Funchal Port Welcomes Nearly 267,000 Passengers in Just Three Months
Madeira’s cruise tourism has reached a historic high. The first quarter of 2025 was the best ever for the region, with 266,964 cruise passengers and 92,903 crew members arriving at the Port of Funchal. This figure represents an increase of 19.64% compared to the same period in 2024. The number of cruise ship stops also rose sharply, with 105 stopovers recorded - a 36.36% rise year-on-year, according to a report by Jornal da Madeira.
Cruise visits reach best first quarter ever in Madeira.
Over €22 Million in Economic Impact for the Region
The report went further, saying that based on an estimate by the Funchal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cruise passengers and crew spent an average of €61.40 each. That brings the total direct economic impact of this quarter to more than €22 million. This spending benefits local businesses, especially in hospitality, retail, and transportation.
Growth Continues After the Pandemic Slowdown
This year’s strong start follows a long recovery period for the cruise industry, which was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Madeira hosted 95 ship stopovers and welcomed 95,618 passengers in the first quarter. The following year, those numbers rose to 94 stops and 230,582 passengers.
Source: Jornal da Madeira
Note: The initial headline of the article stated that €61.40 applied only to tourists (“Madeira sees 19.64% increase in cruise tourism, each spending €61.40”). However, the latter amount also includes the spending of crew members. This inaccuracy was corrected shortly after publication.
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