Ferry to Madeira – does it operate in 2023?

Volcán de Timanfaya | Naviera Armas

Is it possible to travel to Madeira by ferry? The regular Armas passenger ferry service between Madeira and the continental Europe has been resumed in 2018 after a long period of suspension, then cancelled again in 2019. There is, however, an alternative option… 

This post is regularly updated with developments on the Madeira ferry. Hereby the updates regarding traveling to Madeira by ferry in 2023/2024:

Summer 2023: Passengers welcome on board of the GS LINES cargo ship 

As confirmed by GS Lines on June 26th, 2023, there is currently a possibility to travel to Madeira on a GS Lines container ship, in one of their passenger cabins.

The container ship departs from Lisbon weekly – on Saturdays. The expected arrival in Caniçal, Madeira is Monday morning. The cost of the Lisbon-Madeira ferry trip is €180 per passenger with meals & 1 piece of baggage up to 20 kg per passenger included.

Passengers are required to take out a Personal Accident Insurance, to cover risks and civil liability for the sea voyage, on a container ship, between the intended ports.

To book the trip, or in case of additional questions, you will need to contact the operator – GS LINES & send them the following information/documentation:

  • Intended departure date
  • Telephone number
  • Copy of the ID Card
  • Invoice details (name, address, VAT number/Tax number)
  • Information on food restriction or health condition

As far as I am aware, this is the only available option for traveling to Madeira by ferry. There is no other, regular, public ferry line operated with big-size passenger ships.

* Readers who used the option to travel on board of the GS LINES cargo ship in 2023 are invited to share their pictures and trip review on our blog.

December 2020: Travelling on cargo line Funchalense 5?

 Obviously, due to the pandemic, 2020 was not a good year to restore any official passenger ferry connections between Madeira and Portugal. 

Some people have been mentioning a possibility to travel on board of a GS Lines container ship “Funchalense 5” ( SEE ARTICLE ), however, currently, this isn’t an option either. We have contacted GS Lines for more information, but as advised by the Commercial Assistant: “Unfortunately due to COVID19 the voyages aboard our cargo ships are suspended indefinitely”

Previously, up to 7 passengers were accepted on board of this cargo vessel and could travel in one of its cabins. The price was 140 euro per person.

January 2020: Most probably… no ferry in 2020

I have received a lot of questions from readers regarding the 2020 ferries to Madeira, which I am unfortunately not able to answer.

The company operating the Portimao – Funchal ferry service in 2019 advised me that “the operation is not scheduled to take place this year.” There are talks about another year-round ferry which would operate between (probably) Lisbon or another city in Portugal, but it is not sure whether or when that plan will actually be implemented.

September 2019: I have travelled to Madeira by ferry!

Last week I arrived in Funchal with the Madeira Island ferry. I have shared my pictures and first-hand experience in this detailed post:

[Madeira Island by ferry – our September 2019 trip review]

In the meantime, only two trips remained planned for the summer 2019 season. The ferry service to Madeira will not operate off-season. The last trip to Madeira will depart on September 24, 2019. 

Volcán de Timanfaya | Naviera Armas - Ferry to Madeira and Gran Canaria from Portugal

May 2019: Ferry to Madeira summer 2019 tickets available for sale!

The sale of Portugal <-> Madeira Island ferry tickets has started today. A different ferry – Volcán de Timanfaya – is going to operate from July 7 to September 26. Just like last year, there will also be a connection between Madeira and the Canary Islands.

April 2019: The ferry connection has been confirmed for summer 2019!

A message received today from the Sales Dept. of Madeira Ferry:

“Following your e-mail, we inform you that the operation ENM Ferries, with the ship Volcan de Tijarafe, which connects Madeira Island-Mainland Portugal, is confirmed for this year, starting on July 7 and ending on September 25, 2019.

 Other information, such as timetables and prices, are not yet available, as soon as we have them, we will send you an email.” 

Great news – We are waiting for further developments. 

Prom z Portimao na Maderę i Wyspy Kanaryjskie - recenzja

*****

Original post – as published 12/06/2018 

The ferry service between Madeira and continental Europe has been resumed!

Great news for those scared of flying or those dreaming about exploring Madeira in their beloved car or motorcycle:  The ferry service to Madeira from Portugal (mainland) is back. The famous route:  FUNCHAL – PORTIMÃO – FUNCHAL has been resumed after a long period of being suspended.  

