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Gare Maritima da Madeira (Pontinha cruise terminal)
APRAM's passenger terminal at the land end of the Molhe da Pontinha breakwater, serving cruise ships berthed along the pier; berth assignments vary by ship and day.
Funchal, Madeira
Today, Wednesday 11 November 2026, 2 cruise ships with about 7,400 passengers are scheduled in Funchal. Over the next 12 months, 324 calls bring about 823,000 passengers; the busiest day is Thursday 31 December, with 8 ships.
Ship schedule
Next 10 calls · all times local (Western European Time)
November 2026
Showing 10 of the next 50 calls
Cruise Ships in Funchal
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Western European Time)
Today · Wed 11 NovPeak
9,763 people in port
2 ships
83% busier than a typical day in Funchal. Busiest midnight – 6 pm, when all 2 ships are alongside.
Next 7 days
Quietest: Thu 12 Nov · busiest: Wed 11 Nov- Wed11 Nov9.8kPeak2 ships
- Thu12 Nov1.0kQuiet2 ships
- Fri13 Nov1.3kQuiet1 ship
- Sat14 Nov3.3kLight1 ship
- Sun15 Nov5.1kTypical2 ships
- Mon16 Nov9.0kPeak3 ships
- Tue17 Nov–No ships0 ships
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Funchal day.
Planning a day in Funchal?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Getting to the Funchal cruise port
Funchal city centre and Teleferico do Funchal (Monte cable car) → Gare Maritima da Madeira (Pontinha cruise terminal)
2 km · 6–7 min by car
Most passengers walk the flat seafront promenade past the marina into the centre. Taxis queue outside the terminal for those who prefer to ride.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Walk along Avenida do Mar
Freeper person
30–35 min
About 2.4 km from the terminal building; longer from outer berths.
Taxi
EUR 7.50per vehicle
6–7 min
Approximate reported flat fare to the centre; official taxis are metered.
Cruise-line shuttle
Variesper person
Varies
Offered by some cruise lines; price varies by sailing, check your ship's daily programme.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
Madeira taxis run on the IMT Madeira meter: EUR 4.00 flag fall on weekdays 06:00–21:00 and EUR 4.80 at night, weekends and holidays, plus EUR 1.50 per suitcase. The Pontinha pier road is the only access to the terminal, so allow extra time when several ships are in port.
Funchal Cruise Terminals
1 terminal
Parking at the Funchal cruise port
There is no dedicated cruise car park on the Pontinha pier. The nearest public garage is Praça CR7 (Avenida Sá Carneiro 3, run by Lidosol), 450 spaces, a 10-minute walk from the port, height limit 2.10 m; it opens 07:00–02:00 Sunday to Thursday and 24 hours on Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves, so it doesn't suit multi-day cruise parking.
Parking facilities
Praça CR7 has reduced-mobility spaces and a lift.
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Funchal city centre (Se)
EUR 90–145 / night
Walking to the pier and old town
Port ~5 minAirport ~25 min
Central hotels near the cathedral, marina and Zona Velha.
- Se Boutique Hotel
- Hotel Windsor
- Castanheiro Boutique Hotel
Lido / Hotel Zone
EUR 85–200 / night
Pools and sea-view resorts
Port ~5 minAirport ~25 min
Resort hotels along the Estrada Monumental west of the centre.
- Pestana Promenade
- Vila Baleira Funchal
- Hotel Alto Lido
Port times are measured by car to the Pontinha terminal.
Eating in Funchal
- Coffee per item
- EUR 1.20
- Soft drink per item
- EUR 2.50
- Bottled water per item
- EUR 1.20–1.50
- Casual lunch per person
- EUR 10–50
- Restaurant dinner per person
- EUR 10–50
Prices are approximate. From official menus: Pestana CR7 Funchal bar espresso EUR 1.20, soft drinks EUR 2.50, water 0.25 l EUR 1.50; Café Fortaleza mineral water 0.33 l EUR 1.20, 0.5 l EUR 1.50.
Where to eat
Zona Velha (Rua de Santa Maria)
Old-town restaurants with painted doors, near the pier.
Mercado dos Lavradores area
Cafés and casual places by the market.
Zona Velha – Rua de Santa Maria
Old Town street of painted doors lined with seafood and traditional Madeiran restaurants, about 35–40 minutes' walk from the pier.
Mercado dos Lavradores
Covered market for tropical fruit and local produce on the edge of the Old Town, good for a quick taste of Madeira.
Avenida do Mar and the Marina
Seafront cafes and restaurants on the walking route between the pier and the centre.
Destination
About Funchal
Funchal is the capital of Madeira, Portugal's subtropical Atlantic island, and climbs in a steep amphitheatre of red roofs and gardens above a wide bay.
The compact centre mixes the Se cathedral, cobbled streets and the Mercado dos Lavradores, while the Zona Velha (Old Town) is known for its painted doors and seafood restaurants. A cable car climbs to Monte, where wicker toboggans slide back down, and the glass skywalk at Cabo Girao sits on one of Europe's highest sea cliffs.
Funchal is one of the Atlantic's busiest cruise calls, with a record 331 calls in 2025, and a growing number of cruises start or end here.
- Time zone
- Western European Time
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
Things to Do in Funchal
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Monte cable car and toboggan ride
Ride the Teleferico from the seafront up to Monte (EUR 16 one way, EUR 22 return in 2026), visit Monte church and gardens, then slide back down in a wicker toboggan steered by carreiros (from EUR 30 per sledge).
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Old Town (Zona Velha) and Rua de Santa Maria
Wander Funchal's oldest quarter, where the doors of Rua de Santa Maria are painted by local artists and small restaurants spill into the lanes, an easy walk along the seafront from the ship.
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Cabo Girao skywalk
Stand on the glass platform at about 580 m on Europe's highest cape, looking down on terraced fields and the sea; about 20 minutes' drive from the pier, entry EUR 5 for visitors over 12.
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Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's Art Deco farmers' market, full of exotic fruit, flowers and fish stalls, sits between the centre and the Old Town and fits easily into a walking route.