The Portuguese classic cruise ship FUNCHAL concluded in Lisbon on 31st October 2014 her first season under PORTUSCALE CRUISES operation On her first year following renovation FUNCHAL made more than 20 cruises having transported 6800 passengers gearing an income of 8 million Euros, with a crew of 200. FUNCHAL sailed 200 days and cruised the Artic, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, the British Isles and North Europe, the Atlantic Isles, North Africa and the Mediterranean. Several cruises were operated under charter, including the final two (Cruise & Maritime Voyages) while others were Portuscale Cruises direct operation. FUNCHAL received very high scores from passengers, 90% satisfaction with as much as 96% wishing to return for further cruises. FUNCHAL is now in Lisbon for technical maintenance and her next cruise sails from Lisbon on 28 December 2014, the New Year's cruise calling at Porto Santo, Funchal and Portimão.
The FUNCHAL was designed in 1958 and ordered in 1959 from the Elsinore Shipyard in Denmark, where she was constructed 1960-1961 for Empresa Insulana de Navegação passenger and mail liner service from Lisbon to Madeia, the Canary Islands and the Azores. Purpose designed as a dual liner and cruise ship, FUNCHAL was converted for full time cruising in 1972-1973 and has enjoyed a long and successful career as a classic small ship for today's standards.
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia