Two cruise ships bring nearly 9,000 people to Funchal

The Port of Funchal is hosting two major cruise ships this weekend, bringing a combined total of approximately 8,975 passengers and crew members to Madeira.

The Celebrity Xcel, the newest vessel in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, arrived from Lisbon on Saturday morning. The ship carries 4,638 people, including 3,202 passengers and 1,436 crew members. It is currently on an 11-night itinerary that began in Barcelona and includes stops in Cadiz and Lisbon. Following its stay in Funchal, the ship is scheduled to depart for Tangier, Morocco, before visiting Palma de Mallorca and returning to Barcelona.

On Sunday morning, the Norwegian Viva is expected to arrive from Motril, Spain. This vessel carries 4,337 people, consisting of 2,884 passengers and 1,453 crew members. The Norwegian Viva is on a repositioning voyage from Barcelona to Galveston, Texas, with an itinerary that includes stops in St. Maarten, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.