{{Short description|Ocean liner (launched 1961)}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Funchal IMO 5124162 P Göteborg 07-1976.jpg | image_caption = MV ''Funchal'' in Gothenburg, July 1976 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = Portugal | flag = {{shipboxflag|Portugal|size=40px}} | name = ''Funchal'' | namesake = Funchal | owner = | operator = Empresa Insulana de Navegação | registry = Lisbon | route = | ordered = | awarded = | builder = Helsingør Skibsværft A/S | original_cost = | yard_number = 353 | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = 10 February 1961 | sponsor = | christened = | completed = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = 4 November 1961 | in_service = 1961 | out_of_service = 1974 | renamed = | reclassified = | refit = 1972 | struck = | reinstated = | homeport = Lisbon | identification = *Call sign: CSBM *{{IMO Number|5124162}} *{{MMSI|255971000}} | captured = | notes = | badge = }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = title | country = Portugal | flag = {{shipboxflag|Portugal|size=40px}} | name = ''Funchal'' | namesake = | owner = | operator = CTM - Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Marítimos | registry = Lisbon | route = | ordered = | awarded = | builder = | original_cost = | yard_number = | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = | sponsor = | christened = | completed = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = | in_service = 1974 | out_of_service = 1985 | renamed = | reclassified = | refit = 1972 | struck = | reinstated = | homeport = Lisbon | identification = | captured = | notes = | badge = }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = title | country = Portugal | flag = | name = ''Funchal'' | namesake = | owner = G. Warwick Co. Inc | operator = Classic International Cruises | registry = *1985–2001: Panama City, {{flag|Panama}} *2001 onwards: Madeira, {{flag|Portugal}} | route = | ordered = | awarded = | builder = | original_cost = | yard_number = | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = | sponsor = | christened = | completed = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = | in_service = 1985 | out_of_service = 2011 | renamed = | reclassified = | refit = | struck = | reinstated = | homeport = | identification = | captured = | fate = Transferred to Portuscale Cruises in 2013 | notes = | badge = }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = title | country = Portugal | flag = {{shipboxflag|Portugal|size=40px}} | name = ''Funchal'' | namesake = | owner = Brock Pierce<ref name=jornaleconomico>{{cite web|title=Brock Pierce: O criptomilionário que comprou o paquete Funchal|date=31 July 2021 |url=https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/brock-pierce-o-criptomilionario-que-comprou-o-paquete-funchal-769051|access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref> | registry = Madeira, {{flag|Portugal}} | route = | ordered = | awarded = | builder = | original_cost = | yard_number = | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = | sponsor = | christened = | completed = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = | in_service = 2013 | out_of_service = 2015 | renamed = | reclassified = | refit = 2013, 2021 | struck = | reinstated = 2021 as Static Hotel | homeport = Lisbon | identification = *Call sign: CSBM *{{IMO Number|5124162}} *{{MMSI|255971000}} | captured = | status = Moored at Cais Da Matinha | notes = | badge = }}

|section6={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Ocean liner | tonnage = {{GT|9,563}} | displacement = | length = {{cvt|152.6|m}} | beam = {{cvt|19.05|m}} | height = | draught = | depth = {{cvt|6.18|m}} | hold_depth = | decks = 6 | deck_clearance = | ramps = | power = | propulsion = | speed = {{convert|16|kn|lk=in}} | range = | boats = | capacity = 524 passengers | crew = 155 | notes = }} }} '''MV ''Funchal''''' is a Portuguese ocean liner that was built in 1961.

==Construction and configuration== thumb|left|''Funchal'' being built at Helsingor, February 5, 1961 The ship was built in 1961, under the guidance of the Portuguese naval engineer Rogério d'Oliveira. ''Funchal'' is an ocean liner with a classic profile and interiors.

The ship's features include stabilisation, air-conditioning, three lifts, a main show lounge (Ilha Verde), piano bar (Porto Bar), club room, library, card room, lido bar, shop, photo shop, medical centre, excursion office, and reception with exchange facilities.

