Cruises from Rio de Janeiro 2026/27: from R$ 4,254

A cruise from Rio de Janeiro in the 2026/2027 season has three ships on sale outside New Year’s Eve: MSC Splendida (8 to 9 nights to Argentina and Uruguay), MSC Musica (7 nights along the Brazilian coast) and Costa Serena (9 nights around the Río de la Plata). All of them board at Píer Mauá, and the cheapest starts at R$ 4,254 per person (Oct 2026), taxes included.

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🚢 This article is part of the 2026/2027 Cruise Guide: every ship, port and price of the season.

Which ships sail from Rio de Janeiro in the 2026/2027 season?

Three ships have regular Rio departures on sale at Logitravel as of 10/10/2026: MSC Splendida, which sails to Buenos Aires and Punta del Este, MSC Musica, which stays along the Brazilian coast, and Costa Serena, which runs the Río de la Plata from January to March. MSC Virtuosa has a one-off 4-night sailing on 12/01 that ends in Santos.

The Rio season kicks off in late November with Splendida and picks up steam in January, when all three ships take turns at Píer Mauá. If you’re after New Year’s Eve on board, head straight to the guide to New Year’s Eve cruises from Rio, which covers the 12/29 to 12/31 sailings; if you want the February holiday, there’s the guide to Carnival cruises from Rio. Here you’ll find the rest of the season’s sailings.

Buenavista, by Corazul, appears on Píer Mauá’s ship schedule in October, but it wasn’t on sale at Logitravel on the date we checked, so it’s left out of the table. The list of dates changes as cabins sell out: a sailing that disappears from the agency’s page no longer has cabins available there.

How much does a cruise from Rio de Janeiro cost and what’s included?

A cruise from Rio starts at R$ 4,254 per person in a double interior cabin on MSC Musica on 02/02/2027 (Oct 2026), taxes included. MSC Splendida starts at R$ 5,163 (12/06) and Costa Serena at R$ 6,859 (02/23/2027), according to Logitravel on 10/10/2026.

Prices are per person in a double cabin, port taxes already included, in the lowest category available on each date (Oct 2026). On MSC, the service charge (the gratuity) is included and paid at booking, according to the sailing page on Logitravel. On Costa, the service charge may appear at booking as “Special Service”; if it doesn’t, it’s charged on board at the end of the cruise.

The fare covers your cabin, breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet and main restaurants, water, coffee and juice from the dining area machines, pools, gym and theater shows. Anything that comes in a labeled glass is extra: soda, beer and cocktails are charged, as are internet, specialty restaurants, spa, laundry, medical care and shore excursions in port.

For those who drink, the beverage package usually weighs more than the difference between two sailings; the guide to the MSC drinks package compares the options, and the full breakdown of taxes and extras is in how much a cruise costs. In practice, a couple on MSC Musica on 02/02 starts at {fato(“R$ 8,508”)} for the cabin (2 × R$ 4,254, Oct 2026), before drinks, internet and excursions.

What are the itineraries of each ship sailing from Rio?

MSC Musica has the shortest, all-Brazilian itinerary, with one stop per day; MSC Splendida and Costa Serena head to the Río de la Plata and spend two to three days at sea. The times below are from each sailing’s page on Logitravel on 10/10/2026.

Costa Serena’s stops change by date: the 01/27 sailing swaps Angra dos Reis for Ilha Grande, and the 02/05 one includes Punta del Este. On Splendida, the 11/29 sailing is the 7-night version with only Montevideo and Buenos Aires, from R$ 7,475 (Oct 2026). If you’re boarding in the South and want to compare the same MSC Musica, there’s the guide to cruises from Itajaí.

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

All three ships sell interior cabins, oceanview with a window, balcony and suites; the interior is the cheapest and works for anyone who only sleeps in the room. On MSC Musica on 01/05, the interior starts at R$ 4,374 per person (Oct 2026); oceanview and balcony cost more, and each category’s price shows up when you pick a date on the sailing page.

