Port of Santos: Boarding, Parking and Transfers

The Port of Santos for cruises welcomes passengers at Concais, on Avenida Cândido Gaffrée, s/n, Armazém 25 Interno. Use the entrance and time listed on your cruise line’s ticket. The official parking lot advertises R$ 95 per night for a car, with a seven-night package for R$ 565 (Oct/2026). Sort out the drive, luggage and documents before choosing your transportation.

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In this article: address, entrance, parking, transfers, documents and the Valongo terminal project.

🚢 This article is part of the 2026/2027 Cruise Guide.

What is the address of the Santos cruise terminal?

The passenger terminal is Concais, at Avenida Cândido Gaffrée, s/n, Armazém 25 Interno, according to the official Concais address. Enter “cruise terminal” in your map instead of just “Port of Santos,” which also includes cargo facilities.

For MSC and Costa, check the terminal indicated on your ticket and the instructions for your departure. Don’t pick a gate or hall based only on the cruise line’s name: follow the guidance for your ship, date and type of vehicle. Passengers, tour buses and service providers may have different procedures.

Before you leave, save your ticket and the ship’s full name. Also check the cruise’s final date: a trip that starts in Santos may end at another port, which changes whether it makes sense to leave your car parked for the whole trip.

How much does it cost to park at Concais?

The official Concais parking lot advertises R$ 95 per night for a car and promotional packages depending on duration (Oct/2026). The terminal’s price table was checked on 10/16/2026.

Use the simulator with your actual ship and dates. Your reservation is guaranteed after payment; large vehicles have their own price table. Don’t automatically apply the car rate to a van or special pickup truck.

Concais states that parking is next to the baggage and check-in areas. Compare the full package with a transfer or round-trip taxi; an off-site spot may require a shuttle and extra time.

How do I get to the Port of Santos by car or transfer?

Car and transfer serve different needs: a car requires parking and pickup on the way back; a transfer requires a meeting point and times compatible with your ticket. If you’re coming from far away, consider a night in Santos before boarding to reduce your dependence on the road that same day.

Ask your driver to use the Concais address and follow the access signs. Don’t calculate arrival based only on the app’s estimated time: include stops, traffic in the Baixada and time to drop off luggage. If you need assistance, arrange your vehicle drop-off in advance.

How do you choose a transfer?

In the quote, check origin, date, number of passengers, luggage, meeting point, wait time and drop-off location. For the return, confirm the buffer between the ship’s arrival and the vehicle’s departure. A transfer booked for a different time may not work with your ticket.

For buses, minibuses and vans, Concais requires registration of regulated vehicles to access the yard. In the guidance for cruise passengers, buses must wait for authorization in the holding area and then proceed to P6 as directed by staff. This bus guidance should not be used as a fixed gate for private cars or as exclusive to one cruise line.

What time should I arrive and how does boarding work?

Arrive within the window indicated on your ticket, with time for luggage, documents and security; the ship’s departure time is not the deadline to check in. The Concais FAQ advises checking your voucher and states that check-in closes two hours before departure.

The terminal recommends that embarking passengers arrive after 11:30 a.m., because the morning is dedicated to disembarking. Your cruise line’s individual window is still your reference: don’t swap the ticket’s instruction for a generic time found online.

1. Check your ticket, documents and tags before joining the line.
2. Hand over only the luggage that will go to your cabin.
3. Keep medications, documents, electronics and a change of clothes with you.
4. Follow the document check, inspection and boarding call.

The cruise online check-in guide explains how to prepare before the port. To adjust your time and avoid unnecessary waiting, see boarding in Santos without a long line.

Which departures help you compare boarding in Santos?

Three MSC Virtuosa departures help you compare the same seven-night circuit leaving from Santos, via Búzios, Salvador and Maceió, returning to Santos. The date changes the price even when the ship and itinerary are the same.

In Voyage Voyage’s survey from Oct/2026, the IB interior cabin cost R$ 4,344 per person on the two December dates below and R$ 4,204 in February. Prices were checked on Logitravel on 10/16/2026, for two 35-year-old adults, without loyalty status.

Source: Logitravel BR, Virtuosa itinerary page. Taxes and hotel service appear to be included; confirm the final quote for all passengers.

For other cruise lines, months and Prata routes, see the cruise calendar departing from Santos. The list of ships docked at Concais does not equal cabin availability for boarding that day.

What else goes into the budget besides the cabin?

A couple on the Virtuosa departing 02/20/2027 starts at R$ 8,408 for the cruise fare in an IB interior; adding the seven-night parking package of R$ 565, the subtotal comes to R$ 8,973 (Oct/2026). Access costs and any optional extras you choose are still on top of that.

On that trip’s page, main meals, cabin and advertised service are included in the fare; drinks, internet, excursions, the medical center and special services are extra unless a specific package says otherwise. Don’t treat “full board” as a synonym for everything included.

Add fuel, tolls or transfer, a hotel the night before and insurance suited to the itinerary. If you live far away, a lower cabin fare can lose its advantage when it requires a flight connection or an extra night of lodging.

