sailings from the port include a 14-night warm winter break leaving on December 22 with celebrations in the Canary Islands, offering guests Christmas at sea with Balmoral in full festive finery.

“At Fred. Olsen, we have almost 200 years of seafaring history, and so to welcome guests aboard form Portsmouth, a city with rich maritime heritage, is particularly exciting for us,” says Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Service.

The Christmas cruises are the icing on the cake, which also offers further-flung adventure with a lengthy sailing to South America and the Antarctic from the port.

The 78-night exploration, sailing on January 5, 2023, is a circumnavigation of the continent, including Patagonian Fjords in Chile, the Galapagos Islands, the Bahamas and, for the first time in Fred. Olsen history, the Antarctic.

For full itineraries and availability, see fredolsencruises.com