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

EIGHT FUNNELS at ANCHOR

Nostalgic view of Funchal Bay on 13 June 1933 with two four-funneled British passenger liners at anchor: the famous Cunard liner MAURETANIA in white cruising livery and Union-Castle Mail Steam Navigation Company's ARUNDEL CASTLE on her normal call within the Southampton - Cape mal run.

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection

HANSEATIC off Funchal

The German cruise ship HANSEATIC ex-SHALOM in a post card issued by the company showing her at anchor off Funchal probably in a New Yera's eve...

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection

CAPETOWN CASTLE arrival

RMS CAPETOWN CASTLE arriving at Funchal in the 1960s.

Copyright photograph from the Nuno David de Jesus collection

SAGA PEARL II in Funchal 30-12-2010

The distinctive livery of Saga Cruises suits very well to their newest ship, the SAGA PEARL II ex-ASTOR of 1981 photographed on 30 December 2010 alongside Pontinha pier, at Funchal, Madeira Island. 

Copyright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia 

NORWEGIAN JADE leaving Funchal 29-12-2010

NORWEGIAN JADE ex-PRIDE OF HAWAII (92.250 GT/built 2006) leaving Funchal, Madeira Island  on 29 December 2010.

Copyright photograph by 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

QE2 and LOBO MARINHO (II)

Two of my favourite ships, the legendary QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 of 1969 and the handsome Portuguese cruise ferry LOBO MARINHO of 2003 photographed early in the morning in the port of Funchal, Madeira Island, on 31 December 2006.

I have done a book on each of the two ships in the photograph in my series LINER BOOKS and PORTUGUESE SHIPS...

Copyright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia 

METEOR berthed in Funchal

The beautiful Norwegian cruise ship METEOR berthed at Funchal harbour back in 8 April 1965. A very nostalgic image sent to me by Mr. Anders de Lange, a former crew member of the ship who actually took the photo.

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection / Photo by Anders de Lange.

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

VOLCAN DE TIJARAFE leaving Funchal

Naviera Armas cruise ferry VOLCAN DE TIJARAFE leaving Funchal, Madeira Island, on her regular Saturday voyages to Portimão, Algarve. Photos taken in Funchal on 26 June 2010. The VOLCAN makes a regular trip from Las Palmas, Tenerife, and Funchal to Portimão and back, calling at Funchal on the return leg on Mondays.

Copyright photographs by Luís Miguel Correia

ARKONA arriving Funchal

Cruise ship ARKONA arriving Funchal on 5 February 2002. She is still in service as Saga Cruises SAGA PEARL II.

Copyright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia

NORWEGIAN JADE in Funchal 24 March 2010

NCL's handsome cruise ship NORWEGIAN JADE arriving in Funchal on 24 March 2010 as seen through the camera of my friend João Abreu...

Copyright photographs by João Abreu (Luís Miguel Correia collection)

FRED. OLSEN in Madeira

The Norwegian shipping Group Fred. Olsen has been one of the more faithfull cruise operators on what concerns calls in Funchal, a tradition started in 1967 in the wake of the Bergen Line and still going strong today...
In the photo, the BOUDICCA about to berth in Funchal, 31 December 2009.

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection

OLYMPIA VOYAGER

The brand new Greek cruise ship OLYMPIA VOYAGER anchored off Funchal, Madeira Island on a cruise on 23 April 2003.
Copyright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia

NORWEGIAN CROWN 2003-04-26

NORWEGIAN CROWN berthed in Funchal, Madeira, on 26 April 2003 already with white hull ready to be transferred to NCL prior to her salo to Fred. Olsen.

Copyright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia

CAROUSSEL at Funchal

Cruise ship CAROUSSEL ex-NORDIC PRINCE arriving Funchal, Madeira Island, on 24 April 2003 while cruising regularly on 7day cruises out of the Canary isles. She is still in service under Louis Cruises ownership.
Copypright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia.

SAGA RUBY off Funchal 2009-12-31

SAGA RUBY photographed at anchor off Funchal waiting for the New Year's fireworks on 31 December 2009.
She looks better than ever in her smart Saga livery.
She is the former CARONIA, ex-VISTAFJORD of 1973 and now one of the very last classic passenger ships still in cruise service...
This is the classic ship portrait in Madeira depicted over the twentieth century by the famous Perestrellos photographers' family, the main problem is that a boat is needed as well as ships at anchor...
Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection

CARONIA in Funchal 23 April 2003

CARONIA arriving at Funchal on 23 April 2003 on her final period under Cunard colours before her sale to SAGA.

Photographs taken from the head of the Pontinha pier in late morning light.

Copyright photograph from the Luís Miguel Correia collection

LOBO MARINHO 2005-12-31

Cruise ferry LOBO MARINHO arriving Funchal from Porto Santo on 31 December 2005.
The bow of QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 can be seen on the right corner.
Copyright photograph by Luís Miguel Correia