Santa Maria Manuela

The 1937-built MS Santa Maria Manuela is a tall ship (4-masted gaff schooner/sailing yacht) with a sail area of 1244 m2/13390 ft2. For 3 years (2007-2010), the ship was fully reconstructed to its original plans from 1937. The last refurbishments (in 2021 and 2022) resulted in renovated interiors and new teak decking.

The vessel (IMO number 5312628) is currently Portugal-flagged (MMSI 255806006) and registered in Funchal Madeira.

The yacht (aka SMM) has a volume of 607 GT-tons, deadweight 142 tons, draught 6 m/20 ft, and height 37 m/121 ft. The steel hull allows safe navigation through ice-filled seas. This vessel is often chartered for cruise tourism, sail training, company team development programs (corporate meetings, incentives, conferences), private VIP events (celebrations, reunions, anniversaries, weddings), film sets, and various environmental programs.

Santa Maria Manuela has been the setting for celebrated documentaries, most famously "The White Ship" (by the National Film Board of Canada, the CBC’s production on the Bacalhau/salt cod fishing industry), the film "Terra Nova" (2020, a historical drama based on Bernardo Santareno's novel "The Lugger", directed by Artur Ribeiro), and various Portuguese news productions.

The ship's support for the environment has led to a number of documentaries filmed with Nat Geo and the Oceano Azul Foundation.

Santa Maria Manuela offers a versatile platform for scientific expeditions. These have included the 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Ocean Azul Expeditions in partnership with National Geographic, the Waitt and Ocean Azul Foundations, and coastal cleanup initiatives.

Shipboard facilities, amenities and services

This traditional Portuguese sailship offers a range of facilities and activities. If the weather and the itinerary allow, the watersports equipment is available to passengers. It consists of 2x kayaks, 2x canoes (stand-up paddleboards), 2x Zodiacs (14-seat motorboats fitted with 60 HP engines), 2x inflatable swimming decks and fishing equipment.

Evenings can be spent in good company, sharing tales of the day’s adventures around the bar or relaxing with a good book, playing popular board games or watching films in the Cinema/Salon Terra Nova.

Salon Terra Nova (Dining Room & Bar Lounge) is a self-service buffet restaurant served by its own Bar. The 40-seat Salon Terra Nova is furnished with plush bench sofas and has a large HDTV, a well-stocked Library, and a selection of board games.

Salon Terra Nova's skilled barman is always ready to impress guests with his cocktail creations, making it a great place to unwind after a day at sea. The venue is the heart and soul of every voyage, where shipmates congregate to share the day's adventures and to relax in good company. The integrated sound system is controlled from here.

The open deck (fully renovated in 2022) is one of the largest on the tall ships and is served by its own Bar. Drinks, receptions, dinners, business meetings, company presentations and teambuilding events are all easily and elegantly accommodated aboard. The modern Galley/kitchen is staffed by a professional Master Chef. The sundeck's canopy awning creates an intimate atmosphere while protecting from the sun and rain.

Weather permitting, a deck BBQ night is hosted once a week.

The ship serves a range of traditional Portuguese and popular international dishes. For specific catering needs or bigger events, the Galley/kitchen can be used by external caterers, with support provided by the ship's hospitality and catering team.

The list of items recommended for packing includes a small backpack/bag (for land tours), walking shoes/waterproof boots (for shore excursions) and light shoes or trainers (for shipboard/deck usage, with good grip), wash towels, flip-flops (for showering), swimsuits, casual clothes (lightweight and quick-drying), windproof and waterproof clothes (coats and trousers), fingerless gloves (for hoisting the sails), a warm hat/cap, sunglasses, binoculars, refillable water bottle, personal first aid kit and wash kit, charging cables (for digital devices).

Decks and Cabins

All Santa Maria Manuela cabins have private bathrooms (WC/wall-hung toilet, mirrored single sink vanity, glass shower cubicle, toiletries). The staterooms are carpeted, air-conditioned, and soundproofed. Cabin amenities include bedside reading light, USB charging ports, European 2-pin power plugs, privacy curtains, towels and bed linens, daily cleaning services.

There are two Master Cabins - one is double occupancy (double bed and sofa), and the other is quad occupancy/Family Cabin (double bed and two single bunks).

The 4x Atlantic Cabins (Deck 1) have double beds and Portholes.

The 6x Acores Cabins have two bunk beds.

The ship's group cabins (Deck 2) include 3x Madeira Cabins (for 4 passengers each, accommodated in bunks) and 1x Dory Cabin (for 6 passengers, with bunk beds). These are the largest cabins and feature faux portholes, foot lighting and curtains in each bunk.

The Atlantic Suite has 2x Portholes (round-shaped non-opening windows).

The boat has 3 decks, of which 2 have cabins.

There are a total of 29 staterooms, including 18 passenger and 11 crew cabins.

Itineraries (homeports, call ports, seasonal deployments)

Santa Maria Manuela's annual itinerary program includes adventure and culture-themed voyages around the Portuguese archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, along Europe’s Atlantic coast, as well as seasonal deployments in Spain's Canary Islands and Norway's fjords.

The sailing yacht is also available for private charters, MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions at sea), corporate and teambuilding programs, and scientific and marine conservation expeditions.

The ship's principal homeports (arrival-departure ports) are in the Azores - Ponta Delgada (on Sao Miguel Island) and Angra do Heroísmo (on Terceira Island). Most itineraries range between 6 and 9 days.