Cruises from Itajaí: Ships and Dates, From R$ 654

Cruises departing from Itajaí in the 2026/2027 season feature two ships: MSC Musica and Costa Diadema. There are mini-cruises of 1 to 4 nights, plus 7-night itineraries along the Brazilian coast and to the Plata region (Buenos Aires and Montevideo), with prices starting at R$ 654 per person on Logitravel (Oct 2026). Boarding takes place at the Port of Itajaí, and the nearest airport is Navegantes.

Partner links (advertising): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

🚢 This article is part of the 2026/2027 Cruise Guide. Traveling over New Year’s? Check out New Year’s Eve on a cruise from Itajaí.

Which ships leave from Itajaí in the 2026/2027 season?

Two ships board passengers in Itajaí in 2026/2027: Costa Diadema, which opens the season on 11/25/2026, and MSC Musica, which kicks off with a New Year’s Eve departure on 12/27/2026 and runs through March 2027. That’s what Logitravel’s Itajaí departures page showed on 10/10/2026.

Costa Diadema handles the Plata trips (Santos, Buenos Aires and Montevideo) on Saturdays, plus 3- and 4-night mini-cruises to Santos and Ilhabela. MSC Musica sails the Brazilian coast on Sundays, calling at Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Ilha Grande and Paranaguá, plus short one-way legs ending in Rio or Santos at the end of the season.

Prices per person in a double cabin, with taxes included in the amount shown by Logitravel on 10/10/2026. The city government mentioned three ships and around 38 port calls for the season, according to tourism secretary Gabriela Kelm in a September 2026 press interview; the third ship doesn’t appear with boarding for sale in Itajaí and remains unconfirmed. Ships that only make a port call, without boarding, aren’t included in the table. In the neighboring city, MSC Seaview boards passengers on Mondays by tender boat: see cruises from Balneário Camboriú.

How much does a cruise from Itajaí cost?

On Logitravel, in October 2026, the cheapest option was the 1-night MSC Musica leg to Santos, from R$ 654 per person; for 7 nights, the floor was R$ 4,624 on MSC Musica (Sunday departures between 01/03 and 03/07/2027) and R$ 4,793 on Costa Diadema to the Plata (02/20/2027 departure).

The date matters more than the ship. On Costa Diadema’s Plata itinerary, the price range from the cheapest to the most expensive cabin went from R$ 7,001 to R$ 13,740 on the 12/26/2026 departure and dropped to R$ 4,793 to R$ 9,255 on the 02/20/2027 one (Logitravel, Oct 2026). December and January are the expensive months; February and March are the most affordable. MSC Musica’s New Year’s Eve departure on 12/27/2026 started at R$ 8,564, nearly double the same route in January.

The real total cost for a couple on a 7-night cruise starts near R$ 9,250 for an interior cabin alone (Oct 2026), before flights, hotel, drinks and shore tours. To lower the bill, compare the same route on February and March dates, and see how much a cruise costs, item by item.

What are the itineraries from Itajaí: mini-cruise, coast and Plata?

There are three types of trip: mini-cruises of 1 to 4 nights to Santos, Ilhabela or Rio; the 7-night Brazilian coast with MSC Musica; and the 7-night Plata route with Costa Diadema, which calls at Buenos Aires and Montevideo and returns to Itajaí.

Plata with Costa Diadema (7 nights)

The ship leaves Itajaí at 5 pm, calls at Santos from 8 am to 5 pm, at Buenos Aires from 8 am to 6 pm and at Montevideo from 8 am to 4 pm, and arrives back in Itajaí at 10 am on the eighth day (Logitravel schedules, Oct 2026). That’s three full days at sea, so the ship itself is a big part of the trip. Since there are stops outside Brazil, the documents and insurance requirements change (see the documents section).

Coast with MSC Musica (7 nights)

The Sunday departures, from 01/03 to 03/07/2027, call at Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Ilha Grande and Paranaguá before returning to Itajaí. It’s an all-domestic itinerary: you can board with just your RG (ID card), and the currency ashore is the real. Ilhabela and Ilha Grande usually require tender boats to go ashore, which depends on the sea conditions that day. The same ship also boards on Saturdays in Paraná, closer to Curitiba: see cruises from Paranaguá.

