Cruise from Balneário Camboriú: Boarding by Tender Boat

The cruise departing from Balneário Camboriú in the 2026/2027 season has one ship with boarding in the city: the MSC Seaview, on Mondays, from 12/14/2026 to 02/22/2027, on 7-night sailings to Punta del Este, Buenos Aires and Santos, from R$ 4,744 per person (Logitravel, Oct/2026). The ship anchors offshore and boarding is by tender boat, departing from the Atracadouro Barra Sul pier.

The MSC Splendida and the Buenavista, by Corazul, also show up in Balneário Camboriú, but only as a port of call: anyone who wants to sail on them boards in Rio de Janeiro or Santos. The difference from Itajaí, the neighboring city, comes down to the type of port and the number of departures.

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🚢 This article is part of the 2026/2027 Cruise Guide. Leaving from Santa Catarina? Compare it with the cruise departing from Itajaí.

Which ships depart from Balneário Camboriú in the 2026/2027 season?

Only the MSC Seaview sells boarding in Balneário Camboriú in 2026/2027, according to the port’s departures page on Logitravel on 10/10/2026. The MSC Splendida, the Buenavista and the Costa Serena stop in the city during their itineraries, but passengers board in another port.

The city government expects 54 ship calls in Balneário Camboriú between October 29, 2026 and April 4, 2027, with five ships from four cruise lines, and the Atracadouro Barra Sul reports 13 embarkation and disembarkation operations, with around 500 passengers each, according to the City of Balneário Camboriú (Sep/2026). In other words: most of the ships you see along the waterfront are just passing through.

Prices per person in a double cabin, taxes included, in the cheapest cabin for each date, according to Logitravel on 10/10/2026. The Buenavista has no published price on the Corazul website, which asks customers to request a quote from a travel agency; the 15 Mini Camboriú dates run from 10/26/2026 to 03/22/2027, departing from Santos with a stop in Rio. Ship details are in the Corazul Buenavista guide.

The MSC Seaview also departs from Santos on Sundays, from 12/13/2026 to 02/28/2027, and stops in Balneário Camboriú on the second day: it’s the same circuit, with departures from Santos starting at R$ 4,884 (Oct/2026). The full ship guide, with restaurants, water park and cabins, is in MSC Seaview: what the ship is like.

How much does a cruise from Balneário Camboriú cost and what’s included?

The MSC Seaview departing from Balneário Camboriú costs R$ 4,744 to R$ 8,364 per person in the cheapest cabin, depending on the date, for 7 nights (Logitravel, Oct/2026). The lowest price is the 02/15/2027 departure; the highest is 12/28/2026, which spends New Year’s Eve at sea and returns on 01/04/2027.

Late December and early January are the expensive dates; the second half of February is the cheapest, with a difference of almost R$ 3,600 per person between 12/28/2026 and 02/15/2027 (Oct/2026). On the same date, the most expensive cabin reached R$ 17,414 on the 02/15/2027 departure, already in suite territory.

The fare includes the cabin, full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner), water, coffee and juice from the machines in the dining area, onboard activities and shows, and the service charge, which on MSC is paid at booking, according to the departure terms on Logitravel (Oct/2026). Drinks, internet, specialty restaurants, shore excursions in Punta del Este and Buenos Aires, and medical care cost extra.

The real total cost for a couple starts near R$ 9,500 for an interior cabin alone (Oct/2026), before insurance, drinks, shore tours and transportation to the city. To see each item in more detail, the how much does a cruise cost guide adds up onboard expenses.

How does boarding in Balneário Camboriú work: is it by tender boat?

Yes. Balneário Camboriú has no pier for cruise ships: the ship anchors offshore and passengers go back and forth by tender boat between the ship and the Atracadouro Barra Sul pier. The city government describes the MSC Seaview and the Costa Serena as “anchored” in the city on 01/25/2027 (City of Balneário Camboriú, Sep/2026).

