Aman at Sea Eyes First Madeira Call in 2028
APRAM said the interest emerged during June 9-12 MedCruise meetings in Palermo, where Madeira also discussed shore-excursion options with existing callers.
Aman at Sea is exploring Madeira for future itineraries, with a first call currently projected for 2028, the Administration of the Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira said after meetings at the 68th MedCruise General Assembly in Palermo, Italy. The discussions took place during the June 9-12 event, where MedCruise members met with cruise line executives and other industry stakeholders.
Aman at Sea has yet to begin operating. Amangati, the 94-guest yacht now under construction at T. Mariotti in Italy, is scheduled to begin sailing in spring 2027.
“One new cruise line, Aman at Sea, operating within the premium luxury segment, expressed interest in including Madeira in its itineraries,” said Patricia Bairrada, commercial director of APRAM, adding that the first call is “currently projected for 2028.”
Bairrada said APRAM’s meetings with lines already calling at Madeira were also positive, with operators providing “excellent feedback on the destination” and expressing interest in adding new and more varied shore excursions.
Aman’s first yacht is due in 2027
Aman at Sea is being developed by Aman, the international hotel brand, through a joint venture with Cruise Saudi. Its first vessel, Amangati, is planned with 47 suites across nine decks, a crew of 207 and a gross tonnage of 23,000.
The ship’s initial program includes five- to eight-night cruises in Spain, the Dalmatian Coast and the French Riviera. The 180-meter yacht is designed for a high crew-to-guest ratio and is expected to operate primarily in the Mediterranean during its first year.
Madeira’s record cruise year
Madeira’s cruise activity is centered on the Port of Funchal, which handled 728,604 cruise passengers in 2024, the first time the destination exceeded 700,000 passengers in a year. The Ports of Madeira also recorded 271,974 crew movements, 316 ship calls and 88 overnight calls during the year.
The 2024 totals were up from 624,400 passengers and 279 calls in 2023. Passenger traffic rose 16.68 percent year over year, while ship calls increased 13.26 percent. Cruise activity generated an estimated €61.4 million in economic impact in 2024.
APRAM did not announce a confirmed berth date, itinerary name or shore-excursion program for the proposed Aman at Sea call.
