Cruise’n’Travel Journalist / Cruise Reviewer
& Maritime Historian
A Comprehensive Ship Review
Funchal seen departing
Updated May 2011: MV Funchal is famed for her proud Portuguese maritime heritage and
she once served as the Portuguese Presidential Yacht for State visits. She was
eventually purchased by “Classic International Cruises” (CIC) in
1984, thus the MV Funchal is the true veteran of the CIC fleet for she was
their very first ship and today they have a fleet of 5 superb ex classic liner;
Their flagship MV Athena ex MS Stockholm.
When Funchal became the leading ship of the “Classic International Cruises” fleet she very quickly proven to be one of the most popular and greatly loved cruise ships around as she served the British and European cruise market for some several decades and then she headed for Australia where she was based in Fremantle, Western Australia during the Australian summer season.
For this reason the intimate yacht like Funchal would undertake a relocation voyage via the Suez Canal from UK/Europe to Fremantle (Perth) and operated a series of cruises along the Australian coast as well as up to Asia, especially that ever popular destination Bali, and she certainly made inroads into the cruise markets in Western Australia and she became an extremely popular ship, not just with Western Australian’s but with Australian’s from all States who were more thjan happy to fly up to 6 hours to cross the country.
What makes the Funchal such ship is that she is has that genuine classic liner heritage and therefore she offers her guests something that no modern built ship can possibly offer, the feel of a real ship, as well as a relaxing and an informal style of cruise. She is perfectly suited to those who enjoy a classic, or an old-fashioned style of service that is more personal, and as we all know that is something that is lacking on those modern huge square box-like apartment blocks ships that accommodate anything from 2,200 to up to a massive 6,500 passengers and up to 3,500 crew, therefore you simply become a number and are constantly standing in a long queue attempting to board, disembark or attempting to entering a venue. Whilst on the delightful Funchal there are usually no more than 465 fellow passengers who are accommodated in 241 cabins. This year the author had decided to book a cruise on the delightful MV Athena and what was so special about her, that not long after having boarded her crew soon knew you by name, in addition I also began to know many of the passengers by name. The fact is that on a CIC ship you very quickly become part of the ships (CIC) family and believe me that is such a wonderful experience!
Since writing this review in 2008 the Funchal has been refitted several times, and she is being comprehensively and when completed, she will almost be like a new ship. All her cabins will be brand new and much larger that they were before and her facilities greatly improved! She is due to return to service late in 2011 or early 2012.
There is no doubt that CIC maintains all their ships to such a high standard that whilst I was on board the Athena for 40 days from Fremantle to Portsmouth UK in 2011, I simply could not find one single small spot of rust anywhere, as the ship was that clean in every respect. The fact is this, CIC keep their ships up to date on the very highest level, be it in area of safety equipment and navigational technology as well as their supreme general maintenance! As a maritime historian, ex manager of a major passenger shipping company and past owner of a cruise company with 51 years of experience, I give CIC and its Chairman, Mr. George P. Potamianos my highest admiration for his company is doing something that not even many of the largest cruise corporations are able managing to do!
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You will discover the very best of facilities on the MV Funchal. There are four lounges and bars, a casino, a well stocked duty free shop, library, card room, hair salon two restaurants a pool and medical facilities. Five of her six passenger decks are serviced by three lifts. The buffet overlooks the pool on Promenade Deck aft is located on Navigators (Boat) Deck and is reached by one flight of stairs.
After Funchal’s recent refit the Veranda deck
forward of the Gama lounge is now open to passengers as her derricks have been
removed
She is seen here in
Ship Review - MV
Funchal in
As this image indicates, as do all others, her paintwork is
immaculate!
My first impression of the ship was how spotlessly
clean she looked for a 47 (in 2011 she became a 50) year old ex classic liner,
for her external paintwork was sheer perfection, and the same can be said of
all paintwork on board and throughout the ship. There is no doubt, she is a
shinning example of how a ship should be maintained and the truth is, some of
the larger cruise companies could well learn a lesson from Classic
International Cruises (CIC), especially considering this is a Value for Money
cruise company and they do not pretend to be a more glamorous cruise line, like
the one I was on at the time!
Here we see the forward hatch open, whilst items are still
being loaded in the morning
Windows are to the Gama Lounge
Having passed all the usual security measures, as
we boarded, we were greeted by Hotel Manager Joaquim
Innes and Cruise Director John Eagan who was given the charge to show us
around.
Whilst having an enjoyable drink in the Piano
Lounge I had the opportunity to chat with quite a number of passengers, as well
as a good number out on Navigators deck. These conversations proved to be most
helpful, for each and every passenger I spoke with spoke very highly of the
ship and the crew. Passengers were obviously impressed with the superb service
they received from all the staff, being a mixture of Portuguese and
International staff. The standard of food on offer received many comments and
all I can say is that these were some of the best fed and happy passengers I
have met, certainly much happier than those on the ship we were on at the time!
