Two storms in a row forced Queen Anne, Iona and four other cruise ships to cancel stops in Funchal, Madeira, this week. Here is which ships missed the island and when they will be back.
Madeira is one of Europe’s favorite fall cruise stops. This week, the weather had other plans.
Six cruise ships canceled planned visits to Funchal, Madeira’s capital, as two storms hit the Portuguese island back to back, Cruise Hive reports. The storms were named Bruna and Charles.
The ships included Cunard’s Queen Anne and P&O Cruises’ Iona.
Which cruise ships skipped Funchal?
Here are the six ships that canceled, according to Cruise Hive:
Queen Anne (Cunard): Sunday, Nov. 8
Azura (P&O Cruises): Monday, Nov. 9
Mein Schiff Relax (TUI Cruises): Monday, Nov. 9
Vasco da Gama (Nicko Cruises): Tuesday, Nov. 10
Iona (P&O Cruises): Wednesday, Nov. 11
Le Dumont-d’Urville (Ponant): Date not given
The five larger ships could have carried about 17,000 guests combined. That is about 10% of the cruise visits Funchal expected in November.
How bad were the storms in Madeira?
Bad enough to close the port.
Funchal’s port closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, ahead of Storm Charles, Cruise Hive reports. The storm damaged the marina and its floating docks near Praca da Autonomia, a waterfront square in the city.
Regional officials said the main port held up fairly well. Crews are now fixing cables, clearing debris and repairing the marina and its fuel station.
Did any cruise ships make it to Funchal this week?
Yes. AIDAblu and Sky Princess both visited Funchal on Tuesday, Nov. 10, before the port closed, according to Cruise Hive.
Will the ships come back to Funchal?
Some will, and soon.
Three of the ships have more Funchal visits on the calendar this month, Cruise Hive reports:
Azura: Nov. 16 and Nov. 23
Mein Schiff Relax: Nov. 18
Iona: Nov. 25
Guests on those later sailings should still get their day in Madeira, weather permitting.
Queen Anne guests were not as lucky. Funchal was the ship’s only Madeira stop this month, on a 12-night round trip from Southampton, England.
Vasco da Gama is on a world cruise from Hamburg, Germany. It is heading on to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Caribbean, with no more Funchal visits planned for November.
What did guests do instead?
Cruise Hive did not report where the six ships went in place of Funchal.
When a port is canceled, ships often spend an extra day at sea or swap in another nearby stop. In this part of the Atlantic, the Canary Islands are a common backup, since they are a short sail south of Madeira.
Which cruise ships are coming to Funchal next?
Several more ships are expected soon, according to Cruise Hive, including Norwegian Star, Queen Victoria, Volendam, AIDAprima, Ambition and MSC Virtuosa.
Why is Madeira so popular with cruise ships?
Madeira sits in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 miles southwest of mainland Portugal. Its mild weather makes it a popular stop on fall and winter cruises, especially on trips heading to the Canary Islands or across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
Funchal is known for its steep hillside streets, flower gardens, Madeira wine and a cable car that climbs above the city.
The cruise port sits right next to downtown, so guests can walk into the city from the ship. That makes it an easy, low-stress stop for cruisers who want to explore on their own.
Can cruise lines skip ports because of weather?
Yes, and it happens more than many cruisers expect.
Cruise contracts generally allow lines to change or cancel port stops for safety reasons, including weather. Captains make the call when wind and waves make it unsafe to dock or to use tender boats.
Guests usually receive a refund of port fees and taxes for a missed stop. Shore excursions booked through the cruise line are normally refunded automatically. Tours booked on your own depend on the tour company’s policy.
Could the Funchal marina be improved?
Maybe, but not soon.
Funding for a proposed change to the marina’s entrance has not been secured, Cruise Hive reports. That means any upgrade could be years away.
Have you had a cruise port canceled because of weather? Tell us which stop you missed.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Cruise Hive (Nov. 13, 2026), the canceled ships, storms, port closure and future visits
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.