Funchal

History

Funchal is a Portuguese passenger ship built in 1961. A fleet overview initially lists her under Classic International Cruises. After the company ceased operations in 2012, Funchal and the ships Arion, Athena and Princess Danae were sold to Portuguese entrepreneur Rui Alegre in January 2013; he planned to relaunch them under the name Portuscale Cruises. A later overview describes Funchal as laid up and reports that she had spent much of the preceding 15 years in the port of Lisbon. It also notes an auction in December 2018 and documents the subsequent announcement of an auction scheduled for September 2026. The also-mentioned plan to use the ship as a hotel ship in London is presented there as a proposal.