Cruising the High Seas – Lisbon to Madeira

March 19 – 22, 2023

My friends know that I’m an avid cruiser. I love cruising for a variety of reasons. During harsh Canadian winters, it’s great to escape to Florida and the Caribbean for some sun and fun. Cruising is also a great way to get a taste of an exotic location; if you like it you can head back for more thorough exploration. I often cruise alone because it’s easy to meet people (or not) as you prefer and the ship’s excursions allow solo travellers to explore safely. This time, though, I’m travelling with a pack of former colleagues from my time working in the Canadian Embassy in Moscow. They’re a fun group with the uber-organized Craig as our fearless leader. Sunday morning, after a great breakfast at the hotel, the nine of us grabbed a caravan of cabs to transport us and our steamer trunks to the cruise port in Lisbon to board our home for the next two weeks; the Norwegian Sun.

The beautiful sunny day lends itself to lounging on the pool deck and reading (one of my favourite activities for downtime on cruises). The pool has icy cold water but being from Halifax, it doesn’t compare to the waters of the North Atlantic even in the summer. The next day is a sea day so more lounging and reading before joining the gang for dinner and a game of cards.

We docked in Funchal, Madeira on March 21st for two days. The crew is heading out on an excursions, organized by Craig, but as I’ve been here a couple of times, I opted to do my own thing.

Funchal is the capital city of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago. It’s backed by hills, and known for its harbor, gardens and wine cellars. The first day in port, I explored Funchal on the Hop On Hop Off bus. Another beautiful day so I enjoyed the ride and the many interesting vistas along the way.

After the crew got back, we headed off to dinner and then to check out some of the activities onboard. Ron and Andy were selected to participate in the hilarious “The Not So Newlywed Game” and we all learned a bit more about them!

Day two in Funchal and the crew are off to check out the tobogganing while I opt for more lounging an reading. I’m seeing a pattern here, lol! Another group dinner, some cards and a trip to the casino to try my luck and then it’s time to call it quits for the day. 

Tomorrow is another day.  Adventures await …