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Gare Maritima da Madeira (Pontinha cruise terminal)
APRAM's passenger terminal at the land end of the Molhe da Pontinha breakwater, serving cruise ships berthed along the pier; berth assignments vary by ship and day.
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Funchal, Madeira
Funchal is the capital of Madeira, Portugal's subtropical Atlantic island, and climbs in a steep amphitheatre of red roofs and gardens above a wide bay. More about Funchal →
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Ship schedule by month
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Western European Time)
ShipDateArrivalDeparture
Showing 10 of 11 calls in October
Cruise Ships in Funchal
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Western European Time)
Today · Fri 23 OctLight
4,574 people in port
2 ships · ships alongside 08:00 – 14:00
30% quieter than a typical day in Funchal. Busiest 08:00 – 14:00, when all 2 ships are alongside.
Next 7 days
Quietest: Sat 24 Oct · busiest: Tue 27 Oct- Fri23 Oct4.6kLight2 ships
- Sat24 Oct3.1kQuiet2 ships
- Sun25 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Mon26 Oct4.3kLight1 ship
- Tue27 Oct6.1kTypical1 ship
- Wed28 Oct5.6kTypical2 ships
- Thu29 Oct5.1kLight2 ships
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Funchal day.
Planning a day in Funchal?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Where is the Funchal cruise port?
Ships dock alongside on the Molhe da Pontinha, a long breakwater pier at the western end of Funchal's bay, with the Gare Maritima terminal near its land end. There is no tendering in normal operations.
From the terminal it is about 2.4 km (around 35 minutes) on foot along the flat seafront Avenida do Mar to the cable-car station, and about 2.7 km to the Old Town; outer berths add distance.
Taxis wait outside the terminal, and some cruise lines run shuttles.
Terminal
Getting to the Funchal cruise port
Funchal city centre and Teleferico do Funchal (Monte cable car) → Gare Maritima da Madeira (Pontinha cruise terminal)
2 km · 6–7 min by car
Most passengers walk the flat seafront promenade past the marina into the centre. Taxis queue outside the terminal for those who prefer to ride.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Walk along Avenida do Mar
Freeper person
30–35 min
About 2.4 km from the terminal building; longer from outer berths.
Taxi
EUR 7.50per vehicle
6–7 min
Approximate reported flat fare to the centre; official taxis are metered.
Cruise-line shuttle
Variesper person
Varies
Offered by some cruise lines; price varies by sailing, check your ship's daily programme.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
Madeira taxis run on the IMT Madeira meter: EUR 4.00 flag fall on weekdays 06:00–21:00 and EUR 4.80 at night, weekends and holidays, plus EUR 1.50 per suitcase. The Pontinha pier road is the only access to the terminal, so allow extra time when several ships are in port.
Funchal Cruise Terminals
1 terminal
Parking at the Funchal cruise port
There is no dedicated cruise car park on the Pontinha pier. The nearest public garage is Praça CR7 (Avenida Sá Carneiro 3, run by Lidosol), 450 spaces, a 10-minute walk from the port, height limit 2.10 m; it opens 07:00–02:00 Sunday to Thursday and 24 hours on Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves, so it doesn't suit multi-day cruise parking.
Parking facilities
FacilityServesRatesReservationRate notes
Praça CR7 car parkLidosol
Gare Maritima da Madeira (Pontinha cruise terminal)
Rates not yet published
Not available
Serves Gare Maritima da Madeira (Pontinha cruise terminal) · Reservation: Not available
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Praça CR7 has reduced-mobility spaces and a lift.
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Funchal city centre (Se)
EUR 90–145 / night
Walking to the pier and old town
Typical hotel
EUR 90–145 / night
Port ~5 minAirport ~25 min
Central hotels near the cathedral, marina and Zona Velha.
Hotels here
- Se Boutique Hotel
- Hotel Windsor
- Castanheiro Boutique Hotel
Lido / Hotel Zone
EUR 85–200 / night
Pools and sea-view resorts
Typical hotel
EUR 85–200 / night
Port ~5 minAirport ~25 min
Resort hotels along the Estrada Monumental west of the centre.
Hotels here
- Pestana Promenade
- Vila Baleira Funchal
- Hotel Alto Lido
Port times are measured by car to the Pontinha terminal.
Eating in Funchal
- Coffee per item
- EUR 1.20
- per item
- Soft drink per item
- EUR 2.50
- per item
- Bottled water per item
- EUR 1.20–1.50
- per item
- Casual lunch per person
- EUR 10–50
- per person
- Restaurant dinner per person
- EUR 10–50
- per person
Prices are approximate. From official menus: Pestana CR7 Funchal bar espresso EUR 1.20, soft drinks EUR 2.50, water 0.25 l EUR 1.50; Café Fortaleza mineral water 0.33 l EUR 1.20, 0.5 l EUR 1.50.
Where to eat
Zona Velha (Rua de Santa Maria)
Old-town restaurants with painted doors, near the pier.
Mercado dos Lavradores area
Cafés and casual places by the market.
Zona Velha – Rua de Santa Maria
Old Town street of painted doors lined with seafood and traditional Madeiran restaurants, about 35–40 minutes' walk from the pier.
Mercado dos Lavradores
Covered market for tropical fruit and local produce on the edge of the Old Town, good for a quick taste of Madeira.
Avenida do Mar and the Marina
Seafront cafes and restaurants on the walking route between the pier and the centre.
Destination
About Funchal
Funchal is the capital of Madeira, Portugal's subtropical Atlantic island, and climbs in a steep amphitheatre of red roofs and gardens above a wide bay.
The compact centre mixes the Se cathedral, cobbled streets and the Mercado dos Lavradores, while the Zona Velha (Old Town) is known for its painted doors and seafood restaurants. A cable car climbs to Monte, where wicker toboggans slide back down, and the glass skywalk at Cabo Girao sits on one of Europe's highest sea cliffs.
Funchal is one of the Atlantic's busiest cruise calls, with a record 331 calls in 2025, and a growing number of cruises start or end here.
- Time zone
- Western European Time
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
Things to Do in Funchal
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Monte cable car and toboggan ride
Ride the Teleferico from the seafront up to Monte (EUR 16 one way, EUR 22 return in 2026), visit Monte church and gardens, then slide back down in a wicker toboggan steered by carreiros (from EUR 30 per sledge).
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Old Town (Zona Velha) and Rua de Santa Maria
Wander Funchal's oldest quarter, where the doors of Rua de Santa Maria are painted by local artists and small restaurants spill into the lanes, an easy walk along the seafront from the ship.
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Cabo Girao skywalk
Stand on the glass platform at about 580 m on Europe's highest cape, looking down on terraced fields and the sea; about 20 minutes' drive from the pier, entry EUR 5 for visitors over 12.
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Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's Art Deco farmers' market, full of exotic fruit, flowers and fish stalls, sits between the centre and the Old Town and fits easily into a walking route.