Towering basalt peaks, bubbling hot springs, emerald-green farmlands, fascinating seafaring history, world-class wine and cheese and captivating fado music—this is just some of the beauty and vitality you’ll discover as we explore the dramatically beautiful Portuguese archipelago of the Azores aboard the state-of-the-art National Geographic Endurance.
Highlights
• Go whale-watching, follow scenic hiking trails, and learn of the volcanic history unique to the Azores
• Discover the varied past and the stories of explorers, whalers, and conquerors who all had a part in weaving the tapestry of island history
• Experience the commitment the locals have to sustainable growth and protecting the natural beauty and ecosystems of the archipelago
• Aboard National Geographic Endurance, take advantage of the ship’s state-of the-art amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options
Arrive in Ponta Delgada, the charming capital of the Azores. Transfer from the airport to the city and spend the day at your own pace exploring the sights, sounds and tastes of this island capital. Check in with the hospitality desk this afternoon before embarking the ship.
Meals Included: Dinner
The tallest mountain on the Atlantic Ridge, the long dormant Ponta do Pico is a defining feature of this beautiful island whose claims to fame are whaling history and wine. Visit one of the island’s former whaling villages and learn about the importance of the whaling industry to these islands. Travel to the wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and see the unlikely lava stone corrals that protect the precious vines. Enjoy a tasting of these very special wines.
Sail to the island of Faial in time to raise a glass at Peter Café Sport, a legendary pub where sea adventurers historically dropped off their mail.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head to Capelinhos, where you can see how dramatically the landscape changed when its volcano erupted in 1957. Farms and villages were covered with ash, which added nearly an extra mile of land to the island. Later, stroll in the marina, visit the excellent scrimshaw museum or enjoy a coffee at a local café.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit São Jorge, formed by volcanic fissures. On trails that crisscross the ridge and beaches, hike to Caldeira de Santo Cristo Lake, known for its clams; visit the small villages perched on the fajãs; explore the coffee and tea plantations and taste world-renowned São Jorge cheese. Be on deck with binoculars this afternoon as you sail around the tip of the island, passing cliffs with nesting seabirds and looking for Risso’s dolphins and whales.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
First settled by Portuguese navigators around 1450, Terceira became a popular port of call for merchant ships and the economic and religious center of the Azores. We will wind along the coastline and explore historic villages like Porto Judeu, a small fishing community; Sao Sebastiao, which has a notable 15th-century parish church; and Altares, with its quaint whitewashed houses capped with traditional chimneys and painted cones. Upland at Algar do Carvao, be amazed by a huge lava tube adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, and later stroll the streets of Praia da Vitoria. Or, take a walking tour with local guides to see the forts, palaces, churches, museums, and gardens of Angra do Heroismo. Step back in time in this 15th-century UNESCO World Heritage site and see firsthand the indelible mark left by the ancient explorers, conquerors, and religious leaders.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As we cruise towards the island of Santa Maria, be on deck to search for the islands’ many cetaceans. Go ashore at Santa Maria, historically significant as the first landfall of Christopher Columbus on his return from the Americas in 1493. We’ll see a statue of the explorer in the village of Anjos and admire breathtaking vistas as we travel along the coast. Those who choose to hike the Pico Alto-Baíia dos Anjos trail will travel from the highest point on the island to the sea to observe marine birds in their azure surroundings.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the Furnas Valley and sample a typical Azorean specialty for lunch: cozido, a dish made with a variety of meats and vegetables naturally cooked underground from the heat of volcanic activity. Then, join local cetacean spotters and a marine biologist on a catamaran in search of cetaceans.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Disembark in Ponta Delgada and transfer to the airport for flights home.
Departure Time: Depart after 10:00 a.m. local time.
Departure City: Ponta Delgada, Azores
Meals Included: Breakfast
Itineraries are subject to change.
07 July, 2027 to 15 July, 2027
National Geographic Orion
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#301, 322, 323 — These solo cabins feature a window or two portholes, a queen-size bed, except for #301 which has a double bed, writing desk and chair, climate controls, reading lamps, coffee table, two bedside tables, and a TV. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a roomy shower stall with a glass door.
#512 — This solo cabin features two single beds and two large windows, plus two armchairs and a small table, reading lamps, coffee table a flat screen TV, and climate controls. The marble bathroom is generously sized and includes a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#316, 318-321 — Cabins feature a luminous oval window and configurable beds: two single beds that can be converted to a queen. An armchair, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, two bedside tables, coffee table, desk, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#302-312, 314, 315, 317 — Cabins feature a luminous oval window and configurable beds: two single beds that can be converted to a queen. An armchair, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, bedside table, coffee table, desk, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#401-412, 414-419 — These spacious cabins feature a sitting area with a large window, a sofa—except slightly smaller #401 & #402—an armchair or two, writing/laptop desk, reading lamps, coffee table, flat screen TV, bedside table, and climate controls. Beds are configurable (call for details). Marble bathrooms include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Ideal Upper Deck location provides easy access to Bar/Lounge and outdoor dining.
