Funchal's port is on track for a landmark year. Madeira's port authority, APRAM, expects 349 cruise ship calls in 2026 and close to 820,000 cruise passengers — both all-time records for the Portuguese island, and the first time passenger numbers would break the 800,000 mark in a single year.
The numbers, announced by APRAM chairwoman Paula Cabaco, represent growth of nearly 10 percent in passengers and 5.4 percent in ship calls over 2025, which was itself the best year on record with 746,000 passengers and 331 calls. That makes five straight years of growth for cruise traffic in Madeira, a remarkable run for an island of roughly a quarter of a million people.
October is shaping up as a standout month, with 33 calls booked and more than 75,000 passengers expected — one of the strongest Octobers in recent years, according to the port authority. Cabaco credits shipping agents, shore excursion operators and other local partners for the quality of the visitor experience behind the repeat bookings.
The figures are still provisional. Weather and last-minute itinerary changes can shift things before the year closes, so the final tally may wobble a little either way.
Why should this matter to anyone who isn't steering a cruise ship? More calls mean more competition among cruise lines to sell Funchal itineraries, which tends to keep prices reasonable and choice broad — whether you want a winter-sun Atlantic crossing stop or a summer Mediterranean-adjacent route. It also signals that Madeira is investing in handling big visitor volumes, from tenders to tours.
For travellers, Madeira rewards more than a few hours ashore. Funchal's old town, the famous toboggan rides down from Monte, levada walking trails and the island's dramatic north coast are all within reach of the port, and shoulder-season sailing season (spring and autumn) coincides with some of the island's best hiking weather. If you'd rather stay put, flights into Cristiano Ronaldo Airport from across Europe make it easy to do Madeira on your own terms — with the occasional mega-ship in the harbour as a reminder of just how popular this Atlantic outpost has become.