On the Río de la Plata routes, with two to three full days at sea, a balcony pays off more than on Musica, which stops in a port every day. Costa Serena also sells a mini suite with drinks included, an option Logitravel labels “all inclusive (by the glass)”. MSC’s Yacht Club is the exclusive area with its own restaurant and pool, for anyone who wants shorter lines.

How do you get to Píer Mauá and where do you park?

Píer Mauá, Rio’s International Cruise Terminal, sits in the port zone of Centro, 2 km from Santos Dumont Airport and 16 km from Galeão, about 25 minutes without traffic, according to the terminal itself. The easiest way to arrive with luggage is by taxi or rideshare to the gate, and drivers can leave their car at the 24-hour Boulevard Olímpico parking lot.

The VLT light rail has two stops next to the pier: Parada dos Museus, at Praça Mauá, and Parada dos Navios, which serves warehouses 3 to 5. The VLT links the terminal to Santos Dumont and to Rodoviária Novo Rio, 3.4 km away, and connects to the metro at Uruguaiana, Carioca and Cinelândia stations.

If you’re driving, there’s the 24-hour Boulevard Olímpico parking lot, run by VMS, a terminal partner: the entrance is on Avenida Barão de Tefé, and the pedestrian exit is near warehouses 3 and 4, across from the VLT’s Parada dos Navios. The weekly rate isn’t published on the website; the terminal lists the phone number (21) 97570-9047 to book and confirm the price before you travel.

How do boarding and luggage work at Píer Mauá?

At Píer Mauá, you drop off your luggage at the terminal, go through the X-ray and the check-in counter with your original ID, and only then board the ship. On MSC, check-in and boarding close 2 hours before departure: on MSC Musica, which leaves at 6 pm, the cutoff is 4 pm.

According to the Píer Mauá infrastructure page, the terminal has X-ray for checked and carry-on baggage, check-in counters, prepaid taxis, a 24-hour bank, a first-aid station and a tourist information desk. Keep your ID, medication, charger and swimsuit in your carry-on: checked luggage reaches your cabin later, and the pool is already open on the first afternoon.

Your individual boarding time comes on each cruise line’s e-ticket. On Costa Serena, departures are at 4 pm, 5 pm or 5:30 pm, depending on the date, and on Splendida at 7 pm or 8 pm. Arriving at the start of the window avoids the mid-afternoon line, when several ships board on the same day.

Where to stay near Píer Mauá before boarding?

If you’re coming from another city, the Praça Mauá and Centro area is a great bet, just minutes from the terminal, or Copacabana and Botafogo if you want a beach the day before and don’t mind the traffic to the port. Sleeping near the pier eliminates the risk of traffic on the morning of boarding.

The port area has the Museum of Tomorrow, the Rio Art Museum, AquaRio, the Yup Star Ferris wheel and Orla Conde, enough to fill the afternoon before your cruise on foot. For the night before the ship, compare hotels near Praça Mauá with free cancellation.

What documents do I need to board?

For MSC Musica, which only stops at Brazilian ports, MSC accepts an RG (ID card), passport or driver’s license, including the digital license on the official platform. For MSC Splendida and Costa Serena, which go to Argentina and Uruguay, only a well-kept RG or a passport with at least 6 months’ validity will do; a driver’s license isn’t accepted, according to the MSC documents page.

Píer Mauá reminds travelers that copies of documents aren’t accepted, not even notarized ones, and recommends an RG issued less than 10 years ago with a photo that resembles your current face. Minors under 18 traveling without both parents need a notarized authorization on the Federal Police form. Argentina requires travel insurance from anyone disembarking or making a stop in the country.

Is it worth it? Who it’s for and who it isn’t

It’s worth it if you live in Rio or can get to the city easily, because it saves you the flight to Santos and boards just 2 km from Santos Dumont Airport. MSC Musica suits anyone wanting a first cruise with a stop every day; Splendida and Serena suit anyone wanting Buenos Aires and Montevideo without a flight.

