On a private boat in Madeira, the rule is simple: ask the operator first. On Chifbay trips you rarely need to bring anything, because food, local wine, poncha, beer and soft drinks are already included; for a cake, a special bottle or an allergy, message us on WhatsApp before the day.
What is already on board before you bring anything?
Food and drinks are part of every Chifbay trip: food on board, local wine, poncha, beer and soft drinks. You do not need to stop at a supermarket on the way to Marina do Funchal, and nothing is added at the end, because the price is for the whole boat and the food and drinks are part of it.
That holds for both trips. The Day Trip runs 2h30 or 3h and leaves at 10:00 or 14:00. The Sunset Trip lasts 2h or 2h30, with a start that follows the sunset through the year. Neither is a long lunch cruise, so think of the food as something to share at sea, not as a three course meal.
The drinks, in plain words
- Poncha is the island's own drink: sugarcane spirit shaken with honey and lemon. It tastes soft and goes down fast. In the sun, on a moving deck, one glass does more than it does in a bar.
- Local wine means wine from Madeira. The island is famous for its fortified wine, but it makes table wines too.
- Beer and soft drinks are there for anyone who would rather keep a clear head before the swim stop, and for children.
Can you bring a birthday cake or a special bottle?
Message us on WhatsApp before the day and say what you want to bring. A cake, a bottle kept for an anniversary or a small surprise for someone in the group are normal requests on a private boat. It is far easier for the skipper to plan for them in advance than to find space at the last minute on the pontoon.
A few things make a cake work at sea:
- Pick a firm cake. Cream, mousse and soft icing do not like sun and salt air. On a summer afternoon they lose their shape before anyone cuts them.
- Use a box that closes. The Day Trip ends with a quick ride home, and food on an open plate tends to slide.
- Think local. A bolo de mel, the dark honey cake made with sugarcane honey, is dense and keeps well, so it travels far better than a cream cake. You can buy one in Funchal the day before.
- Ask about candles. Wind on the water blows them out in seconds, and anything with a flame or sparks needs the skipper's yes first.
The same goes for a bottle: tell us before, so it can go somewhere cool and out of the way. If the trip itself is the celebration, our guide to celebrating a birthday on a boat in Madeira covers timing and which trip suits.
What about food allergies and special diets?
Tell us before you book, not on the pontoon. Send the allergy or the diet on WhatsApp, with how serious it is, and we will tell you honestly what we can and cannot do for that trip.
It matters more at sea than on land. Once you leave Marina do Funchal, the boat is on the open coast towards Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão, and there is no shop or pharmacy until you are back. For a severe allergy:
- Write to us with the exact allergy before booking.
- Bring your own medication, such as antihistamines or an adrenaline pen, in a small dry bag.
- Show the skipper where it is when you step on board.
- If you are not sure about something on board, do not eat it. Ask.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, halal, or a child who eats only three things: the answer is the same. You will know what to expect before you pay, not after.
When does bringing your own food make sense, and when does it not?
It depends on why you want to bring it. Some reasons are good. Others come from expecting a different kind of trip.
Good reasons
- A medical diet or an allergy where you only trust food you prepared yourself.
- Food for a baby or toddler. Ask us on WhatsApp before booking anyway, because a small child on a boat raises other questions too.
- One special thing: the cake, the bottle, the local pastry someone has wanted to try all week.
Reasons to think again
- A full picnic lunch. On the 10:00 Day Trip you are back at 12:30 or 13:00. Lunch in Funchal or Câmara de Lobos afterwards is easier than unpacking a cool box on a deck full of towels and swimmers.
- Glass you do not need. People walk barefoot on deck after the swim stop. A broken glass means a cut foot.
- Anything that needs cooking or heating. Plan food that is ready to eat.
- Strong spirits in quantity. The Day Trip stops at Fajã dos Padres for swimming, jumping in and paddle boards, then at Ribeira Brava for another swim. Alcohol and deep water are a bad pair, and poncha is already on board.
What should you eat before and after each trip?
Eat light before and properly after. A heavy, greasy meal before any boat trip is the fastest way to feel the swell, and a small boat on the Atlantic moves more than a big ferry does.
| Trip | Back at the marina | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Trip, 10:00 | 12:30 or 13:00 | Light breakfast | Lunch in town |
| Day Trip, 14:00 | 16:30 or 17:00 | Small, early lunch | Early dinner in the old town |
| Sunset Trip | 2h or 2h30 after leaving | A snack in winter, dinner in June | Dinner in winter |
The Sunset Trip needs one thought. In December you leave around 16:45 and are back in time for a normal dinner. In June you leave around 20:00 and come back after 22:00, so it is often easier to eat before and keep the evening simple. If you are sensitive to motion, our guide to avoiding seasickness on a boat trip in Madeira has more on what to eat and when.
For the full picture of what each trip includes, see our two boat trips side by side, or go straight to the Day Trip with its swim stops west of Funchal or the Sunset Trip along the cliffs.
Frequently asked questions
Is alcohol included on a Chifbay boat trip?
Yes. Local wine, poncha and beer are included on every trip, with soft drinks for anyone who prefers them. The price is per boat, not per drink.
Do we need to bring water?
Bring a refillable bottle if you like to sip water all day, especially in summer. The drinks on board are local wine, poncha, beer and soft drinks.
Is there something on board for children?
Food and soft drinks are on board for everyone. If a child has a special diet, or you are bringing a baby, ask us on WhatsApp before booking.
Can we cut a cake during the Sunset Trip?
Yes, if you tell us before, so the skipper can pick a calm moment for it. Choose a firm cake and bring it in a box that closes.
Is there a bathroom on the boat?
Yes, both trips have one on board.
Bring the cake, tell us first, and leave the cool box at the hotel.