#511, 515 — These suites feature separate sleeping and sitting areas, a chair, armchair, coffee table, and a two-cushion sofa facing an expansive window. Ample storage, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, espresso maker, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Beds are configurable (call for details). Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
#501, 503-506, 508 — These spacious suites feature open living areas with sliding glass doors opening to a shared French balcony. A separate sitting area with armchairs, sofa, writing/laptop desk, coffee table, well-placed reading lamps, flat screen TV, espresso maker and climate controls complete the decor. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Beds are configurable (call for details). Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
#502, 507, 509*, 510 — These large, elegant suites feature a French balcony, except for #509 which has double windows. There is a living area with a sofa, two armchairs, coffee table, well-placed reading lamps, flat screen TV, espresso maker and climate controls complete the decor. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door, except for #502, which uniquely offers a ‘soaking tub with a view’ in addition to a shower stall and expansive vanity. Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
14 July, 2027 to 22 July, 2027
National Geographic Orion
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Book now
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#301, 322, 323 — These solo cabins feature a window or two portholes, a queen-size bed, except for #301 which has a double bed, writing desk and chair, climate controls, reading lamps, coffee table, two bedside tables, and a TV. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a roomy shower stall with a glass door.
#512 — This solo cabin features two single beds and two large windows, plus two armchairs and a small table, reading lamps, coffee table a flat screen TV, and climate controls. The marble bathroom is generously sized and includes a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#316, 318-321 — Cabins feature a luminous oval window and configurable beds: two single beds that can be converted to a queen. An armchair, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, two bedside tables, coffee table, desk, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#302-312, 314, 315, 317 — Cabins feature a luminous oval window and configurable beds: two single beds that can be converted to a queen. An armchair, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, bedside table, coffee table, desk, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#401-412, 414-419 — These spacious cabins feature a sitting area with a large window, a sofa—except slightly smaller #401 & #402—an armchair or two, writing/laptop desk, reading lamps, coffee table, flat screen TV, bedside table, and climate controls. Beds are configurable (call for details). Marble bathrooms include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Ideal Upper Deck location provides easy access to Bar/Lounge and outdoor dining.
#511, 515 — These suites feature separate sleeping and sitting areas, a chair, armchair, coffee table, and a two-cushion sofa facing an expansive window. Ample storage, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, espresso maker, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Beds are configurable (call for details). Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
#501, 503-506, 508 — These spacious suites feature open living areas with sliding glass doors opening to a shared French balcony. A separate sitting area with armchairs, sofa, writing/laptop desk, coffee table, well-placed reading lamps, flat screen TV, espresso maker and climate controls complete the decor. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Beds are configurable (call for details). Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
#502, 507, 509*, 510 — These large, elegant suites feature a French balcony, except for #509 which has double windows. There is a living area with a sofa, two armchairs, coffee table, well-placed reading lamps, flat screen TV, espresso maker and climate controls complete the decor. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door, except for #502, which uniquely offers a ‘soaking tub with a view’ in addition to a shower stall and expansive vanity. Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
21 July, 2027 to 29 July, 2027
National Geographic Orion
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Book now
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#301, 322, 323 — These solo cabins feature a window or two portholes, a queen-size bed, except for #301 which has a double bed, writing desk and chair, climate controls, reading lamps, coffee table, two bedside tables, and a TV. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a roomy shower stall with a glass door.
#512 — This solo cabin features two single beds and two large windows, plus two armchairs and a small table, reading lamps, coffee table a flat screen TV, and climate controls. The marble bathroom is generously sized and includes a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#316, 318-321 — Cabins feature a luminous oval window and configurable beds: two single beds that can be converted to a queen. An armchair, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, two bedside tables, coffee table, desk, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#302-312, 314, 315, 317 — Cabins feature a luminous oval window and configurable beds: two single beds that can be converted to a queen. An armchair, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, bedside table, coffee table, desk, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door.
#401-412, 414-419 — These spacious cabins feature a sitting area with a large window, a sofa—except slightly smaller #401 & #402—an armchair or two, writing/laptop desk, reading lamps, coffee table, flat screen TV, bedside table, and climate controls. Beds are configurable (call for details). Marble bathrooms include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Ideal Upper Deck location provides easy access to Bar/Lounge and outdoor dining.
#511, 515 — These suites feature separate sleeping and sitting areas, a chair, armchair, coffee table, and a two-cushion sofa facing an expansive window. Ample storage, reading lamps, a flat screen TV, espresso maker, and climate controls complete the amenities. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Beds are configurable (call for details). Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
#501, 503-506, 508 — These spacious suites feature open living areas with sliding glass doors opening to a shared French balcony. A separate sitting area with armchairs, sofa, writing/laptop desk, coffee table, well-placed reading lamps, flat screen TV, espresso maker and climate controls complete the decor. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door. Beds are configurable (call for details). Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
#502, 507, 509*, 510 — These large, elegant suites feature a French balcony, except for #509 which has double windows. There is a living area with a sofa, two armchairs, coffee table, well-placed reading lamps, flat screen TV, espresso maker and climate controls complete the decor. Marble bathrooms are generously sized and include a spacious shower stall with a glass door, except for #502, which uniquely offers a ‘soaking tub with a view’ in addition to a shower stall and expansive vanity. Guests receive complimentary laundry, special turn down service and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
Inclusions
• All accommodations, meals, and non-alcoholic beverages aboard ships
• Use of snorkeling equipment, wet suits, and kayaks (where available)
• Services of our expert expedition team and guest speakers
• Services of a ship physician on most voyages
• Certain hotels and meals ashore as indicated in the itinerary
• Round-trip transfers based on group flights
• Shore excursions, sightseeing, entrance fees, and special access permits
• Taxes, service charges, and tips (except for ship’s crew, at our guests’ discretion)
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Exclusions
• Air transportation (except when we indicated in the itinerary, as included) Extensions
• Passport, visa, and immigration fees
• Travel Protection Plan
• Special and unique excursions such as scuba diving, flightseeing, etc. (where offered)
• Alcoholic beverages (alcohol is included on select ships)
• Items of personal nature
• Phone and Internet Service
• Laundry
• Gratuity for ship’s crew, at our guests’ discretion (crew tips are included on select ships)