Check-in takes place on land, at the Atracadouro Barra Sul pier, which gained a customs facility with federal inspection authorities, areas separated by sector and luggage scanning, according to NSC Total (Jan/2026). After the checks, you board the support vessel and make the crossing to the ship. The city’s first-ever passenger embarkation was on 01/26/2026, on the MSC Preziosa, and the 2025/2026 season ended with 3,549 people boarding or disembarking there, according to NSC Total (Mar/2026).

In practice, the tender boat changes three things compared to a regular port. Boarding times are staggered, because the boats carry groups; luggage goes through screening at the pier before the crossing; and rough seas can delay the operation. The MSC ship leaves Balneário Camboriú at 5pm on embarkation day (Logitravel, Oct/2026), so arrive in the city the day before and follow the time on your ticket, not the ship’s departure time.

Anyone with reduced mobility should let MSC know at booking: getting on and off a tender boat involves a few steps and depends on the sea conditions. The specific rule for wheelchairs on the Balneário Camboriú tender has not been published and remains to be confirmed with the cruise line.

Which port does the cruise leave from and how do I get to the boarding point?

The cruise departs from the Atracadouro Barra Sul pier, at the southern end of the Balneário Camboriú waterfront, in Santa Catarina. Those arriving by plane land at Navegantes International Airport (NVT), the closest one, and continue by taxi or rideshare; those arriving by car get there via the BR-101 highway.

Book your flight for the day before the cruise: a flight delay on embarkation day is the most common way to miss the ship, and the tender boat won’t wait. Florianópolis is the alternative when there are no good flights to Navegantes, with more driving to Barra Sul.

Parking for the 7 days of the cruise remains to be confirmed: as of 10/10/2026, neither the Atracadouro Barra Sul pier nor the city government had published rules or prices for passengers boarding there. Compare that with leaving your car at the hotel from the night before or taking a taxi.

Where should I stay in Balneário Camboriú before boarding?

The most practical option is to stay in Barra Sul or along the southern stretch of Avenida Atlântica, near the pier: on cruise day you can walk or take a short ride, without depending on the highway. Check out the hotels near Barra Sul on Booking, with free cancellation.

Arriving a day early leaves you the afternoon for Praia Central, the cable car between Barra Sul and Laranjeiras or the city’s Ferris wheel. Beto Carrero World, in Penha, takes a full day and works better for those arriving two days ahead.

What’s the difference between boarding in Balneário Camboriú and in Itajaí?

The main difference is the port: in Itajaí the ship docks at the pier and you walk on board; in Balneário Camboriú the ship stays offshore and boarding is by tender boat. Itajaí also has more ships and itineraries, including short mini-cruises, while Balneário Camboriú has only the MSC Seaview on the Prata route.

If you want to see Punta del Este and Buenos Aires in one week and don’t mind the tender boat, the Seaview from Balneário Camboriú is a great fit. If you want a Brazil-only itinerary, traveling with just your Brazilian ID, or a mini-cruise for your first time, you’ll find more options in Itajaí: departures, prices and the terminal are in the cruise departing from Itajaí guide. To compare the two cruise lines, see MSC or Costa: which to choose.

What cabin types are there and which one is worth it?

The MSC Seaview sells interior cabins (no window), ocean view (with window), balcony, suite and the exclusive MSC Yacht Club area. On the 02/15/2027 departure, Logitravel showed prices from R$ 4,744 in the cheapest category to R$ 17,414 in the most expensive, per person (Oct/2026).

The itinerary departing from Balneário Camboriú has three full sea days: the second, fifth and sixth. With that setup, a balcony makes more of a difference than on a mini-cruise, because you spend more time on board. Before booking, look at the ship’s deck plan and avoid cabins below a party area or next to the elevators, the two most common sources of noise.

Tip: balcony cabins tend to sell out first on December and January departures; if that matters to you, compare the same category in February, when the price for the date drops, and see the MSC Seaview cabins.

What documents do I need to board?

