Time Travel on Columbus Replica Flag Ship in Madeira

When booking this trip, we were unconvinced it would be anything but a bit "touristy". We couldn't have been more wrong. We were out for a good three hours, including seeing a pod of whales on the way out. Okay, its never guaranteed to see wildlife of course, but what is well thought out is that all the boats and catamarans and the Santa Maria are all in contact with each other, and if there is something to see, the boat that has located the whales or the dolphins will let the others know. Each boat gives the wildlife space, and time is limited so as not to stress them. We ventured along the coast where some went swimming in the sea and others were treated to a glass of Madeira wine and a piece of honey cake. It was nice out on the sea. On land in early October it was around 25 degrees, but out on the sea there was a cooler breeze giving some respite to the heat and humidity. Seeing Funchal from the sea gives a different perspective to the city and is well worth it. However, doing so from the Santa Maria made it all somehow just that bit more special. Whenever we sailed past, people waved, took photos and were genuinely surprised at what they saw. The crew were really good. Despite the lack of wind that day, they still dropped the mainsail, just for the experience. So what began with us wondering if perhaps we should have booked a catamaran, ended up being one of the highlights of our fortnight. Plus, seeing the amount of people boarding the catamarans, we knew we'd made the right choice. A few points to be aware of: Yes, there is a bar. Yes, there are toilets. If you want to swim, you can change in the toilets. Bring your own towel. You can bring your own food and drink.