Which cabin should you choose before booking the trip?

An interior cabin helps limit spending; an oceanview adds a window, and a balcony is only worth it if you value using that space during the trip. Compare the same date and occupancy to see the real cost of the upgrade.

Source: categories from the same departure on Logitravel, checked on 10/16/2026. Interior and balcony differ by R$ 1,180 per person, or R$ 2,360 for the couple. Compare that amount with how much time you plan to spend in the cabin, especially on sea days.

Tip: check the full category and the deck plan before choosing the cabin for your Santos departure. A balcony photo doesn’t show the view of the unit you’ll actually be assigned.

Can a driver’s license be used to board in Santos?

A Brazilian driver’s license is accepted for Brazilian adults by MSC and Costa on itineraries with ports of call only in Brazil; for Argentina or Uruguay, it is not valid as a travel document. The departure port alone doesn’t define your documentation: ports of call and nationality also count.

Check MSC’s list for documents and visas and Costa’s list for mandatory documentation. For the Prata, bring an original accepted physical ID or a valid passport according to the itinerary’s conditions.

Minors have their own rules for identification, parentage and authorization. Don’t apply the adult list to a child. Domestically, MSC accepts the digital driver’s license on the official platform, not a photo or screenshot; before relying solely on an electronic document with another cruise line, confirm their policy.

Keep your documents in your carry-on bag. For crossings outside the region, check the passport and visas for the countries visited before paying for the cruise.

What should you keep in mind for children, pregnant passengers and mobility needs?

Children, pregnant passengers and passengers with reduced mobility need to check the trip’s conditions before booking. MSC publishes its health and accessibility criteria; Costa’s or another operator’s policy must be checked separately.

On MSC, a passenger cannot reach 24 weeks of pregnancy during the cruise and must meet the medical requirements. State the child’s age on the departure date and confirm the itinerary’s requirement, especially on long trips.

Book assistance and an adapted cabin in advance. The conditions for boarding the ship don’t guarantee that every port of call will be accessible; at tender ports, confirm the operation for the equipment used.

What should you check about cancellation and late boarding?

Penalties and change options follow the fare contract and the channel where you bought it. Being delayed on the road or arriving after boarding closes doesn’t mean you’re entitled to rebook for free.

Read the booking conditions before paying. MSC’s terms for direct purchases should not be automatically applied to a purchase through an agency. Ask for the rule that applies to your quote and check what happens if one of the occupants cancels.

Insurance with cancellation has defined causes and limits. Compare coverage for onboard medical care and evacuation; the medical center is not part of the advertised basic fare. Carry the cruise line’s and the carrier’s contacts in case of an unexpected problem on the way.

Has the new Santos terminal already changed boarding?

The new terminal project in Valongo is not the current boarding address. On the current City of Santos page, the transfer from Outeirinho to Valongo has operations indicated for 2031, as checked on 10/16/2026.

The Brasilturis article from 07/28/2026 describes the project near the Historic Center and Valongo Park, with the proposal of bringing disembarkation closer to the attractions of the central area. The municipal deadline given is an estimate; follow the address on your ticket and Concais guidance for the current season.

Don’t book transportation to Valongo just because you read about the project. Your driver’s destination on boarding day should be the terminal indicated for your departure, checked shortly before the trip.

Is it worth arriving in Santos the night before?

Arriving in Santos the night before is worth it when the trip to the Baixada is long or depends on a flight and connection. The extra night separates travel from boarding; it doesn’t mean spending the whole morning waiting at the terminal.

Choose a hotel based on the actual route to Concais and the services you need, such as luggage storage and checkout time. If you have a free day, a city visit can fit in before the cruise, with a return that doesn’t clash with your ticket window.

If you live nearby and have a comfortable check-in time, traveling the same day can make sense. Include a buffer for the road, stops and terminal access; the time shown on the map doesn’t include luggage drop-off and inspection.

Before booking a car, parking or transfer, confirm the start date, final port and voucher time. Then compare the full round-trip cost. This precaution prevents leaving a vehicle in Santos when the trip ends somewhere else.

Frequently asked questions

Do MSC and Costa board at the same terminal in Santos?

Concais serves MSC and Costa. Check the instructions for your departure on your ticket and follow the terminal’s guidance; don’t pick a gate or hall based only on the cruise line’s name.

How much does it cost to leave the car for seven nights?

Concais advertises a seven-night package for a car at R$ 565 (Oct/2026), checked on 10/16/2026. Simulate your dates and vehicle category before booking.

Can I use P6 to arrive by private car?

The Concais guidance cited for P6 concerns buses after authorization. For a private car or another vehicle, confirm the entrance indicated on your ticket and by the terminal staff.

How do I know which ship leaves Santos today?

Check the Concais schedule and confirm with the cruise line. The estimated departure time is not the check-in time, and a docked ship doesn’t mean a cabin is available to board.

Has boarding already moved to Valongo?

Don’t use the Valongo project as the current address. The City indicates the new terminal will operate in 2031; for your trip, your ticket and the departure terminal’s guidance take precedence.