Where to go · CHRISTMAS CRUISES IN PORTUGAL
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 4 christmas cruises in Portugal worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Join Seaborn Catamaran at Funchal Marina at 11:00 PM for a 90-minute New Year’s Eve cruise. Sail past Madeira’s Christmas lights, return to Funchal Bay for the midnight fireworks, and toast with champagne and Madeira wine. English and Portuguese are spoken, but the boat is not wheelchair accessible.
“Absolutely brilliant, great crew. Lovely atmosphere everyone was out to have a good time.”
Board at Spanish Dock in Alcântara at 11 p.m. for a two-hour New Year’s Eve cruise on the Tagus. You’ll pass Praça do Comércio, see the 25 April Bridge and Saint George’s Castle from the water, enjoy an open bar of beer, wine, and sangria, then toast midnight with sparkling wine and raisins.
“I would definitely recommend this. We all thought we'd like it but seeing the fireworks from the water with the city in the background was spectacular. The crew on the boat were attentive such as handing out blankets and always checking on us. The boat was very nice and was a great experience all around.”
Spend three hours aboard a sailboat with Bloo Boat Charter, taking in Lisbon’s riverside landmarks before midnight fireworks. Guides speak English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Expect wine, sparkling wine, bolo rei, raisins, blankets, and wide views from Belém to Alfama. Dress warmly, since this is an open-air sailing experience.
“Joao and Justin were wonderful on our New Year’s Eve Fireworks Sailing Cruise on the Tagus River. We loved seeing Lisbon from the river! They pointed out landmarks and explained the history. It was a cold night and they provided plenty of blankets to keep us warm. It was a great evening of beautiful sights, fireworks, and fun conversation. Thank you!!”
Join Marlin Tours for a two-hour New Year’s Eve cruise from Alcântara. Sip beer, white wine, and sangria as Lisbon’s monuments glow after dark, then toast midnight with sparkling wine and raisins near Commerce Square. The boat has inside and outside areas, but bring warm clothing for wind on the river.
“Highlight of our trip. They took us to the perfect up close viewing of the fireworks which lasted a solid 10 minutes. The staff was very welcoming, ensuring we had a good time - plenty of beer and wine plus snacks. The catamaran had inside and outside areas, which we tried to huddle where it was warm due to unusually cold night. Meet up location was easy to find and well organized. Champagne and raisins distributed at midnight. Checked in at 10, boarded 10:30, disembarked at 11, and returned at 1am.”
Pick a market, a sleigh, a stage or a river.
