Madeira is on course to record its strongest year yet for cruise activity in 2026, with the region expected to receive 349 cruise ship calls and close to 820,000 passengers. If confirmed, both figures would represent new annual records for the region and extend a 5-year period of consecutive growth in cruise traffic.
The forecast has been issued by the Madeira Regional Ports Administration (APRAM, SA), based on current projections and berth bookings through the end of the year. The expected 349 calls would exceed the previous record of 331 recorded in 2025, while passenger numbers would rise from ~746,000 last year to close to 820,000 in 2026.
APRAM chairwoman Paula Cabaço said the latest forecasts and scheduled berth bookings indicated that the region was likely to finish the year with close to 820,000 cruise passengers and 349 ship calls. She also noted that 2025 had already established the previous record for cruise activity in Madeira.
If achieved, the 2026 figures would represent an increase of almost 10% in passenger numbers and approximately 5.4% in cruise calls compared with 2025. The figures remain provisional, however, and could change before the end of the year as a result of weather conditions or adjustments to cruise itineraries.
October is expected to make a significant contribution to the annual total. A total of 33 cruise calls are currently scheduled for the month, with 75,000+ passengers expected to visit Madeira.
The projected results would further strengthen Madeira’s position within Atlantic cruise itineraries and mark another year of growth for the region’s cruise port operations.