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International Cruises

MS Funchal

Your Rating:
Reviewed by:Frank Gradwell
# previous cruises: 4
Date of Trip: May 13, 2004
Itinerary: Repositioning

A long May weekend around the top of Scotland out of Liverpool to Dundee to put her in place for Baltic cruising. She is a traditional forty year old motor vessel, and at just less than 10,000 tons she suits coastal cruising admirably

A pocket version of the big ships she has everything they have in smaller versions, two restaurants, theatre lounge, three bars, library/ games room, casino, shopping, hair salon. Outdoors and amongst the cabins her sheer is quite pronounced as you would expect on a small ship. She has open air strolling or lounging on the boat and promenade decks, with a small fantail incorporating an outdoor swimming pool and a very small deck below right at the stern with a small gym. She is splendidly wood panelled with brass detail and although the white glove test would be a fail she is quite well kept overall. The one dramatic failing is the complete lack of forward vision, with viewing only available through glass and then over a cargo handling forward deck obstructed by ropes and cranes

Food - not the largest selection or the best we have ever eaten, but worth six out of ten. I have never eaten mustard grain and honey sorbet before and don't know if I will again!

The waiters need to learn that they are there to serve the customers. Passengers not fitting in with the waiters way of doing things were soon pointed in the right direction. Its only a little thing, but it remains in the memory.

Scotland was a little too cool for outdoor dining, but it was tried just once. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the choice and quality presented - four out of ten for that element.

The bars and drinks staff were generally fine, and drawn from the usual variety of continents. Drinks were of reasonable choice and price.

In the restaurant wine prices were fair for cruise levels - and yes, on a Portuguese ship you could get lashings of Mateus Rose

We had assumed this little cruise would not attract the crowds and left it late to book. How wrong we were. We got one of the last two cabins available, a four berth inner which we used for three of us.

We lived in a similar home on Norway for sixteen nights after managing to get on board long after a declared sell out, so three nights here was a doddle. There was no cabin TV however

The berths were aligned lengthways and the cabin was pleasantly cool. There was limited clothes storage, but for three nights that was not a problem. The shower was adequate, but not if you were over six foot tall as we were told by our table companions. I'm five nine so no problems.

Considering our midships lower deck location we were not disturbed by noise and were only rocked to sleep twice as she met areas of less than smooth seas for a few minutes during the first two nights

We are not show goers but did take a peek -seemed just like any other show to me - earnest young people looking for a break, but nothing special, but nothing bad either.

The piano player was a Scot going home - in his element. I didn't fault him, but I heard some criticising his musical skills.

The duo in the forward lounge played Th' Eagles every night for their fans. They didn't seem like a casual pairing for the cruise and worked together well with a patter that couldn't help but involve their audience

No lecturers - poor show chaps - perhaps I should volunteer! The usual bingo or "learn to" sessions. The library was reasonably stocked

The pool was emptied and refilled every day but even if it had been warm enough it didn't look inviting at all

We called in to Oban and Kirkwall (Orkney) - The shore excursions were typically expensive - and then some!

#66 for a run from Oban to Tyndrum to Fort William to Oban - no wonder the coaches had come from Glasgow. For a charter at those prices each coach could earn #2,772 per day.

We didn't go! just wandered around Oban taking photos on this rare five ship day.

At Kirkwall we hired a car which was delivered to the pier for us - thirty four pounds for the three of us to tour as we wished - beats thirty four pounds each for a single destination shore excursion

The clientele were largely first timers or cruise nuts looking for a rare bit of coastline on a traditional ship.

Both groups went away happy at this bargain basement opportunity to see some lovely rare coastline, from a teak railed teak decked viewpoint on a ship that looks like and feels like a ship should.

If you want every cruise amenity, climbing walls etc, then Funchal is not for you.

If you are prepared to be a little less discriminating to get to places like those on this trip then she is a breath of fresh air.

We are going the other way round aboard her from Newcastle on Tyne to Greenock in August, booked together with this cruise, before we had experienced a minute on board this pleasant little ship.

Now that we know her we have no concerns at all unless someone throws a force eight or over at us, as at less then 10,000 tons the pianist confirmed she can roll if given the chance - but that with his knees wedged under the piano that he was in best place as she crossed the Bay of Biscay.

Would we go again - we are doing - but it is another short sail and that is probably what she excels at.