Introducing the New Macaronesia Cruise Destination: A Fresh Alternative to the Caribbean

Paula Cabaco, the president of Madeira Ports/APRAM SA, has identified a significant goal for the association, which unites the port authorities of Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde: to establish a cohesive cruise destination called Macaronesia.

Cabaco emphasized that this new direction is essential; a cruise destination that presents a direct and unified approach to the industry. She pointed out that the four archipelagos under the Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI) brand have unique qualities and identities that, when combined, create an appealing and distinct offering for cruise tourism.

She compared the potential of the Macaronesian islands to the well-established Caribbean cruise market, asserting that they could become a significant cruise destination in the Atlantic. This vision was reiterated at the 2024 CAI Conference held in Funchal. This conference marked the first formal gathering of the port authorities from Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, including Las Palmas and Tenerife, and Cape Verde, following the official establishment of the International Association of Ports of Macaronesia.

The formation of this legal entity opens up new possibilities, such as the chance to seek European funding to enhance the destination’s profile and a unified representation for the archipelagos when negotiating with cruise companies. Cabaco highlighted the significance of having a single point of contact, mentioning the association’s upcoming steps, which include a general assembly scheduled for November 11th in Madrid, where the activity plan for the next year will be set.

During this founding meeting, the governing bodies of the association will be established, and the presidency will rotate among its members, with Paula Cabaco slated to serve the first two-year term. Conference speakers emphasized the benefits of the Macaronesian islands as a cruise destination, citing their safety, distinctive nature, complementary aspects, alongside high-quality port infrastructure, favorable climate, air travel connectivity, and closeness to major European capitals.

Moreover, at the conference, APRAM seized the opportunity to formalize an environmental cooperation agreement, with the presence of CLIA Europe’s vice president, Nikos Mertzadinis.

This agreement, endorsed by the Funchal City Council, CLIA, and Madeira Ports, commits to annual reforestation and environmental education efforts within the Funchal Ecological Park, involving cruise lines that visit Madeira. This initiative was quickly initiated with a tree planting event taking place in the park during the conference.