It’s not worth it if you get seasick easily and can’t handle consecutive days on the open sea: the stretch between the South and the Río de la Plata has two days at sea. It also disappoints anyone wanting to really get to know each city, since stops last 6 to 11 hours. To compare MSC and Costa point by point, see the MSC or Costa guide and the Costa Serena guide; if you can board in São Paulo, there’s the guide to cruises from Santos.

The month also matters. December has only Splendida and the one-off Virtuosa sailing, with fewer families on board; January and February concentrate school vacations, all three cruise lines and Serena’s highest fares; March brings the end of the season, with Splendida still sailing every eight days and Musica on 03/02. If your dates are flexible, compare the same route across different months before booking, because the gap between two sailings of the same ship can top R$ 1,000 per person (Oct 2026).

What nobody tells you about cruises from Rio

What surprises people boarding in Rio most isn’t the cabin price — it’s the drinks bill and Costa’s gratuity. The points below come from the cruise lines’ and the terminal’s own rules.

• Soda costs extra: the machines only have water, coffee and juice; any can goes on your cabin bill.
• A driver’s license won’t work on the Río de la Plata: anyone carrying only a driver’s license can’t board Splendida or Serena.
• Costa’s gratuity: if your booking doesn’t show a service charge line, it shows up on your final-day invoice.
• Tender stops: in Ilha Grande, Búzios and Ilhabela the ship anchors offshore and you disembark by tender boat, with a line.
• Dates disappear: the sailing list changes as cabins sell out; the date that was there yesterday may be gone today.

Another detail that hits your wallet is internet: the package is bought on board and isn’t part of the fare, so agree beforehand on who in the family will need a connection. Excursions sold by the ship cost more than ones booked in port, but they guarantee you’re back in time for departure; in Buenos Aires, where the ship stays 10 to 11 hours, you can easily plan the day on your own.

Finally, Rio has two airports, and Santos Dumont is much closer to the pier than Galeão. Anyone booking a flight for the day of boarding risks missing the ship if there’s a delay; the recommendation is to arrive the day before and sleep near Praça Mauá.

Conclusion

For a first cruise and the lowest spend, MSC Musica on 02/02 or 01/05 is the right choice. For Buenos Aires and Montevideo without a flight, compare the December or March Splendida with the February Costa Serena and book your cabin before buying your ticket to Rio.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

The cancellation penalty for a cruise departing from Rio depends on the fare you choose at booking. On MSC and Costa promotional fares, the penalty rises as the sail date approaches and can reach 100% of the amount; ask for the fare rules in writing before you pay.

Are there restrictions for children, seniors or pregnant travelers?

MSC accepts babies under 2 years old on cruises of up to 10 nights, which covers every Rio departure of the season. Seniors have no age restriction. Pregnant travelers should confirm with the cruise line, before booking, the rule on how many weeks of pregnancy are accepted at boarding.

Is there parking at Píer Mauá?

Yes. Píer Mauá points to the 24-hour parking lot at Boulevard Olímpico, operated by VMS, with entry via Avenida Barão de Tefé and pedestrian exit near warehouses 3 and 4. The weekly rate for the cruise week is given over the phone at (21) 97570-9047.

Is there a mini cruise departing from Rio de Janeiro?

In the 2026/2027 season, the shortest one departing from Rio is the MSC Virtuosa on 12/01, with 4 nights, Santos and Búzios, from R$ 5,037 per person (Oct/2026). It ends in Santos, not in Rio. The other Rio departures run from 7 to 9 nights.

Is there a cruise from Rio de Janeiro to Europe or the Northeast?

In the Logitravel listing of 10/10/2026, no cruise departing from Rio de Janeiro was headed to Europe or the Northeast. For the Northeast, the departures are from Maceió and Salvador: see the guide to cruises departing from Maceió.