Madeira Receives Double Nomination for 2026 World Cruise Awards

Madeira Receives Double Nomination for 2026 World Cruise Awards

Madeira Ports has announced that it has received a double nomination for the World Cruise Awards, marking the fifth consecutive year that the international awards program has recognized the destination.

“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 Jose Manuel Rodrigues, regional secretary for economy, who oversees the Madeira Ports Administration (APRAM, S.A.).

He added that the double nomination further strengthens Madeira’s reputation as one of the world’s leading cruise destinations.

For Paula Cabaco, 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.

“Being shortlisted for these awards also highlights APRAM’s commitment to environmental sustainability and to continuously enhance the experience offered to both passengers and crew,” added Cabaco.

“More than an institutional recognition, these nominations are an honor for Madeira and for the Madeiran people, whose hospitality makes every cruise call a truly memorable experience.”

The nominations follow the destination 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 among the finalists in both categories, the ports said in a press release.

In the category of “Europe’s Best Cruise Destination,” Madeira is competing alongside Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Nice, Oslo, Rome and Southampton.

For the title of “World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability,” the Port of Funchal is shortlisted alongside the cruise terminals of Steinwerder, Flam, Kai Tak, Montreal, Copenhagen, Kiel, Valletta and Victoria.

Voting is free and open to the public and takes place online through the World Cruise Awards website until August 21.

The winners of the 2026 edition will be announced on October 14 during the annual gala, which this year will take place in Jamaica.

Madeira stated that it has already won the title of “Europe’s Leading Island Destination” on twelve occasions.

Cruise Ships Ready for New Years' Eve in Funchal

Cruise Ships Ready for New Years' Eve in Funchal

In what has become a key cruise industry tradition, seven ships are ready to ring in 2023 in Funchal as the vessels will sit in the harbour and nearby anchorages for a firework display at midnight.

By morning on Dec. 31, five ships were already in port getting ready for the festivities, including:

• Nicko Cruises: Vasco Da Gama
• AIDA: AIDAsella
• Fred. Olsen: Borealis
• TUI: Mein Schiff Herz
• Cunard: Queen Victoria

Image from Last Year's Fireworks.

AIDAnova Marks Successful Start to Canaries and Madeira Season

AIDANova in the port of Oslo, Photo Credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

AIDA Cruises announced a successful start to its Canaries and Madeira season with the AIDAnova along with positive feedback after an official dialogue series with local partners.

AIDA just completed the first official dialogue series aboard the AIDAnova, the company said in a press release.

The dialogue series took place from November 23 to November 28, 2022, attended by numerous official representatives from politics, the port industry and tourism.

The goal of the dialogue was to inform local partners of AIDA’s current goals as well as to engage in a joint venture.

“We are happy and grateful to know such reliable partners at our side and look forward to making an important contribution to tourism on these beautiful islands again this season,” said Captain Marc-Dominique Tidow.

The AIDAnova made calls at Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Madeira, which were very well received by the partners in the region.

During the winter season, the AIDAnova will set sail on seven-day cruises to the Canaries including the exploration of the volcanic landscapes of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, as well as the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira.

In April 2023, the AIDAnova will set course for the Norwegian fjords while the summer itineraries will include visits to Bergen, Nordfjordeid, Alesund and Stavanger.

 

TUI’s Winter Program Includes Two Ships in the Caribbean, Return to Asia

TUI’s Winter Program Includes Two Ships in the Caribbean, Return to Asia

Mein Shiff 3 entering the River Mersey Liverpool, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (flickr)

With its entire seven-ship fleet in service, TUI Cruises has a global footprint for the winter 2022-2023 cruise season.

While most of the fleet is set to offer traditional fly-cruises in the Caribbean and the Canaries, the brand will also offer itineraries in other parts of the world, such as Northern Europe and the Middle East.

Another highlight of the season is the return to Asia, with voyages visiting both the Far East and Southeast Asia onboard the Mein Schiff 5.

Cruise Industry News looked into the company’s entire program or the upcoming winter season. Here’s the breakdown:

Caribbean

Mein Schiff 1
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,900 guests
Built: 2018
Homeports: La Romana (Dominican Republic) and Montego Bay (Jamaica)
Length: 14 nights
Itineraries: Caribbean and Central America visiting Jamaica, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia
Sailing Season: October 28 to March 31

Mein Schiff 2
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,900 guests
Built: 2019
Homeports: La Romana (Dominican Republic) and Bridgetown (Barbados)
Length: 14 nights
Itineraries: Eastern and Southern Caribbean with visits to St. Maarten, Tortola, St. John’s, Martinique, St. Vincent and more
Sailing Season: November 4 to April 7

Canaries, Madeira and Azores

Mein Schiff 4
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,500 guests
Built: 2015
Homeport: Gran Canaria (Spain)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco visiting La Gomera, Tenerife, Arrecife, Funchal, Agadir and more
Sailing Season: October 30 to March 26