Since the itinerary passes through Uruguay and Argentina, Brazilians board with a Brazilian ID (RG) or passport in good condition, and a driver’s license isn’t valid; Argentina requires travel insurance with health coverage, according to MSC’s documents page (Oct/2026).

A very old ID, with a photo that doesn’t allow identifying the passenger, or one that is laminated and damaged may be refused at check-in; MSC recommends bringing both documents when possible. Bring the original in your carry-on: it’s requested at the Atracadouro Barra Sul pier and when disembarking at each foreign port.

Minors under 18 traveling without both parents need authorization from the absent parent with a notarized signature, on the Federal Police form, and a birth certificate isn’t enough to leave Brazil, not even for babies. The full list is in documents for a cruise.

What nobody tells you about the cruise departing from Balneário Camboriú

Tender boat boarding and the international itinerary create four traps that almost nobody explains when you buy a cruise departing from Balneário Camboriú: the wrong ship, the wrong port, a crowded day and the return time.

• The ship you see along the waterfront is almost never yours: of the 54 scheduled calls, only 13 operations involve passenger embarkation and disembarkation (Sep/2026).
• The Splendida and Buenavista don’t board here: anyone who books those ships boards in Rio or Santos, even though Balneário Camboriú appears on the itinerary.
• A day with two ships: on 01/25/2027, the Costa Serena and the MSC Seaview will be anchored at the same time; expect longer lines at the pier and traffic in Barra Sul.
• Return on the eighth day: the Seaview arrives back in Balneário Camboriú at 8am on the eighth day; your return flight can be the same day, as long as it’s in the afternoon.

Is it worth it? Who it’s for and who it’s NOT for

It’s worth it for anyone living in Santa Catarina, Paraná or Rio Grande do Sul who wants to see Punta del Este and Buenos Aires without flying to Santos: boarding in Balneário Camboriú saves on airfare and a hotel in São Paulo, on the same ship and with the same itinerary.

Worth it for: couples and friends who want two countries in one week; families with kids, thanks to the Seaview’s water park and kids’ clubs; anyone who can travel in the second half of February, when the price drops.

Not worth it for: those who get seasick easily, because there are three sea days plus the tender boat crossing; those with reduced mobility who haven’t confirmed the tender with MSC; those who want a short mini-cruise, which today departs from Itajaí, not Balneário Camboriú.

For New Year’s Eve on land, the New Year’s Eve in Balneário Camboriú guide shows the city’s fireworks and parties.

Conclusion: which cruise should you choose from Balneário Camboriú?

To board in the city, the choice is the MSC Seaview, and the real decision is the date: February is much cheaper than late December. If you want the Splendida or the Buenavista, book departing from Rio or Santos and treat Balneário Camboriú as a port of call on the itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Does the MSC Splendida board in Balneário Camboriú?

No. In the 2026/2027 season, the MSC Splendida stops in Balneário Camboriú as a port of call, from 9am to 6pm on the third day, on the 8-night itinerary departing from Rio de Janeiro, from R$ 5,163 per person (Logitravel, Oct/2026). To sail on it, you board in Rio or Buenos Aires.

Are there MSC cruises departing from Balneário Camboriú in 2027?

Yes. The MSC Seaview departs from Balneário Camboriú on Mondays until 02/22/2027, on 7-night sailings to Punta del Este, Buenos Aires and Santos, and there’s also a 6-night departure on 03/01/2027, from R$ 5,269 per person (Logitravel, Oct/2026).

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

The cancellation penalty for a cruise departing from Balneário Camboriú depends on the fare you choose and how far in advance you cancel, and the terms appear on the booking screen before payment. Read your fare’s policy and, if there’s a risk you’ll back out, consider travel insurance with cancellation coverage.

Are there restrictions for children, seniors or pregnant travelers?

On MSC, babies under 2 can board trips of up to 10 nights, and minors without both parents need authorization with a notarized signature. Seniors and people with reduced mobility should notify MSC because of the tender boat boarding; the rule for pregnant travelers remains to be confirmed with the cruise line.