Madeira has once again been nominated for the World Cruise Awards, marking the fifth consecutive year that the destination has been recognised by the prestigious international awards programme. After winning Europe’s Best Cruise Destination in 2022, 2023 and 2025, and being named World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability in 2024, Madeira is once again among the finalists in both categories.
Voting is free and open to the public and takes place online through the World Cruise Awards website until 21 August.
In the category of Europe’s Best Cruise Destination, Madeira is competing alongside Athens (Greece), Barcelona (Spain), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Kotor (Montenegro), Lisbon (Portugal), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Nice (France), Oslo (Norway), Rome (Italy) and Southampton (England).
For the title of World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability, the Port of Funchal is shortlisted alongside the cruise terminals of Steinwerder (Germany), Flåm (Norway), Kai Tak (Hong Kong), Montreal (Canada), Copenhagen (Denmark), Kiel (Germany), Valletta (Malta) and Victoria (Canada).
“These nominations are an important international recognition of the work that has been carried out in Madeira to develop an increasingly sustainable, high-quality and competitive cruise tourism sector,” said José Manuel Rodrigues, Regional Secretary for Economy, who oversees the Madeira Ports Administration (APRAM, S.A.). “They are a source of pride for the Region and demonstrate that our commitment to excellence and to enhancing Madeira as a cruise destination is delivering results,” he added, noting that this double nomination further strengthens Madeira’s reputation as one of the world’s leading cruise destinations.
For Paula Cabaço, President of APRAM, the nominations “reflect the commitment and dedication” of the company’s employees, as well as all the professionals who make up Madeira’s cruise tourism value chain.
“They are the people who, every day, help position Madeira Ports as an international benchmark. Being shortlisted for these awards also highlights APRAM’s commitment to environmental sustainability and to continuously enhancing the experience offered to both passengers and crew.
“More than an institutional recognition, these nominations are an honour for Madeira and for the Madeiran people, whose hospitality makes every cruise call a truly memorable experience.”
The World Cruise Awards were launched in 2021, with the winners of the 2026 edition to be announced on 14 October during the annual World Cruise Awards Gala, which this year will take place in Jamaica.
The awards are regarded as the sister programme of the World Travel Awards, established in 1993 and widely recognised as the “Oscars of Tourism”. Madeira has already won the title of Europe’s Leading Island Destination on twelve occasions.
Cruise tourism generated a direct economic impact of €62.9 million for Madeira’s economy in 2025, the best year ever recorded for the sector in the Region. More than one million people (1,024,442) arrived in Madeira on board cruise ships, including a record 746,257 passengers and 271,974 crew members. Cruise calls also increased by 4.74%, reaching 331 calls during the year.