==Early service== thumb|left|The steamship {{SS|Lima||2}} In the late 1950s Portuguese shipping company Empresa Insulana de Navegação began to plan a running-mate for its popular but ageing steamship {{SS|Lima||2}} on the Lisbon – Madeira route. The new ship was laid down in July 1960, and was launched as ''Funchal'' (after the capital of Madeira) on February 10, 1961. She was delivered to Insulana de Navegação in October, and began her maiden voyage from Lisbon to Madeira via Ponta Delgada, Azores on November 4.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=SS Funchal |url= http://ssmaritime.com/funchal.htm/}}</ref>

From 1961 to 1972 ''Funchal'' worked the Lisbon – Azores – Madeira route consistently, aside from periodic charters by the Portuguese government to act as the country's presidential yacht for both recreational and official functions, including state visits to Brazil in 1968 and 1972 (on the latter trip, repatriating the ashes of Brazil's first Emperor, Pedro I).<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Empresário norte-americano gastou sete milhões para comprar e transformar paquete Funchal em hotel de luxo |url=https://jornaleconomico.pt/noticias/empresario-norte-americano-gastou-sete-milhoes-para-comprar-e-transformar-paquete-funchal-em-hotel-de-luxo-776679//}}</ref>

However, the ship's boilers had been problematic since her launch, with frequent breakdowns and unplanned maintenance periods, and on a 1972 trip from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro carrying President Américo Tomás, ''Funchal'' broke down in mid-Atlantic, and limped into Rio two days late after emergency repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Empresário norte-americano gastou sete milhões para comprar e transformar paquete Funchal em hotel de luxo |url=https://jornaleconomico.pt/noticias/empresario-norte-americano-gastou-sete-milhoes-para-comprar-e-transformar-paquete-funchal-em-hotel-de-luxo-776679//}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the boiler failure, Empresa Insulana de Navegação sent Funchal to Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij NV in Amsterdam, Netherlands in late 1972, where her original boilers and Parsons turbines were removed and replaced with a pair of 9-cylinder Werkspoor diesel engines, making a total of 10,000 hp. The company took the opportunity to also rebuild ''Funchal'' as a single-class cruise ship. Tourist A and B cabins were mostly rebuilt, to enable a greater share of rooms with private bathrooms, and cargo hold space was converted into additional cabins. Upon re-delivery in May 1973, ''Funchal'' now carried 465 passengers in one class, and had a top speed of just 18 knots, 16 knots cruising, slower, but more reliable and efficient.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=SS Funchal |url=http://ssmaritime.com/funchal.htm/}}</ref>

After making a few cruises with her original black hull, ''Funchal'' was repainted white in the spring of 1973. From 1973 to 1974, her routes varied, sailing from Dover, United Kingdom and Zeebrugge, Belgium down to the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde during the summer months, shifting to Rio de Janeiro for cruises along the South American coast during the winter. By this point, Funchal's owners were struggling financially, and, in early 1974, merged with their larger counterpart, Companhia Colonial de Navegação, to create Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Marítimos (CPTM), with ''Funchal'' becoming part of the combined fleet. Later in 1974, following the revolution that toppled the Estado Novo regime, CPTM was nationalized by the new government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=SS Funchal |url=http://ssmaritime.com/funchal.htm/}}</ref>

[[File:"Funchal" - Tilbury, 1977.jpg|left|thumb|''Funchal'' in Tilbury, 1977]] In 1976 CPTM placed ''Funchal'' under long-term charter to Greek businessman Georgios Potamianos, a member of the family that also controlled Epirotiki Lines (later known as Royal Olympic / Olympia Cruise Lines). Potamianos formed Arcalia Shipping Company to manage and market the ship, basing ''Funchal'' in Harwich, United Kingdom during the summer, running cruises around the Baltic Sea and Norwegian fjords, moving to Rio de Janeiro in the winter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=SS Funchal |url=http://ssmaritime.com/funchal.htm/}}</ref>

==Service with Classic International Cruises== ''Funchal'' was the first vessel to join the Classic International Cruises fleet in 1984, and under that flag successfully served the British cruise market for over 20 years, carrying thousands of passengers.