The sale of ferry tickets began this week, on June 12, 2018. The first ferry is scheduled to depart Portimão in the south of Portugal on July 3rd this year. It will reach Funchal the next day. The last scheduled cruise will take place 12 weeks later, in September.

Volcán De Tijarafe - prom do Funchal na Maderze (Połączenie promowe z Portimao w Portugalii na Maderę // Volcán De Tijarafe - ferry to Funchal, Madeira ( Ferry connection between Portimao in Portugal to Madeira)
Fot.: www.navieraarmas.com
Volcán De Tijarafe - prom do Funchal na Maderze (Połączenie promowe z Portimao w Portugalii na Maderę // Volcán De Tijarafe - ferry to Funchal, Madeira ( Ferry connection between Portimao in Portugal to Madeira)
Fot.: www.navieraarmas.com

Tenerife -> Madeira <-> Portimao -> Gran Canaria

There will also be a connection between Madeira and Tenerife & the Canary Islands, however, only in one direction! 

Each of the twelve scheduled weekly trips starts on a Sunday with the departure from Tenerife (20:00) to Funchal in Madeira. It arrives in Madeira on a Monday at 08:15, and after a short break, departs towards Portimao in Portugal. It returns to Madeira on a Wednesday at 13:30, after which it makes the final trip to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 

This year’s last trip is scheduled for September 2018

Promem na Maderę! Znów przywrócono połączenie promem: Teneryfa - Portimao w Portugalii - Funchal na Maderze - Wyspy Kanaryjskie. Wybierz prom na Maderę!
Fot: http://madeira-ferry.pt/en/timetables/

Ferry to Madeira – ticket prices

Good news for the residents of the Autonomous Region of Madeira – they are entitled to special subsidised tickets at lower prices: 29.10 euro/person for residents and 25.50 euro/person for students.

Prices of tickets for tourists and non-residents are unfortunately not as attractive: 85 euro per adult, 42.50 per child between 4 and 11 years- old. Children under 4 travel free of charge. 

A two-person cabin costs 187.05 euro/person, and a four-person cabin 124.80 euro/person.

Additional prices for vehicles (one way) are:

  • Car: 125 euro 
  • Motorcycle: 40 euro 
  • Bike: 10 euro 
  • Electric vehicles: 62.50 euro 
Volcán De Tijarafe - prom do Funchal na Maderze (Połączenie promowe z Portimao w Portugalii na Maderę // Volcán De Tijarafe - ferry to Funchal, Madeira ( Ferry connection between Portimao in Portugal to Madeira)
Fot.: www.navieraarmas.com
Volcán De Tijarafe - prom do Funchal na Maderze (Połączenie promowe z Portimao w Portugalii na Maderę // Volcán De Tijarafe - ferry to Funchal, Madeira ( Ferry connection between Portimao in Portugal to Madeira)
Fot.: www.navieraarmas.com

Volcan de Tijarafe Ferry

The ferry used on this service is going to be the “Volcan de Tijarafe”. This 154-meter long ferry, sailing under the flag of Spain, can accommodate around 1000 passengers and 300 vehicles.

The operator of the Funchal – Portimão service is: “Empresa de Navegação Madeirense” – the oldest transport company in Portugal, operating since 1907, providing regular transport of goods between Madeira and Portugal, connecting the ports of Caniçal, Porto Santo, Lisbon and Leixões.

Comments (12)

  1. Well now I want to travel to Madeira! It looks like a lovely place. Must add this to my bucket list! Great pics too. Thank you for sharing…👍🏼👍🏼

  2. I need to maderia around the 19th of september from tenerife

  3. I wanted to go Madeira from Portugal at end March 2020 with the motorbike. Afterward wanted to go onward through Canary Islands. Is this possible, does the ferry Mainland to Madeira run?

    1. Hello Azme, as far as I know, there are no positive news about the ferry connection with Madeira. Most probably, there won’t be any ferry, and especially not in March… 🙁

  4. Any news on the ferry for the end of September till the end of October 2020 from Funchal to Santa Cruz / Tenerife?

    1. Hello Bjoern, I highly doubt there will be any ferry connections this year.

  5. i love to visit to madeira island by car ferry send me details when its start
    thanks
    regards

  6. No news for this summer 2021? Any chances that the ferry start again?

  7. Do you have an idea if currently is possible to ship car to Madeira?

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