Mini-cruises (1 to 4 nights)

Costa Diadema runs 3-night round trips to Santos and 4-night trips with Santos and Ilhabela, in November and December 2026 and again in late March 2027. MSC Musica has two one-way legs at the end of the season: Itajaí–Ilhabela–Rio (03/07/2027) and Itajaí–Santos (03/14/2027). On those, you disembark in another city and have to book your return on your own. First-time cruisers might want to start with the mini-cruise guide.

To choose between the two long itineraries, the rule is simple: if you want to see Buenos Aires and Montevideo, go with Diadema; if you prefer Brazilian beaches and don’t want to deal with passports or currency exchange, go with Musica. A comparison of the ships and cruise lines is in MSC or Costa: which to choose.

What’s included in the price and what costs extra?

The base fare on both ships includes the cabin, meals in the main restaurant and buffet, and onboard entertainment; drinks, internet, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, laundry and medical care cost extra, according to the terms on the Logitravel departures (Oct 2026).

On Costa, the service charge for Brazil and South America routes may not appear in the price: if the booking doesn’t show a “special service” line, it’s charged on board at the end of the cruise, according to Logitravel. It’s worth checking before you pay. If you drink often, do the math on the MSC drinks package before boarding, because buying drinks one by one on board costs more.

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

Both ships sell four cabin families: interior (no window), ocean view (with window), balcony and suite. On Costa Diadema, Logitravel lists interiors I1 to I4, ocean views E1 and E2, balconies B1 to B4 and suites (mini suite, suite and grand suite); on MSC Musica, there are 17 categories, from Interior Bella to MSC Yacht Club.

In practice, an interior cabin works fine for a 1- to 4-night mini-cruise. On the Plata itinerary, with three days at sea, a balcony gains value because you spend more time on board. Before booking, check the ship’s deck plan to see if the cabin sits under a party area or near the elevators, the two most common noise spots.

Families should confirm cabin capacity: not every category takes a third and fourth person, and MSC’s general rule is that guests under 18 can’t occupy a cabin without at least one adult. The cruising with kids guide details minimum age and activities.

What documents do I need to board?

On the Brazil-only itinerary, Brazilians board with an RG (ID card), driver’s license or passport; on the itinerary with Argentina and Uruguay, you need an RG or passport with 6 months’ validity and travel insurance, which Argentina requires, according to MSC’s documents page (Oct 2026).

On domestic cruises, MSC accepts RG, passport, driver’s license and other identity documents valid in the country. Digital driver’s licenses and digital documents are only valid through the official platform (gov.br or Detran); a printout or photo of the document is refused, as is a document with an old photo or in poor condition.

On Costa Diadema to Buenos Aires and Montevideo, bring an RG or passport in good condition; MSC recommends bringing both. For Argentina, travel insurance with health coverage is mandatory, and Argentine hospitals only treat foreigners who show proof of it, except in emergencies. Costa’s rule follows the same logic, but confirm the list on your ticket.

Minors under 18 traveling without both parents need authorization from the absent parent (or both) with a notarized signature, in two copies, on the Federal Police form. For Mercosur countries, a birth certificate isn’t enough, not even for babies. Babies under 2 can board MSC ships on trips of up to 10 nights. The full list is in cruise documents.

Note that a driver’s license isn’t among the documents accepted for the itinerary with Argentina and Uruguay: for Costa Diadema on the Plata route, only an RG or passport works. Bring the original in your carry-on, because it’s requested at check-in in Itajaí and when disembarking at each foreign port, and check the validity before booking the cruise.

Which port does the cruise leave from and how do you get to boarding in Itajaí?

The cruise leaves from the Port of Itajaí: ships dock at the port’s berths, and last season the passenger reception operated at Centreventos, according to the Port of Itajaí (Oct 2026). The old Guilherme Asseburg Passenger Pier has been decommissioned since 2020 and no longer receives ships.

For 2026/2027, the city government announced a temporary passenger terminal at Vila Portuária, on Rua Izabel Ramos Fabeni, with completion expected by 11/13/2026, according to Brasilturis (Sept 2026). The exact check-in location for your date is to be confirmed on your ticket: follow the address and time the cruise line sends you, and don’t go straight to the port’s cargo gate. Centreventos is at Avenida Ministro Victor Konder, 303, in the city center.

