Fitting Out FUNCHAL For The Future
Luis Miguel Correia, ship historian, photographer and owner of the Web site LMC Ships and the Sea was kind enough to share some images of the 1961-built MV FUNCHAL, which is undergoing a Euro 12 million refit in Lisbon. FUNCHAL is one of five classic cruise ships in the aptly-named, Lisbon-based Classic International Cruises fleet. The ship is much loved and well cared for by her owners who have gradually transformed her over the years to keep up with an ever-changing marketplace.
Sadly, the rich woodwork that was such an integral part of the FUNCHAL’s public areas is being removed in order to comply with SOLAS 2010. If this was not done, the ship would have been forced into retirement and likely sale to the shipbreakers.
According to Mr. Correia, the refit “will also include totally new passenger and crew cabins and her capacity will be reduced with larger cabins and 45 suites. Her engines and steel structure have also been renewed. Next May, her hull will be blasted and all old paint removed. She will be redelivered on 30 June and then there will be two 50th anniversary special cruises from Lisbon including one on her original route from Lisbon to Madeira before she positions to Germany in mid July.”
Very special thanks to Luis Miguel Correia for the update…
Peter Knego
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What great news!!! Finally, a cruiseline that seems to care about an older ship. It is nice to see this true beauty being refurbished for what hopefully will be a long “new” career. To bad that Louis Cruises didn’t do this to Ivory or sell her to Funchal’s owners. Best wishes to Classic International Cruises that they will reap great rewards for this effort.
A classic reborn, MV FUNCHAL. Oh, those lines, and the black hull. I have only seen her once, in Barbados, white, scraped and heavily dented hull, yet, she permeated the very air around her with a dignity, a purpose of self-assuredness that the huge-white megas that also were in could not exude.
Of course I was refused a complimenatary tour, my QM2 card and passport not enough, but, from the QM2, I could peer onto the FUNCHALS aft decks and was pleased at what I saw. I wish her 50 more years.
Now, if the PACIFIC PRINCESS nee “Love Boat” could join her……….
Indeed great news that such a classic ship as the FUNCHAL will be with us much longer. Also very neat that she will do a cruise on her old Lisbon-Madeira route. The black-hulled livery looks very good too. To be honest I always found the FUNCHAL a bit cheap-looking with a white hull, the black hull makes her look more distinquished.
Delighted to see this gem get her life extended, great report. Martin
A labor of love. So much younger tonnage available to convert yet this ship must hold a special place in their hearts. She was kept in great shape during layup and now that effort is paying it’s dividends. Nice!
Great news a real Classic, I did a cruise on Athena in 2010 and they could teach the “Big” boys how to run ships!
Andrew
Great little shi…Great move Classic International Cruises !!!
Awesome news. She is such a beautiful classic ship. Like a mermaid in the water, very graceful and very classy.
Great move on Classic International, I am a fan…..
Does anybody know what the status of the rest of their fleet is?
It would be great if the Daphne and Danae could keep sailing,too.
I was the Canadian Manager for Costa in the 60’s and 70’s and they at first chartered the Danae and Daphne, then bought them. At the time they were very beautiful ships and I seem to remember that they all had tub baths and toilets in their cabins. It is nice to see that they are still operating. A good size of around 16,000 tons and in those day carried around 400 passengers. Much better than those monsters masquerading as cruise ships these days.
This is a real ship and a beauty at that! We need more choices like this.
Ralph: DAPHNE and DANAE are both still sailing, apparently under charter as CIC’s website doesn’t give any cruises for them during this year, but both are listed as visiting Helsinki during the upcoming summer. They have been refurbished within the last five years and are to my understanding fully SOLAS compliant. If they are still profitable, there’s no reason why they couldn’t continue sailing for years to come.
I sailed the DAPHNE, while under charter to Costa, in the ’80’s. This was a ship oriented cruise, not a port or itinerary selection.
Having sailed with Princess to Alaska, this DAPHNE Alaska cruise was strictly for the ship, since I had hoped to sail the DAPHNE or DANAE with her/their owners, Kareagoris Cuises.
The DAPHNE was indeed a beauty inside, and, outside. Her interiors were purely elegant, the initial premiss for the ships was to compete with Royal Viking Lines ships. The DAPHNE still honored the “one seating” with assigned table in the MDR, and as John Cant noted above, all cabins had tubs and shower. One very notable fact, almost unheard of then, these ships had suites with private balconies, I remember probably 6 port, 6 starboard.
One thing that was really nice, one morning the crew set about to “catch” the catch of the day, and indeed they caught the most wonderful halibut, which was the catch of the day, availble in the dining room. I still have pictures of the event packed away.
I saw the DAPHNE, under a new charter, sailing as SWITZERLAND, two years ago, while I was on the REGATTA. Still looking lovely, as she sailed past the hills that line the approach to Dubrovnik, gliding in a blue mist at dawn.
