Having done this cruise in 2019 and 2021, you’d be right to ask, “Why do the exact same itinerary again?” especially on the same ship. There’s one reason why we keep getting drawn to this particular sailing…the fireworks in Funchal, Madeira to bring in the new year are just awe inspiring every time we’ve watched them onboard.
We boarded in Tenerife and after dropping our bags in the cabin, we headed straight for dinner. Following re-familiarising ourselves with the ship, we headed to the Broadway Show Lounge where the ‘Musicals’ show was about to start.
The following day was another change-over in the port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria and we opted to spend the morning onboard, later taking a stroll out to the beach as it’s relatively close to the port. We’ve never seen a beach so busy in December! The thermometer claimed it was 29 degrees but we were a little sceptical. After walking along the bustling front, where the restaurants and bars were full, we headed back onboard to begin the voyage north to Funchal.
Waking up new years eve morning we were treated to sunny spells, if a little windy, however it was comfortable to sit on top deck for a mini sea day. We do feel more could have been onboard to build up the atmosphere ahead of the night of celebration, however, as the island of Madeira came into view, the sense of anticipation of the evening ahead increased and there was a buzz around the ship.
We opted to treat ourselves to The Dining Club and the seven course wine pairing menu. You can read about our top rated speciality dining here and The Dining Club is our number one choice, remaining in top spot after our latest experience. Following dinner we headed to Apéritif for a drink; if you’re on the premium package then you don’t need to worry about paying a supplement here. We secured our spot for the main event on deck 12, which in our opinion is the best location to watch the spectacle!
According to Madeira Island News, 27,000 people would be watching the fireworks on cruise ships alone. Keep in mind not every ship can dock so Marella Explorer is in a unique position to be able make use of the port.
Ahead of our departure from the UK, we were informed that the ship would be alongside for the fireworks but would head to anchor at 2am to allow another ship to dock. This hasn’t happened before and we thought it was a little strange. Previously we have headed out into Funchal to enjoy the atmosphere and the Christmas lights after the fireworks however the good news was the ship docked again the following afternoon meaning any lingering hangovers were well gone by the time we went out to explore Funchal and take in the Christmas lights around the town.
Top tips to make the most of New Year’s Eve onboard
- Have dinner early so you can soak up the atmosphere and entertainment onboard
- Head up to the open decks early to secure a prime viewing spot for the fireworks
- Be sure to have a drink with you to bring in the new year
- Enjoy the show!
New Year’s Day brought rain however that didn’t dampen spirts onboard as the buffet was full of special items celebrating the start of 2024. Fortunately a tender service was in operation if passengers wanted to head over to Funchal but we opted to stay onboard until the ship docked again and we disembarked into Funchal later that afternoon. The walk into the city is around 25 minutes and you’ll walk past the Ronaldo hotel, museum and statue where you can get the obligatory photo and grab some great snaps of the ship if that’s your thing.
Just after the museum and across the road, there is stepped access up to Parque de Santa Catarina which offers great views over the bay and out to sea; another great point to take photos and see the ships in port. As the sun went down the Christmas lights came on and we walked around 8km in total trying to take in as many as possible. A particular highlight being the Jardin Municipal de Funchal with: snowmen, Santa’s and sleighs dotted around the park. We did notice that the light displays had been updated since our last visit, proving Funchal obviously put in a lot of investment to this experience.
The following day was a much needed day at sea to allow for more relaxation. We had contemplated buying a pass to Oceans Spa for £29 however the weather was comfortable enough to sit out again on top deck and only improved as we got closer to our next port of call: Puerto del Resario, Fuerteventura. This happens to be one of our favourite ports on this itinerary as the beach is a short walk from the ship and is a perfect spot to take in some winter sun.
Marella Explorer hits
- The crew! As always the crew go above and beyond to make the cruise even more special.
- Aperitif bar isn’t one we had frequented previously but as we had the premium package, this turned out to be our favourite on this voyage.
- The ship was spotless
Marella Explorer misses
- The cabins need some TLC. The mattress on the bed had seen better days as it dipped in the middle. We did ask for a mattress topper which helped a little.
- Public areas need some attention. For example around The Mediterranean bar there appears to be an issue with water retention and when stepping on the tiles, water is squeezed out.
Overall
Explorer is our home away from home… following four sailings (three of which being The New Years Dream) it’s safe to say she secures a spot in our hearts! We recommend both this ship and itinerary: perfect for a winter getaway.
For The Love Of Cruise 