Obviously, John Eagan and his staff did an excellent job as did all those who
provided the entertainment, the shows, bands, cabarets, etc, etc. The list just
went on. I was beginning to think that the people I was speaking to were paid
by Classic International Cruises, but no they were of course just passengers!
As the ship was on a voyage from Australia to the UK sailing via the Suez Canal, whilst we on the Oriana were sailing via South Africa, it was interesting to learn there were quite a few aboard who were past P&O passengers who had changed companies and now had chosen to sail annually on Funchal rather than P&O, as they felt that they were receiving far better value for money! Also, as one couple told me, “being on a smaller yacht like Funchal, we get to know all the other passengers and this has made this a happy ship and thus a wonderful cruise. When my wife and I sailed on the XXXXXX in the past, it was OK, but we really just felt like a number, and frankly the food here is just so much better as is the wonderful service. We will never go back to P&O, for here we simply feel like part of the family!”
All these comments really lined
up with the countless emails I have received over the years. The vast majority
of these have been more than favourable, with only a few having the odd
problem. Generally these related to not to having a 24 hour dinning venue, or
24 hour coffee facilities, etc. The point is: CIC is a traditional cruise
company and they are a “Value for money Cruise Company.” Some
people tend to forget that Classic International Cruises do not claim to be
anything like Cunard and they make no claim of being a 4.5 or 5 star luxury
cruise line, but they do offer an excellent cruise product. It is worth noting
that tea and coffee is available at 6.30am for those early birds.
How do the passengers rate the Funchal?
Whilst on board I managed to obtain a copy of the
passenger questionnaire results. This was based on the cruise prior the line
voyage from Fremantle to the
The Results
“Atmosphere onboard” had a 98.79%
rating. The overall cruise satisfaction rating was 94.22%. Meals (restaurant
& buffet) scored 96.8%. Entertainment scored 97.3%. However the most
amazing score of all was the "Politeness of the crew" which had a
score of 100%, which is simply unheard of in the business!
As my readers will know I have been in the
passenger shipping industry since May 1960 and started as a simple office boy,
but in due course managed a major
passenger shipping company and later part owned a cruise company in
1970’s, thus I fully understand what satisfaction percentages mean, for
they can make or beak a company! Obviously Classic International Cruises has
researched their market well and they operate good ships and they maintain them
to the very highest level, well frankly to perfection, and ensure that their
passengers receive total value for money, offering them, excellent service,
food, and superb entertainment as well as a vast variety of ports.
Is she a good sailing ship?
This is a question I am
frequently asked by those who have never sailed on a smaller sized cruise ship.
Passengers on Funchal will tell you that she sails just fine, if not as well or
even better than many of the larger ships. The point is this; the movement of a
ship is not related to the size of a ship, but good hull design. You will find
that ships designed in the 1960’s, as is the Funchal, had superior
sailing capabilities than many of the large cruise ships of today. Many of
these modern ships were certainly not designed for heavy seas. In addition many
of these ships will have up to 13/14 decks in their square superstructures
sitting on a low 3 deck shallow draught hull design, whilst Funchal is a long
and sleek ship having a low profile. In addition, for your comfort Funchal is
fully stabilized and of course air-conditioned!
A photographic deck by deck tour of the ship
Navigators Deck:
Public Facilities: Aft is the delightful fully covered Buffet, which offers
breakfast and lunch daily, as well as especially themed buffets on various
occasions. This is also the venue for deck parties at night.
Above and below: The Buffet
Accommodations: Cabins on this deck are as follows: Category 9, being
Outside Premium Twin bedded cabin with windows, with a TV, refrigerator, safe
and a hairdryer - also on Azores Deck. Category 10, being Outside Superior twin
bedded rooms with a picture window, with a TV, refrigerator, safe and a
hairdryer - also on Azores Deck. In addition there is one category 11 two
roomed Suite, with a separate bed and sitting room with the aforementioned
“
Open deck: This
deck is blessed with a spacious promenade on both port and starboard, ideal for
sport facilities and just relaxing in the sun reading a book, as many did
whilst in port just prior departure.
A well kept ship with superbly kept lifeboats
Navigators (Boat) Deck Starboard
looking aft
Promenade Deck:
Public Rooms & Facilities: Forward is the delightful Gama lounge. This room has a
delightful ambience with the curved bar centrally located on the forward wall,
sided by windows on both sides making a bright and colourful room, as the
photographs hereunder prove. The aft wall contains both fine timbers, providing
those touches of yesteryear, yet also modern art work.
Gama Lounge – looking forward
Gama
Lounge – looking port/aft
Gama Lounge – looking starboard/aft (AH)
The Gama Lounge Bandstand – located forward starboard
of the Bar (AH)
The lift and a remarkable semi circular forward stairwell
face these chairs
Library, Zarco Hall
Casino & Slots: The Library is located on the
starboard side of the Zarco Hall Casino. As can be
seen from the library photo there are ample books to choose from. The tables
can also be used for cards or whatever game you may wish to play. The main hall
between the Library is named “Zarco Hall” and this is the Casino venue at night
complete with tables, etc, whilst on the portside there is a separate room for
those noisy slot machines. For those who like a gamble, there are suitable
facilities onboard.