Mein Schiff Herz
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,850 guests
Built: 1997
Homeport: Tenerife (Spain)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Azores and Cape Verde, in addition to Canaries and Madeira
Sailing Season: November 10 to April 6

Northern Europe and Roundtrip Cruises from Germany

Mein Schiff 3
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,500 guests
Built: 2014
Homeport: Bremerhaven (Germany)
Length: Four to 35 nights
Itineraries: 26- to 35-night cruises to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the Azores and the Caribbean sailing roundtrip from Germany, in addition to four- to 14-night itineraries in Northern Europe
Sailing Season: November 1 to April 23

Southeast Asia and the Far East

Mein Schiff 5
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,500 guests
Built: 2016
Homeports: Singapore and Hong Kong
Length: 14 nights
Itineraries: Southeast Asia visiting Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in December, January and February, in addition to Far East cruises to China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea in March and April
Sailing Season: December 7 to April 26

Middle East

Mein Schiff 6
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,534 guests
Built: 2017
Homeport: Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman including overnight stays in Dubai and visits to Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Khasab and more
Sailing Season: October 29 to March 18

Seabourn Encore Resumes Service in Europe

Seabourn Encore Resumes Service in Europe

After a 23-month operational pause, the Seabourn Encore is welcoming the passengers back today.

As the third Seabourn vessel to resume revenue service, the luxury ship is launching a series of ten- and 11-night cruises to the Canaries and the Mediterranean.

Sailing roundtrip from Lisbon, Portugal, the first cruise features visits to five ports in the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries, such as La Palma, Tenerife and Arrecife.

The itinerary also includes a call at Funchal, Portugal’s Madeira Island.

Continuing its first post-pandemic season, the Encore is poised to offer additional sailings to the Atlantic Islands until early April. The vessel then repositions to the Mediterranean in time for a summer program in the region.

Designed to offer an ultra-luxury product, the 40,350-ton cruise ship originally entered service in 2016.

As an enlarged version of Seabourn’s previous series of newbuilds, the Seabourn Encore carries 604 guests and features expanded public areas.

According to the Seabourn, the vessel was projected drawing inspiration from the brand’s rich history and yachting heritage and offers modern design elements and innovations consistent with its reputation for understated elegance.

The all-suite ship has multiple dining venues, in addition to a showroom, a spa, several lounges and bars, a casino, and the popular Seabourn Square, the social hub onboard with a club-like ambience.

Seabourn first resumed guest operations in Europe with the Seabourn Ovation. In July 2021, the 2018-built vessel kicked off a series of cruises to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Seabourn Odyssey followed later that same month, sailing Eastern Caribbean cruises from Barbados.

Upon the completion of its summer program in Europe, the Ovation joined the Odyssey in the Caribbean, offering its first-ever departures from a U.S. port.

The remainder of the company’s fleet is set to resume service before the second half of 2022.

New ship Arvia will offer the line’s first multi-sensory escape room experience

The new experience, titled Mission Control, is set underwater onboard a fictional submarine Arvia II, with a series of live-action puzzles.
 
The "expedition" is led by fictional Dr Ryan and has multiple storylines, suitable for all ages, with a film-like plot and motion simulation.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said holidays are "all about new experiences", and the "immersive" escape room will create "unforgettable action-packed moments with family and friends".
 
"Mission Control will expand our onboard entertainment offering even further, giving guests an opportunity to create unique bonding experiences they will talk about for years to come," he added.
  
Arvia’s maiden voyage is a 14-night Canary Islands cruise, departing from and returning to Southampton on 9 December 2020. Ports of call are Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz and Lisbon and prices start from £1,449pp.

Cruise Ships Dock and Anchor in Funchal for New Year's Fireworks

Cruise ships are stacked in Funchal (Madeira) for the city's landmark midnight fireworks display to mark the start of a new decade.

At Anchor:

• CMV Columbus
• CMV Marco Polo
• Saga Sapphire
• Pullmantur Zenith
• TUI Mein Schiff 3
• Fred. Olsen Balmoral
• Marella Explorer
• Phoenix Reisen Amera

Docked:

• Cunard Queen Victoria
• Ocean Majesty
• AIDAstella
• P&O Aurora

Saga Pearl II Embarks on Final Cruise

The Saga Pearl II is now on her final voyage for Saga Cruises, a South African Farewell Adventure, as the ship left earlier this week from the UK following a fireworks sendoff.

The 54-night cruise will stop in St Helena and ports in Madeira, the Canary Islands and Spain before travelling further south and down Africa's west coast en route to Cape Town. Calls are booked into Gambia, Namibia and Mozambique, as well as other African countries.

The ship returns to Portsmouth on April 11.

Before departing the UK, guests were treated to a performance by a 72-piece Welsh male voice choir aboard, fireworks display and champagne. 

This summer, Saga welcomes the new 1,000-guest Spirit of Discovery, the British brand's first ever newbuild. 

Fred Olsen to fly passengers home after Black Watch fire

Fred Olsen to fly passengers home after Black Watch fire

by Phil Davies

Almost 700 Fred Olsen Cruise Lines passengers are to be flown home from Madeira today (Monday) by private charter flights following a fire on board the ship Black Watch.

