Madeira forecasts record cruise activity in 2026
Current berth bookings point to 349 ship calls and nearly 820,000 passengers, although the projections remain subject to change.
Madeira is projected to receive 349 cruise ship calls and nearly 820,000 passengers in 2026, potentially making it the region’s strongest year for cruise activity.
The Madeira Regional Ports Administration issued the forecast using current projections and berth reservations through the end of the year. If achieved, the totals would surpass the records set in 2025, when Madeira handled 331 calls and approximately 746,000 cruise passengers.
The projected year-over-year gains amount to almost 10% in passenger volume and about 5.4% in ship calls. The ports administration cautioned that the figures are provisional and may change because of weather conditions or revisions to cruise itineraries.
For October, Madeira currently has 33 cruise calls scheduled, with more than 75,000 passengers expected during the month.