I worked for US Lines until late 1969, then joined Costa Line in early 1970. They operated a fleet of about 12 ships, most of them under or around 20,000 tons, carrying from 400 to 700 passengers. Ships were ANNA C, ANDREA C, FRANCA C which operated mainly in the Med., BIANCA C which caught fire and sank off Grenada, FEDERICO C, their first new build, CARLA C, ex FLANDRE of French Line, for whom I also worked, FLAVIA, ex MEDIA of Cunard Line, FULVIA, ex OSLOFJORD, which caught fire and sank in the Med., luckily without loss of life as the ANCERVILLE rescued most of the passengers, ENRICO C ex PROVENCE, EUGENIO C, which was their flagship and their largest ship at 35,000 tons, a near sister to the OCEANIC, DAPHNE and DANAE beautiful ships of around 16,000 tons, ITALIA of around 10.000 tons. They also operated, under charter, AMERIKANIS, ANGELINA LAURO, WORLD RENAISSANCE, STELLA SOLARIS, plus LEONARDO da VINCI,a joint operation with ICI. I was aboard the UNITED STATES anchored outside St Thomas when the FRANCA C passed by.. I thought what was this little ancient ship doing cruising the Caribbean. Little did I know that a few years later, I would be working for Costa!! Anyway, this was cruising at its best, small ships with passengers that were polite and dressed correctly,not like those monstrous ships of today with hordes of people on board. Nice to hear that the FUNCHAL is being returned to service.
John Cant brought back a time for memories, for me at least.
The ENRICO-C – my, she was something else again. We had little money to spend in 1978, two kids, buying their first house, travel $$ was tight. So, our travel agent sugested we book with Tour Lite, a very low priced, quality oriented tour company, and we did. Our land package, Rome, Florence and Genoa was very nice. We had an inside cabin on ENRICO-C which was upgraded at the pier to an outside cabin. Before I continue, this special package included three hotels with buffet breakfast, air from Boston and the ship, total 14 day cruise tour for an amazing $799.00 per person, and we flew Alitalia. Bargain, yes, excellent tour, ship was great.We used Tour Lite for other European Cruises, always budget oriented, I can not say enough about Tour Lite and the cruises provided, they were wonderful.
Thanks Kenneth. I traveled on the ENRICO C in the late 70″s from Venice thru the Greek Isles. Costa were taking all their N.American managers to see if the ship was marketable to N. Americans. We had a sales meeting in New York at head office then flew first class on Alitalia to Milan and then took the train to Venice. I was lucky enough to be able to change the return flight on Alitalia directly to Toronto, saving the change in New York. Also traveled many times on the FLAVIA from Miami to Nassau, FEDERICO C, ITALIA, which I see is now laid up, under another name, CARLA C, a real beauty, ANGELINA, AMERIKANIS, while under charter from Chandris to Costa, she was a well kept and beautiful ship, and LEONARDO da VINCI which Costa were operating from Miami to Nassau on 3 and 4 day cruises. A 7D7Mrun down shadow of her former self. Ah, the wonderful days when cruising was a pleasure and you were one of 700, or under, passengers enjoying yourselves cruising on smaller ships.
I agree with Kenneth Eden, “if only the PACIFIC PRINCESS nee “Love Boat” could join her… She would be a great addition to Classic International Cruises fleet. Funchal is returning to Asia next Christmas, (I have booked a cruise) I LOVE this ship! I have done 4 line voyages on her, Europe to Australia, including the fateful one when an engine failed on leaving Jordon,we were stuck in Safaga, Egypt for 28 days in December 2005 whilst the engine was repaired – It became a 10 week voyage.
Any further news on the PACIFIC PRINCESS nee “Love Boat” auction?
Nothin’ yet but will post when there is something…
Thanks Peter
I booked a cruise on 20th August keen to see Funchal ‘new look’ (and because I have not been on board for 25 years or so) and have heard rumors that the work in Lisbon will have a delay and she will not be out till end August, which would be a pity.
Thanks Peter for the info on the wood on the public lounges. I was wondering about those (wonderful they were) but nobody could tell me if they were going to be removed or not. I tend to agree that SOLAS 2010 is not very wood friendly but… Pity… as that reception area has been looking more or less the same for 50 years.
If not on the Funchal I am hoping that they arrange for the Princess Daphne to do the cruise…
Has Funchal’s refit finished, and where is she now?
Brian H ….. Australia
Any news on Funchal’s whereabouts at the moment?
Brian: the FUNCHAL is still in Lisbon for the refit to make her SOLAS-compliant, as reported by the fantastic Luis Miguel Correia in is blog today: http://lmcshipsandthesea.blogspot.com/2011/08/funchal-rebuilding.html
Thankyou Kalle Id – I hope she is completed soon
I sailed on the Enrico C many times between 1997 and 2001, although during that period she sailed as the MSC Symphony for MSC Cruises, doing seasonal itinieraries in the Indian Ocean out of Durban. She was much loved by the South African cruising public and it was very sad to see her sail from Durban for the final time, facing an uncertain future. Within a few years she’d had her back broken on a scrap yard beach and was torn apart. The Symphony could have sailed on for several more decades like Funchal, if only she’d been owned by Classic International Cruises. I’ll always remember sitting in her forward lounge while running from a tropical storm in the Mozambiquan Channel, shipping green water over the bow and slamming against the windows. The old girl could handle herself on the high seas 🙂 Saving up for a cruise on Funchal next year. Cant wait!
