“Pearl of the Atlantic”, “Floating flowerpot”, “God’s Botanical Garden”. These descriptions of Madeira have come a long way since the island first appeared on a Genoese map of 1351, with the simple label “Isola della Lolegname”.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 59 – December 2021
Madeira is a volcanic archipelago belonging to Portugal. It consists of two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and three smaller uninhabited islands, called the Desertas Islands, which are considered nature reserves. All of them, even the deserted and wild ones, have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Madeira archipelago lies 608 km west of Morocco and 416 km north of the Canary Islands. With a very pleasant climate year-round, atmospheric conditions vary considerably with altitude. On the subtropical coast, temperatures are always mild, with average summer temperatures of 21°C and average winter temperatures of 16°C.
History tells us that the island of Madeira was discovered in 1419 by the Portuguese explorer Joao Gonçalves Zarco, sent by Prince Henry to explore the coast of Morocco, and that he claimed it for the prince in 1420.
“Your Safe Port” or in Spanish “tu puerto seguro” is the new slogan with which the ports of Madeira present themselves to the cruise tourism market, showing that safety is, without a doubt, the priority.
“Your safe harbor” is the new slogan with which the ports of Madeira are presenting themselves to the cruise tourism market.
In 2021, due to the pandemic situation that shook the world, the Ports of Madeira had to adapt to the new challenges and requirements of the market, implementing the safety standards imposed by this new reality, forcing a review and reinvention of the way of working in the maritime tourism sector, imposing a drastic and profound change, not only at the level of infrastructure but also at the level of communications and flow of people.
As the records show, in 1756, at the very beginning of the history of the Port of Funchal, there were already intentions to build a "Safe Haven." Today, the port is offered to be shared and experienced with confidence and security by all visitors.
The message “Your Safe Harbor” is short and direct, carrying a strong emotional component, expressing APRAM, SA's ambition to recover and rebuild the confidence of tourists and cruise companies to return to Madeira and Porto Santo through its ports.
The pandemic caused the collapse of the cruise industry worldwide, and ports were completely closed to cruise ships. In Madeira, as in so many other places, efforts were made to reopen cruise tourism in accordance with the standards recommended by health and maritime agencies, developing a technical and commercial plan.
The Ports of Madeira were the first in Portugal to reopen to these ships and to design a “Covid-19 Port Management Plan”, which is being implemented to ensure a new reality in the operation of the region's commercial and sports ports.
The areas covered by the plan include the Funchal and Porto Santo docks, as well as the “Gare Marítima da Madeira (GMM)”, the terminal and Dock 6.
The implementation of this plan includes temperature checks, cleaning and disinfection equipment, appropriate signage, and the redefinition of procedures to be adopted on the ground, related to passengers and crew, as well as the movement of APRAM's suppliers, entities, agents, and collaborators. These procedures have obtained SGS certification for 'Good Practices in the Management of SARS-CoV-2 Biological Risk' and, more recently, the 'Clean & Safe 2021' certification from Turismo de Portugal.
A Port with History:
The construction of the port of Funchal was established in 1756 by Royal Charter issued by King José I, which authorized the start of construction of a “safe haven port.” Work began, and the first pier in Funchal was built, its construction being completed in 1762. In the following years, the port expanded, and new berthing areas for ships appeared. In 1913, a port management body was created, known as the “Junta Autónoma da Obras do Porto do Funchal” (Autonomous Board of Works of the Port of Funchal).
Due to its geographical position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira was decades ago a crossing point for numerous transatlantic liners and therefore an important port of call on distant routes between Europe and the African and American continents, until the Second World War.
Madeira's importance as a regular stop for large passenger ships began long before the cruise tourism boom. In the 1940s and 1950s, steamships on the Southampton-Cape Town route, with regular connections to the British colony in South Africa, called at the island of Madeira.
From the 1980s and throughout the 1990s, the global cruise industry expanded and Madeira became an essential port of call for transatlantic cruises.
In 2005, the port of Funchal became a port dedicated exclusively to cruise tourism, and cargo was transferred to the Port of Canical, on the eastern side of the island. The Port of Funchal became a landmark, marking a historical and strategic turning point, with a clear vision of transforming this infrastructure into a gateway for tourists to Madeira.
Madeira's ports are currently recognized worldwide for welcoming cruise ships and megayachts from all over the globe. The Port of Funchal is one of the leading European ports and the busiest for tourists in the country. In addition to its geographical features, its long-standing tourism tradition, the availability of facilities and services to support visitors, and its safety are fundamental to the success of the cruise tourism market in Madeira.
The mild climate of Madeira and Porto Santo allows for all kinds of sports and leisure activities throughout the year.