[[File:Cruise vessel MV Funchal in Helsinki June 2009.JPG|thumb|''Funchal'' in Helsinki, June 2009]] Having undergone extensive work in 2010, to comply with SOLAS 2010, ''Funchal'' went to a Lisbon Shipyard in February 2011 for a lengthy refit, which included changes to its power plant as well as passenger and crew cabins and public lounges. The idea was to make the ship fit for service for at least another ten years. In November 2011, she completed 50 years of service, always under the same name. However, in 2012, work stopped towards April with only 20% of the required work completed. Following Classic International Cruises' liquidation, in December 2012, the ship faced the threat of being sold for scrap.

==Service with Portuscale Cruises== In early 2013 a Portuguese entrepreneur Rui Alegre purchased ''Funchal'', as well as ''Princess Danae'', ''Arion'' and ''Athena'', to serve the newly-formed Portuscale Cruises. During 2013, ''Funchal'' was extensively refurbished in Lisbon's Naval Rocha shipyards, being upgraded to a four-star vessel, at a cost of about 10 million euros. In the refurbishment, the ship's hull was re-painted black, its original colour.

On 1 August 2013 the refurbished ''Funchal'' was re-instated in the presence of prime minister Passos Coelho. In early August 2013, the ship left drydock in Lisbon, Portugal and, on 27 August 2013, arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden, to restart her cruising career.

[[File:Funchal Göteborg 01.jpg|thumb|''Funchal'' in Gothenburg on August 30, 2013]] On 28 August 2013 ''Funchal'' was detained at Gothenburg. The cruise ship was fully laden with passengers but was not allowed to leave. According to some Swedish press accounts, many safety issues were found.<ref name=Pavlica2013>{{cite web |last=Pavlica |first=Adrianna |title=Fartyget stoppades – ligger kvar i Göteborg |trans-title=The ship was stopped — will remain in Gothenburg |url= http://www.expressen.se/gt/fartyget-stoppades--ligger-kvar-i-goteborg/ |date=28 August 2013 |website=Expressen.se |language=sv |access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref> In a press release, the Portuscale Cruise CEO denied the existence of safety issues, saying that the issues were related to the malfunctioning of two watertight doors and one sprinkler station, issues that had already been detected by the crew, who had informed the Swedish Port State Control authorities.

On 3 September 2013, with the issues resolved, and all inspections made and certifications granted, ''Funchal'' left Gothenburg harbour and restarted her cruise, heading to Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portuscale Cruises - The Discoveries Continue |url= http://www.portuscalecruises.pt/en-GB/Portuscale-Cruises--The-Discoveries-Continue.aspx|date=2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131002132922/http://www.portuscalecruises.pt/en-GB/Portuscale-Cruises--The-Discoveries-Continue.aspx |archive-date=2 October 2013 |website=Portuscale Cruises |access-date=24 October 2015}}</ref>

==Signature Living== On 5 December 2018 ''Funchal'' was sold at auction in Lisbon for €3.1&nbsp;million. The buyers were named as Signature Living, a UK-based hotel group who intended to convert the ship to a party hotel to travel from Liverpool to the Mediterranean.<ref name="Negocios">{{cite news |last=Neves |first=Rui |title=Britânica Signature Living compra o paquete Funchal por 3,91 milhões |url= https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/turismo---lazer/detalhe/britanica-signature-living-compra-o-paquete-funchal-por-391-milhoes |access-date=9 December 2018 |work=Jornal de Negocios |publisher=Cofina Media SA |date=5 December 2018 |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Funchal Poised to Become Hotel Ship in London |url= https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/20041-funchal-poised-to-become-hotel-ship-in-london.html |access-date=9 December 2018 |work=Cruise Industry News |date=7 December 2018 |place=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=It's Anchors Aweigh on the Signature Living Party Boat Hotel |url= https://www.signatureliving.co.uk/signature-living-party-boat/ |website=signatureliving.co.uk |access-date=2 January 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190102193444/https://www.signatureliving.co.uk/signature-living-party-boat/ |archive-date=2 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, payment was not made and the ship remained laid up in Lisbon. According to industry sources, the ''Funchal'' was to be towed to Liverpool as soon as new owners Signature Living made the final payment on the vessel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 October 2019 |title=Neue Pläne für MS Funchal |url= https://www.cruisedeck.de/neue-plaene-fuer-ms-funchal/}}</ref> However, on 30 June 2020, Signature Living entered administration with the administrators arranging for the disposal of ''Funchal''. She thus remained moored in Lisbon.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/onboard-plush-signature-living-party-18518164 |title=Onboard Signature Living party boat that will now never set sail |first=Jenny |last=Kirkham |date=June 30, 2020 |work=Liverpool Echo}}</ref>

