VERA CRUZ and SANTA MARIA at Funchal

On 31 December 1956 the handsome sister ships VERA CRUZ and SANTA MARIA of Companhia Colonial de Navegação, met in the port of Funchal. 

Both ships were doing their usual liner voyages: VERA CRUZ arrived from the Brazilian ports of Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife, with a call at Cape Verde (São Vicente) and sailed for Lisbon, while SANTA MARIA made a scheduled call on her regular transatlantic  services , having arrived from Lisbon and Vigo, for Tenerife and the Central America ports of La Guaira, Curaçao, Kingston, Havana and Port Everglades.

Also in port was the Portuguese Navy training ship SAGRES the oldest of the three ships in the picture and the lucky one as she still exists under the original name RICKMER RICMERS, preserved as a museum ship in Hamburg.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

1955/56 New Year's cruise of VERA CRUZ

Portuguese passenger ships used to operate cruises from Lisbon to Funchal, Madeira Island for the New Year's eve famous fireworks display. Empresa Insulana de Navegação started those cruises with their passenger and mail ship LIMA in the 1930s while in 1948 Companhia Colonial de Navegação also did begin cruising to Madeira with their handsome SERPA PINTO. Companhia Nacional de Navegação also operated some cruises to Madeira, namely using their flagship NYASSA in the late forties and early fifties.

On 30 December 1955 the liner VERA CRUZ departed from Lisbon for Funchal on one of such cruises as advertised in this page. She did a call in Tangiers on her return to Lisbon. 

Unfortunately the final cruise of traditional Portuguese passenger ships to Madeira for the 31st December and New Year was performed by INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE for the 1975/76 New Year, and this was also the final voyage of INFANTE under CTM ownership. On her return to isbon on 3 January 1976 she was laid up and offered for sale.

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection

VERA CRUZ in Funchal bay

The Portuguese passenger liner VERA CRUZ (1952-1973) at anchor in the bay of Funchal, Madeira Island, being serviced by a small fleet of local tenders and small boats selling goods to the passengers in transit.

A magnificent side view of the VERA CRUZ, and a credit to her designers in 1949, as she showed a very modern and elegant profile.

The VERA CRUZ operated on the Lisbon - Brazil liner service from March 1952 until May 1961. She was also used on long cruises as well as liner voyages to Central America and Port Everglades, and in her post-1961 period, on voyages to Africa, mostly as a trooper. More images and information on this magnificent ship here.

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection