The first ship to cancel, the Costa Magica, was carrying 1,800 passengers and was due to dock on 10 August. The second, Aida Cara, was carrying 1,200 passengers and should have docked on Monday this week.
The change of plans was confirmed by the office of Madeira’s Regional Secretary for the Economy, Tourism and Transport, which said “the two cancellations were related to the fires.”
Regarding the latter cancellation, the office added that its passengers sought, and indeed some had already booked, excursions to areas affected by the fires, due to which the operator decided to skip the port-of-call.
“The Office, in the same way that it is helping national hospitality inform and control the effects on the exterior, is also working with the cruise sector to overcome the situation”, it said in a statement.
More than 200 homes were destroyed and three people died in the fires that swept through Funchal, Calheta, and Ponta do Sol. An elderly people’s home, a hospital, clinics and hotels were evacuated as the fires tore through the island.
Madeira fires put cruise ships off visiting Funchal
in World · 18 Aug 2016, 14:26 · 3 Comments
The Costa Magica came to Madeira a couple of days later when the fires were out. I saw it in port in Funchal.
By Jenny from Madeira on 19 Aug 2016, 08:55
The Cista Magica visited a couple of days later they just changed their itinerary . All the fires are out .
By Jenny from Madeira on 19 Aug 2016, 09:03
We were on p and o AZura and were due to stop in Maderia on 11th August and ten of us had booked excursions and the visit was cancelled by the Captain at the last minute of which we were all really disappointed and no alternative offered just a boring day at sea but I am glad to hear that everything is now under control for the maderian people, so sad.
By Muriel bowditch from UK on 21 Aug 2016, 11:49