Well worth removing the wood in order to keep M/V Funchal in service. I can only assume that some will be replaced by digitally reproduced wood style laminates. Does anybody know what will be done with the wood that is removed ?
Hello. I was on a cruise with Funchal last year and i must admit that this ship should go to retirement. I love this ship when I was a boy and it is very nice. But inside is too old and the worse the catering crew is not good at all. they dont iven know what a `aguardente´is. they not handsome at all. so i decide no more funchal.
Ah, aguardente, the bain of all that love a good stiff one.
Lack of, or watering down of, alcohol for drinks is as old as the libation itself. It is always nice to know when it is inferior in quality, and less so when being ripped off.
Ever noticed those fancy “sail away” drinks and on most entry level ships, the “drink of the day” have probably no boze in the drinks at all. Perfect money maker!
Thanks Carlos for pointing the ritual of prpoer arguardente is lacking on FUNCHAL. Maybe it will change with the refit.
I worked on the FUNCHAL during 7 months in 1974,quite awhile ago, she just was re-engined from turbine to motor in Holland,where I boarded her.Apart from the new engine she was still original, 13 years old.We sailed with both cruisepassengers and locals from Madeira and Azores at the same time!She was quite a roller and in a hurricane off the Azores it was disastrous and all passengers flew back from Ponta Delgada.I revisited the Funchal as passenger 25 years later in 1999 Baltic and around Scotland,slightly rebuilt, but still herself.I fear with great fear what has happened to her inside and I regret the removal of masts and derricks,her special attraction.Is she still in Lisbon repairing? She is due in Holland in april or may,if that is correct.
Any update news on Funchal’s refit?
Would also like to know whereabouts of Funchal.Ships Monthly showed her in Leith on 19th may bound for Goteborg.
Dear old “Funchal” has been sitting in Lisbon for two years awaiting completion of SOLAS2010 refit and rumoured upgrading to luxury yacht. Unfortunately, CIC ran out of money and, as everyone knows, more recently, ran out of luck; their four other classics each having been arrested for debts. The beautiful Funchal’s future must now be in doubt. She would have made a wonderful floatel and museum at Lisbon, on a smaller scale of Rotterdam. Do I see Alang vultures circling?!
I just returned from the Azores and saw in Abreu’s office in Ponta Delgada(Sao Miguel)(travel agencies and since ages agents for the ms Funchal)that the “Funchal” will make her “maiden” cruise to 4 Azores Islands in due course(July/August 2013 if I remember the brochure well)She will make this 8 day cruise from Lisbon with 2×2=4 seadays and 4 islands incl. Sao Miguel, Tereceira and Faial + 4th island.Prices: cheapest cabin (inside) E 1100 just for 1 week! That sounds like a private yacht! We will wait and see if it really happens this time,
as there have been many announcements before. Various ports of call later in the North of Europe know nothing, despite the affiches I saw.
http://www.portuscalecruises.pt/Files/Images/Portuscale/Ficheiros/Funchal/Prostucale%20Cruises%20Brochure%20Maiden%20Voyage%20&%20Azores_2013.pdf
Go to above adress for Mv FUNCHAL ‘ s itinerary for summer 2013. Her new owners have big plans for her future.
I’m bording in September for the Gothenburg – Lisbon (wine Cruise).
Bjarne Saure
Thank you for sharing the above site, it certainly looks as though the FUNCHAL will have a pretty looking new lease on life from the interior renderings, not to mention the exterior, glamorous in her sparkling livery.
Scanning the deck plans, it also seems that her integrity and dignity are intact, no superstructure additions.
I wish her the best of sailing luck.
Just returned from a cruise on MV Funchal.Supposed to embark in Bristol,but delayed and re-scheduled to Liverpool.Visit to La Corruna cancelled.Visit to Madeira cancelled.Ship spent 4 days rolling badly,en route for Tenerife / Lanzarote . Visit cancelled as ship struggled with tidal currents / high winds.Visit to Madeira reinstated.Long voyage back to Portugal (no overnight stay in Funchal ).Visited Portimao (unscheduled) and finally docked in Lisbon.Travelled 2240 nautical miles in rough seas for a few hours in Madeira .Masses of diesel-smoke from ship’s engines ( under-powered ??).Could have been better, I feel ! ! !
Roger: was this one of the cruises marketed by CMV, Funchal having replaced Discovery?
Yes, it could have been better. The sun could have shone, the seas could have been calm, the tropical storm that travelled across the Atlantic causing the bad weather conditions could have never happened!! The owners of the Funchal did the best they could for you, under the circumstances. The prospect of not going out to sea and staying put in one port certainly wouldn’t have pleased me.