By plane: Navegantes Airport

The nearest airport is Navegantes International Airport (NVT), in the neighboring city, across the Itajaí-Açu river. From the airport to boarding, the way is by taxi or rideshare. Book your flight for the day before: a flight delay on boarding day is the most common way to miss the ship, and the cruise line won’t wait.

By car and parking

Those arriving by car come via the BR-101 highway. Parking for the cruise week is to be confirmed: as of 10/10/2026, neither the Port of Itajaí nor the city government had published parking rules or prices for 2026/2027 passengers. Ask the cruise line before driving and compare it with leaving your car at the hotel the night before or taking a taxi.

Where to stay in Itajaí before boarding?

The most practical option is to stay in downtown Itajaí, near the port area and Centreventos, the night before the cruise: you avoid depending on a flight or the highway on the day and arrive early for the check-in line. To compare prices and free cancellation, see hotels in Itajaí on Booking.

If you prefer the beach, you can stay in Cabeçudas or Praia Brava, still in Itajaí, and take a taxi to boarding. In December and January the region fills up with tourists, so book early and choose a rate with free cancellation, in case the cruise line changes the date or the ship.

If you arrive a day early, you can spend the afternoon in Balneário Camboriú or at Beto Carrero World, in Penha; the tours section below shows options with prices.

What nobody tells you about cruises from Itajaí

• One-way trips exist: MSC Musica’s 03/07 and 03/14/2027 legs end in Rio and Santos. Getting home is on you.
• “From” prices are per person: they apply to a double cabin on the cheapest date on the page. Select your date to see the real price.
• Costa’s service charge: if it doesn’t appear at booking, it’s charged on board at the end of the trip.
• New terminal: the check-in location may differ from last season’s. Follow your ticket, not the memory of someone who’s been before.
• Tender boat stops: in Ilhabela and Ilha Grande, going ashore depends on the sea and can be canceled.

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

It’s worth it for those who live in the South — Santa Catarina, Paraná or Rio Grande do Sul — and want a cruise without flying to Santos: boarding in Itajaí saves on airfare and a hotel in São Paulo. It’s also worth it for anyone who wants to see Buenos Aires and Montevideo in a single trip.

Worth it for: first-timers wanting a 3- or 4-night mini-cruise; families who prefer a domestic itinerary with just an RG; those with flexibility to travel in February or March, when prices drop.

Not worth it for: those who get seasick easily and would take the Plata route, with three days at sea; those who need fixed December and January dates and don’t want to pay peak prices; those who live in the Southeast and would have to fly to Navegantes, when Santos and Rio have more departures.

To compare with the country’s main port, see cruises from Santos and the 2026/2027 cruise season. If your trip falls over New Year’s, the New Year’s Eve cruise from Itajaí guide compares the 12/26 and 12/27 departures.

Conclusion: which cruise should you choose from Itajaí?

For a first cruise, Costa Diadema’s 3-night trip to Santos is the cheapest gateway that returns to Itajaí; for a full week, choose between Diadema’s Plata route and Musica’s coastal route based on whether you want to leave the country.

Frequently asked questions

Are there cruises from Itajaí to Buenos Aires?

Yes. Costa Diadema leaves Itajaí on Saturdays, from 12/19/2026 to 03/13/2027, on a 7-night trip with Santos, Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and returns to Itajaí. On Logitravel, the price started at R$ 4,793 per person on the 02/20/2027 departure (Oct 2026).

Which airport is closest to the port of Itajaí?

Navegantes International Airport (NVT), in the neighboring city, across the Itajaí-Açu river, is the closest to the port of Itajaí. From the airport to boarding, use a taxi or rideshare and book your flight for the day before the cruise.

Is there parking at the Itajaí cruise terminal?

As of 10/10/2026, the Port of Itajaí and the city government had not published parking rules or prices for 2026/2027 season passengers. Confirm with the cruise line before driving and consider leaving your vehicle at the hotel the night before.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

The cancellation fee for a cruise from Itajaí depends on the fare 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 need authorization from absent parents. For pregnant travelers, the gestational week rule is to be confirmed with the cruise line before booking.