The Port of Funchal has two passenger terminals, known as Gare Marítima da Madeira and Terminal 6 Pier, offering excellent facilities to comfortably, safely, and efficiently accommodate the thousands of passengers who visit Madeira each year. Its location and easy access to the center of the capital city, Funchal, allow passengers to experience a taste of what the island has to offer in a short amount of time. From the port, one can enjoy a unique view of Funchal Bay, thanks to its scenic amphitheater shape.
In the words of the ships themselves, Madeira's ports are characterized by excellent maritime safety conditions, even in deep waters with no submerged obstacles. With straightforward approach procedures, these ports are sheltered from prevailing winds, particularly in Funchal Bay.
Located about 75 kilometers from the island of Madeira, Porto Santo is the smallest inhabited island in the archipelago. Porto Santo boasts a nine-kilometer-long beach with a continuous stretch of soft, golden sand, giving it the popular and distinctive name "Golden Island." The hospitality and friendliness of its inhabitants, the year-round mild climate, the unique landscapes, and the wealth and variety of natural, historical, and cultural resources are just some of the reasons to discover this paradise.
The Port of Porto Santo is located southeast of Vila Baleira, the island's main town. Due to its proximity to the beach, cruise ship passengers can often take a dip in Porto Santo's warm, clear waters.
The port boasts a superb anchorage that, under excellent weather and oceanographic conditions, extends beyond the area of Funchal Bay itself. It's a port with excellent conditions not only for cruise ship visits but also for specific technical stops.
The Madeira archipelago also consists of uninhabited islands known as the Savage Islands and the Desertas Islands.
One of Madeira's greatest tourist attractions is its stunning landscape. Its lush and diverse vegetation, a blend of tropical and Mediterranean characteristics, creates an exceptionally rich mosaic of color. This natural beauty is just one of the many reasons to visit Madeira. On the
island, you'll find a UNESCO-protected forest, as well as mountain peaks and hundreds of kilometers of waterways and irrigation channels that have uniquely shaped the landscape.
The mild climate of Madeira and Porto Santo allows for all kinds of sports and leisure activities, including nautical, land-based, and air-based events, throughout the year. For sea lovers, there are ideal and excellent conditions for snorkeling, diving, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, paragliding, and deep-sea fishing. Visitors can also explore the interior, venturing into the mountains for canyoning or rock climbing for the more adventurous.
In Madeira, you can alternate between regional flavors and top Michelin-starred restaurants with contemporary menus. Traditional dishes include 'Bolo do Caco,' a typical local homemade bread, black-pod fish fillet, fresh tuna, and limpets. 'Carne de vinha-d'alhos' (pork marinated with garlic) and the famous 'Espetadas' (meat grilled on a bay leaf skewer) are two of the region's signature dishes. Many side dishes include plantain and passion fruit, two of the island's most common fruits, as well as fried corn, another regional specialty. For those with a sweet tooth, there are traditional honey cakes and queijadas (cheese tarts), and you must try authentic Madeira wine or a poncha, a local drink steeped in history and flavor.
The Ports of Madeira were the first in Portugal to reopen to cruise ships and to design a “Covid-19 Port Management Plan”.
The Madeira Archipelago is rich in cultural traditions stemming from the habits and customs of its ancient inhabitants. Many traditions are linked to religion, such as Christmas with the popular Missas do Parto (Mass of Childbirth). Many other traditions are also connected to crafts, music, and even the island's economy. Visitors to Madeira shouldn't miss the bailinho, a folk dance in which the performers wear traditional local dress. Local culture also includes some fundamental elements of the island's economic history, such as linen and wheat processing, winemaking, and, of course, the famous Madeira embroidery. The Flower Festival, the Wine Festival, the Atlantic Fireworks Festival, the Nature Festival, and the New Year's Festival—the latter known as one of the world's largest fireworks displays—are some of the main events and festivities celebrated in Madeira.
Madeira's ports have been progressively increasing their cruise ship calls since the summer of 2021, anticipating a year-end total of 129 calls and 117,300 passengers. The official opening took place on October 16th, and on the 24th, the Seadream I arrived in the port of Funchal. Also in 2021, Mario Ferreira's Mystic Cruises chose Funchal as its home port for cruises between the Azores archipelago and Madeira. The port consolidated its efforts by receiving up to 10 new calls in 2021: the Mystic Cruises World Voyager, Norwegian Breakaway, Seaventure, Borealis, Vasco da Gama, Iona, Bolette, Seabourn Ovation, Aida Mar, and Viking Jupiter.
The route between the Canary Islands and the ports of Madeira operates regularly from October and continues successfully throughout the Atlantic high season. Both archipelagos, along with Cape Verde, are part of the "Cruises Atlantic Islands" marketing initiative to promote Atlantic routes.
The forecast for 2022 is for more than 300 port calls with more than 400,000 cruise passengers.
