A group composed by journalists, photographers and cruise industry experts have had the opportunity to discover the beauty of Madeira islands during the 3-day Fam Trip organised by APRAM.
The President and the Commercial Director of Portos da Madeira have been showing the group not only all the musts but all the hidden gems that the both islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, offer to their visitors.
The excursions and visits were a mix of culture, adventure, local cuisine and traditions as well as visiting natural reserves and heritage. These excursions have been organised taking into account the cruise passengers needs in terms of timing and duration.
In this line, this group of journalists and cruise experts had the chance to feel what is being a cruise passenger calling in the Port of Funchal and the Port of Porto Santo and being welcomed by the charm that Madeira islands and local people brings to the visitors.
This Fam Trip was organised as a part of a bigger project that Portos da Madeira is developing, focused on promoting the islands as a cruise destination. First, the Port of Funchal offers the perfect conditions for both homeporting operations and transit calls, being very well connected to the airport and offering a huge variety of hotels. On the other hand, Porto Santo is one of the few ports considered as a hidden gem, offering not only berthing calls but an amazing anchorage area, where the most exigent cruise lines that appreciate luxury and seek for adventure will love to call.
“Cruise industry is a key traffic in our ports, that is why we will keep promoting our islands as a cruise destination and develop initiatives for the sustainable growth of this industry in Madeira and Porto Santo”, appointed the President of Portos da Madeira.
Other information
The Port of Funchal is situated in a magnificent bay framed by the clear blue of the sea, the city of Funchal and the green of the mountains of Madeira Island. Situated 15 minutes on foot from the city centre, the Port of Funchal is also the departure point for discovering the Island of Madeira.
Funchal is its capital city and in the 741sq km of the Island of Madeira you will have lots to discover. With two thirds of its territory considered protected forest area, Madeira is a green jewel in the Atlantic Ocean. Its Laurissilva forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beauty of its coastline is unquestionable. The clear blue of the sea in contrast to its precipitous coastline is appreciated by thousands of tourists every year. Come and live this experience too. The Port of Funchal and Madeira Island welcomes you.
Funchal’s new cruise terminal, Gare Maritima da Madeira, was inaugurated in May 2010 offering a berthing line of 170mtr and a 3,000sq mtr building and capable of handling turnaround facilities.
The headquarters of the Port Authority and all its support services are also located in the building, as well as a range of commercial businesses. Located along the waterfront with the city as a backdrop and offering a unique and wonderful panoramic view, the building has already become an icon and landmark of Funchal and the Madeira islands.
A stable climate, a really inviting sea temperature, nine kilometres of golden sands, an almost untamed charm and a spectacular sunset make the island of Porto Santo an unrivalled stopover on your travels. Enjoy the tranquillity which the Port of Porto Santo offers you.
During last season, from October 2021 to May 2022, Portos da Madeira had a total of 294 calls among the Ports of Funchal and Porto Santo, 17 more calls or 6.14% increase compared to the last high season (2018-19). Therefore, these figures show the positive evolution of the sector that has even overcome the pre-pandemic period. For instance, Porto Santo reached a record of 26 calls during las season, while in before pandemic (2018-19) there were only eight.