Crew extinguished the fire in the auxiliary engine room on Friday morning and there were no injuries to passengers or crew.

But the fire damaged three of the ship’s seven auxiliary engines, which generate electrical power on board. Some electrical power was then restored to the ship.

Black Watch, which originally entered service in 1972, was on a 13-night ‘Portuguese Island & Cities’ cruise which left Dover on June 25 with 696 mainly British passengers and 365 crew on board.

The vessel had left Ponta Delgada in the Azores on Thursday with the line describing weather conditions as good with calm seas.

“There has been some cabling damage on board, which is affecting lighting and communications, but all other services are working as normal,” the line said.

“However, the cabling damage has prevented the other two main engines from running, and it is anticipated that the repairs will cause disruption to guests during the re-cabling.

“Therefore, we have made the decision - in the best interests of guests’ comfort and enjoyment - to fly them home from Funchal.”

Three charter flights will return passengers to Stansted and Gatwick. Affected passengers will be offered a full refund, 50% off a future cruise and the cost of out of pocket expenses.

Special arrangements have been made for passengers who are unable to fly for medical reasons, the company said.

Managing director Mike Rodwell flew out to join the ship in Funchal on Saturday with a support team of senior executives to address passengers and ask for any feedback.

He circulated a letter to cabins on board the ship yesterday afternoon and fully briefed passengers, advising them of the latest situation.

“Fred Olsen appreciates guests’ understanding and co-operation with these new arrangements. All guests will be compensated for loss of enjoyment and facilities.

Black Watch arrived at the Atlantic island capital of Funchal on Saturday afternoon.

“We hope that Black Watch will be able to undertake her next cruise – a nine-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ cruise from Tilbury on 8th July 2016 – as scheduled,” the company said.

“The safety of all guests and crew on board Black Watch is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ utmost priority.”

Pensioner rescued after trying to swim to cruise ship

A British pensioner was rescued from the Atlantic after trying to swim to a cruise ship after the vessel left port without her.

Susan Brown, 65, jumped into the water off Madeira after she changed her mind about leaving the Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ ship Marco Polo with her husband.

She was rescued about 500 metres from the shore by fishermen who heard her cries for help.
She had been in the icy water for four hours and was reported to be recovering from hypothermia in hospital in Funchal.

The pensioner and her husband Michael Brown reportedly had a row on Saturday and asked to leave the cruise early and fly back from Madeira to Bristol.

She appears to have changed her mind at the airport and tried to swim out to the ship which had already left the port.

The ship docked in Madeira on Saturday at 8am and was due to depart later the same evening. The couple asked to leave the ship before the end of the 32-night voyage from the West Indies.
Felix Marques, the Funchal port captain, told Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha: “She was 500 metres from the coast when fishermen heard her shouting. When they reached her she was clinging to her handbag.”

Mr Brown is thought to have returned to Madeira to be with his wife.

A local newspaper, the Jornal da Madeira, reported: “It appears a woman failed to return to the ship at 8pm and instead decided to go to the airport to catch a flight.

“When she reached the airport, she saw the ship passing and threw herself into the sea with the aim of getting back on the vessel.”

Propeller problems halt P&O cruise

Propeller problems halt P&O cruise

Technical problems force P&O cruise to return home three days early

A P&O cruise vessel is having to return to port in the UK early after a technical issue with a propeller slowed its progress on a holiday to Madeira, the Spanish Islands and Portugal.

The Oriana will return to Southampton Port three days early, and passengers will have the option to disembark when they arrive or remain until the planned arrival date.

They have also been offered a refund consisting of 40 per cent of the original ticket price in cash or 100 per cent in credit to use on a future occasion.

P&O Cruises' director Christopher Edgington was quick to apologise, saying: "Our decision to bring back the ship early has not been taken lightly and I am sorry that our customers' holiday plans have been impacted."

He added that although the repairs were required urgently, passenger lives were never in any danger and they were kept fully informed of the situation at all times

Final voyage for last truly 'British' cruise ship comes to an end

Final voyage for last truly 'British' cruise ship comes to an end

Saga Ruby marked a little piece of history with the completion of its final voyage this week, in what was the last sailing by a cruise ship to be built in Britain.

According to BBC News, no vessel has been constructed in this country in the 40 years since the Ruby sailed out of Swan Hunter's Tyneside shipyard in 1972.

Previously, it has sailed under Cunard's flag and the name MS Caronia, but last year it was announced that the vessel would finally be retired.

While it wasn't expected back in Southampton until after the weekend, poor weather over the Atlantic prevented it from crossing the Bay of Biscay on its return journey, meaning that it arrived home early.

Ruby's final cruise was a month-long Caribbean affair, which also visited Antigua, Portugal, Madeira and Spain en route to the islands.

All three of Saga's vessels witnessed delays this week as a result of stormy seas, as did Queen Mary 2, which is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary.