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Funchal

Funchal cruise ship
Rating:

Cruise line
Signature Living (Small Cruise Lines)

PositionDeck plansNewsAccidents

Funchal last position

The last location of Funchal is in North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 38.75024 N / -9.09297 W) cruising The AIS position was last reported 5 years ago.

Current Position

Specifications of Funchal

Year of build1961  /  Age: 64
Flag state Madeira
BuilderHelsingor Skibsvaerft og Maskinbygger (Helsingor, Denmark)
Classcruise ship hotel
Ferry route / homeportsLiverpool
Speed16 kn / 30 km/h / 18 mph
Length (LOA)153 m / 502 ft
Beam (width)19 m / 62 ft
Gross Tonnage9563 gt
Passengers480 - 524
Crew155
Passengers-to-space ratio20
Beds632
Decks7
Cabins240
Decks with cabins6
Last Refurbishment2019
OwnerSignature Living Hotels (Liverpool)

Funchal Review

Review of Funchal

The 1961-built MV Funchal cruise ship was designed by Portuguese naval engineer Rogerio d'Oliveira and until 2021 was operated by Portuscale Cruises. Previously, she was owned by one of the wealthiest families in the Azores.

The vessel (IMO number 5124162) is currently Portugal/Madeira-flagged (MMSI 255971000) and registered in Funchal.

History - construction and ownership

In 2013, Rui Alegre (Portuguese entrepreneur) bought the ship from Classic International Cruises, along with three other vessels - Princess Danae (Lisboa), Athena (Azores/Astoria), and Arion (Porto). With these liners, he established the Lisbon-based Portuscale Cruises.

Following the acquisition, MS Funchal was extensively drydock-refurbished in Lisbon (at Naval Rocha Shipyards) and upgraded to a 4-star passenger vessel at the cost of nearly EUR 10 million. Her hull was repainted black, restoring the ship’s original color.

MS Funchal cruise ship

MS Funchal is a classic-design ocean liner and, sadly, one of the last surviving Portuguese passenger ships. Operated by Portuscale Cruises since early 2013, she was originally built in 1961 under the guidance of Rogerio d'Oliveira. Her amenities include air-conditioning, stabilizers, three lifts, a piano bar, main show lounge, Lido bar, club room, library, card room, and shops. She also served as a presidential yacht for one of the wealthiest Azorean families.

MS Funchal cruise ship

In August 2013, MV Funchal left drydock and arrived on August 27 in Gothenburg (Sweden) to start her new career. However, on August 28 she was held in port due to security concerns (officially denied by Portuscale Cruises). The issues were resolved on September 2, 2013, and after receiving certifications, the ship departed for Scotland.

On December 5, 2018, via bank auction, the vessel was sold for EUR 3.91 million (USD 4.45 million). This ensured she would not be scrapped. Reports confirmed her acquisition by the Liverpool-based hotel operator Signature Living, which planned to convert her into a hotel ship in Central London. At the auction, Signature Living was represented by QPS Marine Ships (Florida-based cruise vessel finance firm), which had negotiated with the bankruptcy administrator for nearly two years. QPS also acted as consultant for Funchal’s repositioning and management during her conversion project.

Between 2015 and 2018, both Portuscale Cruises ships (Funchal and Porto) were laid up in Lisbon. The company’s only active vessel, Azores, was chartered to CMV-Cruise and Maritime Voyages and renamed Astoria.

In 2019, Funchal underwent a GBP 4 million refit. New features included a concierge team (dedicated to onboard events) and enhanced entertainment programs, such as El Teatro’s fiesta, Champagne Charlies Brunch at Sea, world-class DJs, theatrical performances, Alma De Cuba carnival-style shows, and percussion acts.

You can read the ship’s detailed history in its Wiki section.

Decks and Cabins

MS Funchal accommodates 524 passengers in updated Suites, Mini-Suites, Staterooms, and Cabins. All accommodations are elegantly fitted and feature modern amenities.

Following her 2019 refit, the ship’s maximum capacity increased to 632 berths. Room options include oceanview, double, and single cabins, as well as one Presidential Suite (for up to 4 passengers). The largest combination cabins can host 16 guests and feature a private sundeck with outdoor Jacuzzi and butler-served breakfast.

The vessel has 7 decks, 6 of which are passenger-accessible and with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and activities

MV Funchal offers her guests two elegant dining rooms located on Azores Deck. The Coimbra, an intimate restaurant, is located on the starboard side aft of the Main Lobby. The spacious Lisboa Restaurant spans the width of the ship and is accessible from the aft lobby or the midship stairwell and lifts.

MS Funchal cruise ship

MS Funchal’s design combines the grace of a classic ocean liner with stylish interiors, creating a yacht-like atmosphere. Her crew, mostly Portuguese, are highly experienced, with many serving on board for more than 20 years. She also enjoys strong loyalty among passengers, many of whom return regularly.

MS Funchal cruise ship

Onboard features include stabilizers, three lifts, air-conditioning, the Ilha Verde Show Lounge, Porto Bar (piano bar), Lido Bar, Excursion Office, Medical Centre, Reception with exchange facilities, Club Room, Casino, Card Room, Library, Teen Room, Internet Café, Gym, Wellness & Beauty Center, Sauna/Hammam, Photographer & Photo Shop, Shopping Arcade, Laundry, and Internet service.

Activities for younger guests include treasure hunts, painting, collage, and Teen Room gatherings designed for both teenagers and adults. After dinner at Coimbra or Lisboa, passengers can enjoy live piano music at Porto Bar or a vibrant performance at Havana Bar featuring international musicians, singers, and dancers.

Wine tastings, workshops, and contests allow passengers to deepen their knowledge. The onboard cellar offers an excellent selection of wines from renowned vineyards and winemakers.

Itineraries

MV Funchal was a classic ocean liner cruising worldwide. Her itineraries included South America, the Arctic Circle, Norwegian Fjords, Atlantic Islands, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, Australia-New Zealand, and the Far East.

In December 2018, new owner Signature Living announced an ambitious project to convert the ship into a luxury party hotel. She would be homeported in Liverpool, operating roundtrip voyages to Mediterranean destinations including Ibiza Town, Palma (Mallorca Island), Malaga, and Puerto Banus (Marbella). The maiden voyage was scheduled for Spring 2020, with onboard experiences including gourmet dining, premium bar service (in partnership with Alma De Cuba), 5-star hotel accommodations, live entertainment, and beach-style deck parties with BBQs and DJs.

Photos of Funchal

Funchal ship related cruise news

Funchal Wiki

MS Funchal was designed in Portugal, and although it was initially hoped she would be built there, the shipbuilding contract was eventually awarded to Elsinore Shipyards (Helsingor, Denmark). The Danish yard offered to construct the vessel for about GBP 2 million—an excellent price at the time and far more competitive than what Portuguese shipyards could provide.

The vessel’s keel was laid in July 1960 under the supervision of Portuguese naval engineer Rogerio d'Oliveira. She was launched on February 10, 1961. Her original powerplant consisted of two Parsons steam turbines driving double reduction gear and twin screws.

During sea trials on October 10, 1961, Funchal reached a top speed of 23 knots (43 kph / 27 mph), with a designed service speed of 20 knots (37 kph / 23 mph). However, the boilers later proved problematic, and the ship was eventually re-engined with diesel engines. Notably, she was the largest vessel ever constructed in Helsingor and the largest passenger ship built in Denmark since World War II (1939–1945).

Like most passenger liners of her time, the ship carried cargo in three holds (one aft, two forward). Cargoes included cars, fruit, general goods, and mail. She had four refrigerated compartments. Due to her long design (153 m), the ship always appeared larger than her actual size. She was initially designed to carry 400 passengers across three classes: 80 in First Class, 156 in Tourist A, and 164 in Tourist B. First Class and Tourist A areas were located on Promenade Deck, while the Tourist B lounge was aft on B-Deck. A highlight of the interior was a spiral staircase of polished metal and glass, supported by a four-deck-high polished timber column.

The elegantly designed liner was delivered on October 19, 1961, in Lisbon. She departed on her maiden voyage to St Michael’s Island (aka Fort Island / Isle of Man) and Madeira on November 4, 1961. SS Funchal continued operating the Madeira service until 1966, later extending cruises to the Canary Islands (through 1969) with roundtrip departures from Southampton to Tenerife in October-November.

On various occasions, the ship was chartered as Portugal’s Presidential Yacht. In February 1968, the President of Portugal cruised to the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, Guinea, and Brazil on SS Funchal. In 1972, he traveled to Rio de Janeiro for Brazil’s 150th-anniversary celebrations. During this voyage, the vessel experienced boiler problems. Some repairs were carried out at sea during the Transatlantic crossing, with further work completed in Rio. After several Lisbon roundtrips, the ship was drydocked in Amsterdam, where her steam turbines were replaced with two 9-cylinder Werkspoor diesel engines (total output 7.46 MW). During the eight-month refit, a new top-deck section was added (forward of the funnel), and her aft decks were extended. Sea trials in May 1973 showed a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 kph) and a service speed of 16 knots (30 kph). She re-entered service in June, operating cruises from Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Dover (England) to Tenerife, Madeira, and the Cape Verde Islands.

In December 1973, Funchal was repositioned to Rio de Janeiro for South American coastal cruises. In 1976, Greek shipping magnate George Potamianos (from the family behind Epirotiki Line) chartered her for private cruises. In 1985, he purchased the vessel for Arcalia Shipping Company Ltd, founding Classic International Cruises (1985–2012) through “Great Warwick Inc,” a joint venture between the Potamianos family (Lisbon-based) and Fritidskryss (Sweden). Funchal was acquired from her original owner, Cia Portuguesa de Transportes Maritimos (CPTM), which was liquidated in 1985.

The ship was re-flagged from Madeira to Panama and crewed by Portuguese and Swedish officers and staff. For Classic International Cruises, she spent summers homeported in Harwich and winters cruising South America from Brazilian ports.

A 1989–1990 drydock added two fully enclosed tender boats. In 1993, Azores Deck (aft) was extended into a Lido Deck with a large sunbathing area, and Boat Deck (aft) was lengthened. In 1997, the ship was refitted to comply with IMO’s SOLAS regulations, requiring all timbers to be replaced with fire-retardant materials. The spiral staircase was partially enclosed, and four lifeboats were removed midship and replaced with new tenders. The vessel was re-flagged once again to Madeira.

In 2004, Funchal was repositioned from Europe to Australia (Harwich to Fremantle-Perth). During her 2010 drydock, she underwent extensive refurbishment and gained new cabins. Several Promenade Deck staterooms were removed to create space for the Club Lounge. In 2011, she returned to Lisbon for a major refit and internal rebuilding intended to extend her service life by at least 20 years. However, by April 2012, all work had stopped (with less than 10% completed) following the death of George Petros Potamianos. Classic International Cruises was liquidated in December 2012.

In early 2013, Portuguese hotel and resort entrepreneur Rui Alegre purchased MV Funchal along with three other ships, although only Funchal retained her name. His new company, Portuscale Cruises, invested USD 13 million in rebuilding the ship in Lisbon to meet updated SOLAS standards.

In late October 2019, the vessel was towed to Liverpool. According to Signature Living’s plans, the liner will not return to cruise service but will instead be permanently berthed in the UK, serving as a “party hotel ship.”