MSC Cruises’ Massive South America Expansion

MSC Cruises is making some big moves in South America for the 2026-27 winter season. Here’s what cruise fans need to know about the five ships heading to the region.

MSC Cruises Sends Five Ships to South America for 2026-27

The cruise line has added the MSC Seaview to its South America lineup. This ship was originally planned to sail the Southern Caribbean, but those plans have changed.

MSC Seaview Switches to South America

The MSC Seaview will now sail to Brazil and Argentina instead. This change is part of a larger shake-up within MSC Cruises. The cruise line also cancelled MSC World Europa’s planned Middle East season.

Five Ships, Eight Homeports

MSC Cruises will operate five ships in South America during the 2026-27 season. The ships are the MSC Seaview, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, and MSC Musica. Together, they will depart from eight different homeports across the region.

A Closer Look at Each Ship

MSC Virtuosa Makes History

The MSC Virtuosa will become the largest cruise ship ever to sail South American waters. This is a big deal for the region. The ship holds 4,888 passengers and will offer seven-night cruises to Brazilian destinations. It will sail from Santos, Salvador, and Maceió.

MSC Divina’s First Full South America Season

The MSC Divina briefly visited South America during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Now, the ship is returning for its first complete season in the region. It will offer short cruises from Santos, plus week-long trips to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Those longer voyages will also depart from Buenos Aires and Balneário Camboriú.

MSC Splendida Sails from Rio

The MSC Splendida will cover Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. This 133,500-ton ship will offer cruises departing from both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. That makes it one of the few ships sailing from the iconic Brazilian city this season.

MSC Musica Focuses on Santos

The MSC Musica will spend most of the season running short cruises from Santos. Between December and February, it will also offer longer trips to Argentina and Uruguay. Seven-night voyages will depart from Itajaí, Paranaguá, and Rio de Janeiro.

One Big Change: No More Departures from Montevideo

MSC Cruises will no longer offer cruises departing from Montevideo, Uruguay. Local sources say the decision came down to higher-than-average operating costs in the country. Montevideo was once a key homeport for MSC in the region. The good news is that ships will still stop there for port calls during their voyages.

Other Cruise Lines Also Serving South America

MSC won’t be alone in the region. Costa Cruises and Corazul Cruceros will also operate ships in South America during 2026-27. They are adding three more ships to the mix, including the 3,700-passenger Costa Diadema.

South America is clearly becoming a hot spot for cruising. With five MSC ships spread across the region, travelers will have plenty of options to explore Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay by sea.