Santa Maria Manuela

The 1937-built MS Santa Maria Manuela is a tall ship (4-masted gaff schooner/sailing yacht) with a total sail area of 1244 m2/13390 ft2. Between 2007 and 2010, she was fully reconstructed according to her original 1937 plans. The most recent refurbishments (in 2021 and 2022) included renovated interiors and new teak decking.

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

The yacht (also known as SMM) has a volume of 607 GT, deadweight of 142 tons, draft of 6 m/20 ft, and an overall height of 37 m/121 ft. Her steel hull enables safe navigation in ice-infested waters. The vessel is frequently chartered for cruise tourism, sail training, corporate team-building programs (meetings, incentives, conferences), private VIP events (celebrations, reunions, anniversaries, weddings), film productions, and various environmental initiatives.

Santa Maria Manuela has served as the setting for several acclaimed documentaries, most notably "The White Ship" (by the National Film Board of Canada, a CBC 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), as well as various Portuguese news productions.

Her environmental initiatives have also led to multiple documentaries produced in collaboration with Nat Geo and the Oceano Azul Foundation.

Santa Maria Manuela provides 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 Oceano Azul Foundations, as well as coastal cleanup initiatives.

Shipboard facilities, amenities and services

This traditional Portuguese sailing ship offers a wide range of facilities and activities. Weather and itinerary permitting, watersports equipment is available to passengers, including 2 kayaks, 2 stand-up paddleboards, 2 Zodiacs (14-seat motorboats fitted with 60 HP engines), 2 inflatable swimming platforms, and fishing equipment.

Evenings can be spent socializing at the bar, sharing stories of the day’s adventures, relaxing with a book, playing board games, or watching films in the Cinema/Salon Terra Nova.

Salon Terra Nova (Dining Room & Bar Lounge) is a self-service buffet restaurant with its own dedicated bar. The 40-seat venue features plush bench seating, a large HDTV, a well-stocked library, and a selection of board games.

The skilled barman at Salon Terra Nova is always ready to impress guests with creative cocktails, making it an ideal place to unwind after a day at sea. The venue serves as the social hub of each voyage, where guests gather to share experiences and relax. The integrated sound system is also controlled from this space.

The open deck (fully renovated in 2022) is among the largest found on tall ships and features its own bar service. Drinks receptions, dinners, business meetings, company presentations, and team-building events can be accommodated with ease and elegance. The modern galley is staffed by a professional master chef. A canopy awning on the sundeck creates an intimate setting while providing protection from sun and rain.

Weather permitting, a deck barbecue night is hosted once per week.

The ship serves a selection of traditional Portuguese and international cuisine. For special catering requirements or large-scale events, the galley can be made available to external caterers, with support from the ship’s hospitality team.

Recommended packing items include a small backpack (for shore excursions), walking shoes or waterproof boots, light deck shoes with good grip, towels, flip-flops (for showers), swimwear, casual lightweight clothing (quick-drying fabrics), windproof and waterproof outerwear (jackets and trousers), fingerless gloves (for sail handling), a warm hat or cap, sunglasses, binoculars, a refillable water bottle, a personal first-aid kit and toiletries, as well as charging cables for electronic devices.

Decks and Cabins

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

There are two Master Cabins: one double-occupancy cabin (double bed and sofa) and one quad-occupancy/Family Cabin (double bed plus two single bunks).

The four Atlantic Cabins (Deck 1) feature double beds and portholes.

The six Acores Cabins are equipped with two bunk beds each.

Group accommodations (Deck 2) include three Madeira Cabins (each accommodating four passengers in bunk beds) and one Dory Cabin (for six passengers, with bunk beds). These are the largest cabins and feature faux portholes, individual bunk curtains, and foot lighting.

The Atlantic Suite includes two portholes (round, non-opening windows).

The ship has 3 decks, two of which accommodate passenger cabins.

In total, there are 29 staterooms, including 18 passenger cabins and 11 crew cabins.

Itineraries (homeports, call ports, seasonal deployments)

Santa Maria Manuela’s annual itinerary program features 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 team-building programs, as well as scientific and marine conservation expeditions.

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