Funchal - the end

Thursday 30^th October

After all the confusion and conflicting advice yesterday as to when or if to put out our luggage, we had packed and put it out at midnight last night. We woke up just as we were sailing up the Tagus River. I was soon out on deck to take photos of the Belem Castle and Monument of the Discoveries as this time it was from a very different angle being so comparatively low in the water. My friend joined me and I spotted a ship following us in to Lisbon - my favourite - Oriana! We sailed under the 25 April Bridge, but in the centre as usual but under the land-side span! We were berthing at the cruise terminal near to the bridge and Container Terminal and just across from Azores - being refitted before joining Cruise & Maritime Voyages next year. We even had our own tug!! Switzer Funchal.

We had breakfast and then pottered around on deck waiting for permission to leave. We saw our cases waiting on the quayside, so around 9.45am said our goodbyes and went to go ashore. As they were scanning our cards at the gangway, My friend was denied shore leave due to a so-called unpaid bill! As she had cleared her account last evening this was a complete surprise and a bit embarrassing. I continued down the gangway to claim our cases while she sorted it. Then we walked out through the terminal to the car park expecting to see a car and driver with my name - nothing! After 10 mins, I phoned the company and eventually was told it would 10-15 mins. By the time 10.30 came we were starting to panic and I called again. This time I was struggling to make myself understood, finally resorting to a phonetic language I thought he might understand - P for Portugal, O for Obidos, O, L for Lisbon, E for Estoril! One of the taxi drivers burst out clapping! Just as I was starting to lose it the car arrived - he had gone to Oriana!  He quickly loaded our cases and we sped through the outer roads to the airport where we arrived at around 11.00 - just time to check-in our bags and then head through security. It was straightforward and we didn't have to show phones and cameras switched on. Into the departures lounge to wait for around an hour. When the time came to check in at the gate our passports were checked and we then had another wait. Apparently they had switched aircraft and ours needed refuelling etc. Finally we were able to climb the steps and find our seat. It was a bit cramped but I had room to stretch my legs out. We took off about 10 mins late but still arrived early. Once through passport control we claimed our cases were on our way home.

In conclusion - Funchal is small and an old ship - we knew this and this was the attraction in booking her, BUT we enquired beforehand on various forums and no-one said she rolled so much. It may have been that her stabilisers were damaged while waiting out the storm in the Irish Sea. It also never occurred to me that the retrofitted lifts didn't go up as far as our deck meaning we had to use the stairs, regardless. The crew were pretty much universally friendly and service was good. The food was tasty and interesting and often ethnic, although not always to my taste. I love fish, but the few I tried were very bony - which I hate. The cabin was small and storage limited but fine for our 8 days on board. The décor was a mixture of modern (to meet new SOLAS regs) and 1960s - fortunately a period I love. Daytime activities were limited and often childish but fun if you joined in with the right spirit. I loved the shows which were very different from mainstream lines - the dancers were balletic and the final show depicting the history of Portugal, captivating. Would I go again - possibly not but I certainly don't regret trying her.

Boat deck (another promenade deck below)