Funchal, Madeira, June 1, 2026 (Lusa) - Ports in Portugal's Madeira islands recorded 129 cruise ship arrivals in the first quarter of this year, 24 more than in the same period last year, the Regional Statistics Directorate (DREM) reported on Monday.

According to DREM data, the number of passengers in transit – 324,224 – also increased compared to the same quarter of 2025, with a positive variation of 24.2%.

The majority of passengers in transit during that period (97.5%) were Europeans, predominantly Germans (47.9% of the total, +24.1% compared to the same quarter last year), British (28.4%, +2.0%), Italians (4.8%, +242.1%), Spaniards (3.3%, +99.2%), Austrians (1.9%, +66.5%), Poles (1.6%, +108.0%), Dutch (1.3%, +48.0%) and French (1.1%, +68.0%).

The statistics authority also notes that passengers from the Americas in transit at the Port of Funchal (1.8% of the total) fell by 29.1% compared with the same quarter last year.

The nationalities that contributed most to this decline were US (1.2%, -28.9%) and Canadian (0.4% of the total, -35.3%).

On the Madeira-Porto Santo route, operated by Porto Santo Line with the vessel Lobo Marinho, passenger numbers stood at around 38,500 in the first three quarters of this year, an increase of 39.0% compared to the same quarter of 2025.

On the other hand, from January to March 2026, 214 recreational vessels entered the marinas of the autonomous region, representing a year-on-year decrease of 14.7%.

These vessels carried 660 crew members and passengers, an increase of 8.0% compared to the same period last year.

DC // AYLS

Lusa/Fim