We chose this cruise because it was good value at Xmas.
Everywhere was festively and attractively decorated.
The staff were welcoming and helpful.
Clean and of a good size.
Enjoyed the towel folded animals.
Anchored in the bay.
Tender transfer to the quay.
Excellent walk around Funchal at Xmas, Xmas market, dancing and cooking demos.
Really chaotic return to the ship with poor communication from the ship and little leadership trying to return 650 passengers to the ship in the cold, wet and dark and rough seas.
Most passengers had long waits of over 5 hours watching the ship try to re position several times ( eventually returned to the original anchorage and used 2 tugs, for and aft to try and stabilise the ship.
Crew were excellent with some danger to themselves.
The Captain should have been more pro active.
Our neighbour Queen Victoria’s passengers were not allowed to disembark.
The formal evening with dinner , fireworks and party was spoilt for many.
A super city.
Docked in easy walking distance to the city.
I queued for 45 minutes and went up the old tower ( 1 lift was not working).
Good views and historic.
Wandered around the town and shops then returned to the ship and used the terminal shops.
You could buy alcohol because we were only 1 day away from Tilbury.