==Plan for conversion into a hotel== In December 2020, while the ''Funchal'' was still laid up in Lisbon, the ship was put up for auction by sealed tender.<ref>{{cite web |title=Got US$ 2 million to spare ? You now can own your very own cruise ship |url= https://rutair.com/news/classic-liner-up-for-auction-after-cruise-venture-closes-shop/ |date=30 December 2020 |website=Rutair |access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> The ship was purchased by cryptocurrency billionaire Brock Pierce, who paid US$1.9 million/€1.6 million for the ship, who planned to convert it into a 200-room, 5 star hotel at Yard Naval da Rocha Conde de Óbidos. The costs to refurbish the ship was estimated to be US$6.4 million/€5.5 million. Pierce also bought the 75 year-old {{MV|Astoria||2}}, docked in Rotterdam (currently being scrapped in Belgium), which was also to be transferred to Lisbon for refurbishing and naval certificates, with eventual plans to travel to Funchal, Madeira.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://tvi24.iol.pt/internacional/criptomoedas/brock-pierce-o-criptomilionario-que-um-dia-quis-ser-presidente-dos-estados-unidos |title=Brock Pierce, o criptomilionário que um dia quis ser presidente dos Estados Unidos |website=TVI24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/paquete-funchal-ganha-nova-vida_v1337780|title=Paquete Funchal ganha nova vida |first=Rádio e Televisão de |last=Portugal |website=Paquete Funchal ganha nova vida}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cabrita-Mendes |first=André |date=24 August 2021 |title=Empresário norte-americano gastou sete milhões para comprar e transformar paquete Funchal em hotel de luxo |url= https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/empresario-norte-americano-gastou-sete-milhoes-para-comprar-e-transformar-paquete-funchal-em-hotel-de-luxo-776679 |website=O Jornal Económico}}</ref>

Work appeared to be slow.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/empresas/paquete-funchal-transformado-em-hotel-flutuante-13940850.html |title=Paquete Funchal transformado em hotel flutuante |date=15 July 2021 }}</ref> In September 2021, the ship was the scene of a fire incident, which resulted in 20 fire crews rushing to the scene. One worker suffered minor smoke inhalation injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/incendio-no-paquete-funchal-faz-um-ferido |title=Incêndio no paquete 'Funchal' faz um ferido |website=www.cmjornal.pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/pj-investiga-incendios-no-paquete-funchal |title=PJ investiga incêndios no paquete 'Funchal' |website=www.cmjornal.pt}}</ref>

==Footnotes== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links and further reading== {{Commons category|IMO 5124162}}

* [http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/255971000/vessel:FUNCHAL MarineTraffic: Funchal] - Current position of RV Funchal, recent port calls and live map view. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131013023344/http://www.portuscalecruises.pt/Files/Images/Portuscale/Frota/Funchal/Quadriptico_FUNCHAL_low.pdf MV Funchal ship profile] - Portuscale Cruises profile for MV Funchal, showing deck plans and information about the public areas of the ship. * [http://www.ssmaritime.com/funchal.htm ssMaritime: SS Funchal] - Early history of ''Funchal''.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Funchal}} Category:1961 ships Category:Ships built in Helsingør Category:Cruise ships Category:Passenger ships of Portugal Category:Cruise ships of Portugal