Zarco Hall (Casino) - looking towards the Slots Room on the port
side (AH)
Piano Lounge: This delightful room, has fine timber wall cladding and a
large curved bar and with its well arranged furnishings this rooms makes for a
delightfully intimate environment for a chat with fellow passengers, enjoying a
drink and enjoying the sounds of the ships pianist & band.
Piano Lounge – the author with Cruise Director John
Eagan
Piano Lounge – looking to starboard (AH)
Hairdresser, Photographer, Shop: The starboard hallway leading aft contains these three facilities,
all of which have excellent facilities for a ship of Funchal’s size!
Ilha-Verde-Lounge: Aft on Promenade deck is the 350 seat Ilha-Verde-Lounge.
This is the ships main Show Lounge and entertainment venue of the ship. During
the day this room is used for general entertainments, whist at night it is
rearranged with seats facing the stage for the show presentations. This room
also has a large dance floor near the stage and a bar offering waiter service
to the tables. Again, during the day this room is bright and airy, but I am
told at night it takes on a whole new atmosphere!
Open deck: Promenade
deck has wider deck space available forward of the ship, rather than aft, next
to the Ilha-Verde-Lounge. Aft on Promenade deck is
the Lido Bar with ample tables and chairs in the shade to enjoy a drink, then
there is the Pool with two showers at the side, and a huge sun deck with ample
deckchairs to soak up the sun!
The Lido
Bar
The
Pool and Sun Deck
The
Pool and Sun Deck – looking up to the Buffet
Reception:
Forward in the main lobby and the Reception Desk. One of the unique features of
the Funchal is the forward semi circular stairwell that commences at
Pursers
Office / Reception Desk
Lisboa Restaurant – looking aft
The Gym: Far
aft, and yes you cannot go any further aft than this, is the Gym. As the
photograph shows, it has some of the basic equipments as well as a few not
seen. However, there is always walking around the deck and sports to add to the
list of activities. But there is no reason to leave the ship not fit, unless of
course you decide to spend less time in the gym and more time in the restaurant
and buffet!
Madeira/Algarve & Estoril Decks:
The ships medical centre is located
aft on Madeira deck, apart from that these three decks are occupied by cabins
of various grades, be the value for money inside cabins or outside ones with a
porthole or a picture window. Check the Classic International Cruises brochure
for cabin details. This page only contains a few of the cabin grades available.
However, no matter which cabin you choose, you will be comfortable and have the
facilities of the ship!
The following four images were provided by (CIC) - Classic International Cruises.
Outside
Twin with a window
Outside
Twin with a porthole
Inside
Twin
Inside
Twin/Three or four berth cabin
Funchal with her long elegant sleek lines!
She has a fine stern view
SOLAS 2010:
A Special Update: As I reported in 2008, the Funchal will certainly not be sold and
head the way of so many other classic ships and head to the Indian breaker's
yards. For her owners have meticulously maintained this fine ship and
constantly upgraded her and the good news is MV Funchal has been upgraded and
now is fully SOLAS 2010 compliant.
Her 2011 refit:
MV Funchal has just completed an AU$5.7
million refurbishment and she will even better than she already is. As my
Funchal Ship Review will reveal she offers four elegant lounges, bars, a pool, library with internet facilities, a casino, gym and
sauna. She has two restaurants and is just one-sitting considering her small
passenger complement. The famed “Berlitz Guide to Cruise Ships,”
praises Funchal’s “delightful character and charm” as well as
her “feeling of camaraderie and friendliness from the loyal crew”
and her “classy” piano bar. It states that she has “A highly
polished wooden spiral stairway is a beautiful, classic piece of decoration not
found in today’s ships,” the Berlitz guide continues. “The
atmosphere aboard Funchal all our stylish, traditional liners deliberately
captures the classic shipboard life of a bygone era,” Classic
International Cruises Managing Director, Grant Hunter, said. “It’s
cruising as it was meant to be, relaxing and friendly with a sense of the ocean
and all its adventure and nautical traditions.” Having sailed on the MV
Athena only several months ago from Fremantle to
MV Funchal - INDEX
Page One …
Page Two … Deck Plan
Page Three …
MV Athena … This is the
author’s 4 page cruise review sailing from Fremantle to
MS Stockholm … Athena’s history page on
ssmaritime.com
MV Princess Daphne … A delightful ship with a fine British history
MS Port Sydney
… Princess Daphne’s history page on
ssmaritime.com
MS Istra … Arion
was built as a Yugoslavian cruise ship
in 1965 - on ssmaritime.com
Visit
For
CIC’s UK/European fleet - schedules visit: CIC Cruises - UK
Click on ships - then the ship of choice ship and do a
Quick search
Website - Click
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Who is the Author of Cruise-Australia & ssMaritime?
Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May
1960
Contact the Author …
Please
Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial
and privately owned cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping
industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write
cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and
ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the
future.
However, if you are interested in a cruise, I
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