Departures from Funchal during cruise season

The MSC company has revamped the Armonia and offers the chance to go aboard the ship when it arrives in Funchal.

Funchal will be the first Portuguese city to welcome the new MSC Armonia, cruise ship of Italian company, the first in the “renaissance” renovation programme which covers all ships in the Lirica class. The first port of call is scheduled for November 26th.

That will be the departure date for ten 15days/14 nights’ cruises, departing and arriving in Funchal, which come as the only available options on the local market.

The cruise ships departing from Funchal, follow a route which passes by the Canary Islands and Morocco with port of call at Santa Cruz de La Palma, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife of Lanazarote and Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura. Departure dates are scheduled for November 26th, December 10th and 24th, January 7th and 21st, February 4th and 18th, March 4th and 18th and April 1st.

In addition to the 15 day cruises, other options include two different routes from Las Palmas on a 8days/7nights cruise to the Canary Islands and Morocco (www.msccruzeiros.pt).
As well as the renovation efforts, the “renaissance” programme will increase the ship size of Lirica vessels to 275 metres in length, 65.000 gross tons and carry up to 2.680 passengers with an extra 193 cabins.

The cruise season in Funchal starts in September and follows through to May. During the month of September a total of 9 ports of call are scheduled, in October 36, in November 50 and in December 53. Besides MSC, other companies which call off at Madeira include Aida, TUI Cruises, Thomson Holidays and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Other cruise liners such as Costa, Crystal or Cunard are less frequent.