It can be, but whether it suits your pregnancy is a question for your doctor or midwife, not for a boat company. If they are happy, a calm day, a seat at the back, plenty of water, shade and a skipper who knows to take it gently make the trip far more comfortable.
This is general travel guidance from people who run boat trips. It is not medical advice.
Who should decide whether you go?
Your doctor or midwife. They know your pregnancy, your history and your stage. We know the boat, the coast and the sea, and we can describe those honestly so that the conversation with them is a useful one.
It helps to arrive at that appointment with the facts. A Chifbay trip is on a 9 metre motor boat that leaves from Marina do Funchal and follows the south coast west, as far as Cabo Girão, Ribeira Brava or Ponta do Sol depending on the trip. You are out for 2 to 3 hours. There is a bathroom on board, shade under a canopy, and cushioned seats. At speed the boat bumps over small waves, and on the way back the run to Funchal is fast.
Questions worth taking to your doctor:
- Is a few hours of motion and small bumps fine for you at your stage?
- Is swimming in the open sea fine, or should you stay on board?
- Which seasickness remedies, if any, are safe for you to take?
- How much sun and heat should you allow yourself?
- Does your travel insurance cover you at this stage of pregnancy, and for this kind of activity?
What does the ride actually feel like?
When the boat is stopped, you feel a slow rise and fall, like a hammock that moves on its own. When it runs fast, you feel the waves as small knocks through the seat and the floor. The south coast is usually calmer than the north, because the island's mountains block the usual north-east trade winds, but it is still the open Atlantic. Some days are glassy. Some days have a swell that you feel all the way from Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girão.
The gentlest moments come when the boat slows or stops, for example for the drone shots at Cabo Girão. The bumpiest part is usually the run back to Funchal, simply because it is the fastest. If you want to see what a calm or a lively day looks like before you book, our guide to Madeira sea conditions for a boat trip explains how to read it.
Where is the most comfortable place to sit?
At the back or in the middle, low down, facing forward. The front of any boat rises and falls the most. The back and the middle move far less.
Sit where you can hold a rail with one hand and see the horizon. On a sunny day, pick a seat under the canopy before the boat leaves, so you are not moving around once it is under way. If you need the bathroom, ask the skipper to slow down before you stand up. That is a normal request on a boat, and it makes walking across the deck much easier.
Can you ask the skipper to go slowly?
Yes, and you should. Tell the skipper before the boat leaves the pontoon that you are pregnant and would like a gentle ride. A boat that goes a little slower takes the bumps more softly, and the run home is where that matters most.
The skipper still makes the call on safety, route and timing. On a day with a lot of swell, the gentlest choice may be not to go at all. If the skipper rules the sea out, you get a new date or a full refund, your choice.
Which trip makes more sense?
If you want the gentlest option, the shorter Sunset Trip on the south coast is the easier choice. In 2 hours it runs out to Cabo Girão and back for 400 EUR per boat, and since nobody swims on it, there is no question of jumping in. The sun is lower and softer than at midday. The 2h30 option turns at Ribeira Brava for 500 EUR.
The Day Trip is built around the water, with a swim at Fajã dos Padres, another off Ribeira Brava, and paddle boards. Whether you swim is a question for your doctor. If you do get in, you can slide in gently instead of jumping, and the paddle boards are easy to leave for another year. You can compare the two on our page with both trips.
How do you handle sun, heat and water?
Drink more than you think you need, and stay in the shade for most of the trip. The breeze on the water keeps you cool, which makes the sun easy to underestimate.
Every trip carries soft drinks as well as local wine, poncha and beer, so nobody needs a reason for what is in your glass. Bring your own large bottle of water too. A wide hat, a light long-sleeved top and sun cream do more than any one of them alone.
What if you feel seasick?
Do not take any tablet, patch or remedy for seasickness unless your doctor or pharmacist has said it is fine for you in pregnancy.
The steps that need no medicine are worth knowing: eat something light before the trip, sit at the back, keep your eyes on the horizon and stay in the fresh air. There is more on each in our seasickness advice for Madeira boat trips. If you already feel sick most mornings, a boat may simply be the wrong idea for now.
When is it better to wait?
If your doctor says no, the answer is no. Beyond that, how you feel on the day decides it. A trip is a poor idea on a day when you are already nauseous, tired or overheated, or when the forecast shows a big swell.
You can book with Chifbay now and still decide near the date, because cancelling is free up to 24 hours before you sail. One sensible plan is to book a trip late in your stay, once you know how you feel on the island.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell you I am pregnant when I book?
Yes. Tell us how far along you are and any limits your doctor has given you, so the skipper knows before you board.
Can I use a toilet during the trip?
Yes. Every trip has one on board. Ask the skipper to slow down before you walk to it.
Can I swim during the trip?
Ask your doctor first. The Day Trip has swim stops, the Sunset Trip has none, and getting in is always your choice.
Are there alcohol-free drinks on board?
Yes. Soft drinks are included on every trip alongside local wine, poncha and beer, and you can bring your own water.
Ask your doctor about the sea, and ask the skipper about the speed.