Madeira Shortlisted for Two World Cruise Awards in 2026

Madeira has secured nominations in two categories at the 2026 World Cruise Awards, continuing the archipelago’s run of recognition within the international cruise sector.

The destination is competing for Europe’s Best Cruise Destination, while the Port of Funchal has been nominated for World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability.

According to Madeira Ports Administration, APRAM, S.A., the latest nominations mark the fifth consecutive year that the archipelago has featured in the international awards program and the nominations follow several previous successes for Madeira at the World Cruise Awards.

Madeira was named Europe’s Best Cruise Destination in 2022, 2023 and 2025. In 2024, Funchal received the award for World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability.

Jose Manuel Rodrigues, regional secretary for economy and the official responsible for overseeing APRAM, described the latest nominations as “an important international recognition” of Madeira’s efforts to develop “an increasingly sustainable, high-quality and competitive cruise tourism sector.”

APRAM president Paula Cabaco also highlighted the contribution of the organization’s employees and people working across Madeira’s wider cruise tourism industry. “More than an institutional recognition, these nominations are an honor for Madeira and for the Madeiran people,” she said.

Madeira has also been recognized as Europe’s Leading Island Destination on 12 occasions.

Competition for Europe’s Best Cruise Destination includes a number of major European ports and destinations. Alongside Madeira, the nominees are Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Nice, Oslo, Rome and Southampton.

Meanwhile, Funchal faces competition from cruise terminals in Steinwerder, Flam, Kai Tak, Montreal, Copenhagen, Kiel, Valletta and Victoria in the World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability category.

The award nominations come as Madeira continues to report strong cruise passenger numbers. Madeira Ports welcomed 728,604 cruise passengers during 2024, alongside 271,974 crew members and 316 ship calls. Compared with the previous year, passenger numbers increased by 16.68 percent, while crew traffic rose by 12.3 percent.

The 2024/25 cruise season subsequently set new records for the archipelago. Madeira recorded 743,699 passengers and 335 cruise ship calls during the season. Growth continued throughout 2025. Full-year figures reached 746,257 cruise passengers and 278,185 crew members, resulting in a combined total of 1,024,442 passenger and crew visits. A total of 331 stopovers were recorded during the year.

Funchal also reported higher cruise traffic during the opening quarter of 2026 with the cruise terminal welcoming 335,748 passengers from 129 cruise ships during the first quarter. This compared with 266,964 passengers and 105 ship calls during the same period in 2025.

Cruise ships visiting Funchal normally make a dock call, berthing at Gare Marítima da Madeira on the Pontinha breakwater. This allows passengers to leave their vessel and walk directly ashore.

The cruise terminal opened in 2010 and has approximately 3,000 square meters of building space. It is equipped to accommodate cruise turnarounds as well as days when several ships are visiting the port. Up to three vessels can be handled on the main breakwater and associated quays.

A range of services is available to passengers at or close to the cruise terminal. These include tourist information, free Wi-Fi, cafés, souvenir shops, ATMs, currency exchange facilities and taxis. Visitors can also find shuttle buses, hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses, tuk-tuks and small electric vehicles. Funchal’s city center is generally close enough for cruise passengers to reach on foot.

Members of the public can vote for their preferred nominees through the World Cruise Awards website, with voting free to enter. Voting for the 2026 awards remains open until August 21 and the winners are due to be revealed on October 14 during the World Cruise Awards annual gala in Jamaica.