Funchal Cruise Passengers Rise 25% in First Quarter
Madeira’s surge signals how Atlantic island ports are gaining ground as cruise lines diversify European itineraries and destinations compete for longer-stay visitor spending.
In the first three months of 2026, 335,748 cruise passengers moved through Funchal's terminal, up 24.79% from approximately 269,000 in the same period last year. The Madeira port received 129 cruise ships from January through March, compared with 105 calls in the first quarter of 2025.
The gain comes after 2025, which Paula Cabaço, chief executive of Portos da Madeira and chair of Administração dos Portos da Região Autónoma da Madeira, S.A. (APRAM), called Madeira's best year yet for cruise activity.
APRAM frames the quarter as a commercial opening
Cabaço called the numbers "extraordinary" and pointed to the scale of the year-over-year increase. "We are talking about double-digit growth compared to a period that had already been exceptional," she said, adding that the comparison made the result "even more significant."
She said the port authority wants "to promote the Region's ports, reinforce commercial ties with our partners, and create new business opportunities" for Madeiran companies involved in cruise activity. The Q1 announcement did not break growth down by cruise line or identify the operators responsible for the additional calls.
Funchal's role in Madeira's port system
The Port of Funchal serves Madeira's cruise ships, pleasure craft and inter-island ferry traffic to Porto Santo. Commercial cargo uses Caniçal. APRAM, a publicly owned corporation supervised by the Regional Secretariat for the Economy, manages Funchal, Caniçal, Porto Santo Harbour and Porto Novo Terminal.
Funchal handled 316 cruise calls and 728,604 passengers in 2024, with cruise activity tied to an estimated economic impact of EUR 61.4 million. Its cruise facilities include gangways, shops, a cafe, an ATM, currency exchange, gift shops, free Wi-Fi and tourist information. The terminal has no duty-free shops.
Ships dock along a long quay that generally accommodates one large vessel at a time, with an older terminal used when traffic requires it. Downtown Funchal is typically a 15- to 20-minute walk from the pier, shuttle buses run between the terminal and city center, and Madeira's airport is about 22 kilometers away.
Overnight calls ahead in May
Funchal's May schedule includes Ventura on May 13, World Voyager on May 15-16, Celebrity Xcel on May 16-17, Amadea on May 19-20 and Spirit of Adventure on May 23. Celebrity Xcel is scheduled to remain in port from 8 a.m. on May 16 until 5 p.m. the following day.
