Cruises in Brazil: U.S. cruise lines show interest in new partnerships with CVC

CVC partnered with cruise line Pullmantur to operate cruises in Brazil until the 2019/2020 season (Luigi Bongiovani/ AT Archive)

Two U.S.-based cruise lines have shown interest in bringing new cruise ships to Brazil. Both companies approached CVC, one of the largest tourism operators in Brazil, to explore the possibility of a partnership. The information was obtained by A Tribuna . When contacted, CVC did not comment on the matter.

The timing for negotiations with new cruise lines is favorable. CVC is currently evaluating the possibility of reintroducing exclusive cruises in Brazil for the 2026/2027 season, as reported by A Tribuna on September 7.

The reason behind this move is a 30% reduction in available berths from MSC and Costa — the only companies currently operating cruises in Brazil — for the 2025/2026 season compared to the previous one. This reduction includes both the number and size of ships.

Earlier this month, CVC Vice President Fábio Mader told the newspaper that MSC and Costa have yet to announce any plans to restore their berth capacity for the 2026/2027 season. If no restoration is confirmed, he stated that CVC is prepared to bring in new ships — either by chartering vessels from MSC or Costa or by supporting a new cruise company. According to him, the moment calls for ongoing dialogue with the current cruise lines.

Once MSC and Costa define their future plans, the tourism operator will announce its decision.

Decline In August, CVC Corp released its financial results, indicating that package sales were negatively impacted specifically due to the reduction in ship availability by MSC, which will operate with two fewer vessels, and Costa, which will operate with one less.

Not a new strategy CVC’s intended strategy is not new. The company previously chartered vessels from cruise lines such as Pullmantur and Ibero between 2003 and 2012. In the 2008/2009 season, CVC brought in as many as six ships to operate cruises in Brazil.

Later on, even without chartering, the tourism operator maintained a partnership with Pullmantur to run cruises in the country. The last such operation occurred during the 2019/2020 season.

Companies With previous experience operating cruises in Brazilian ports, Royal Caribbean — headquartered in Miami, United States — was contacted by the newspaper and confirmed its arrival in Latin America in the 2025/2026 season, continuing into the following one. However, it will not make any stops in Brazil.

“We listen to the wishes and needs of our guests and act accordingly, always with innovation in mind. As part of that innovation, we decided to establish departure ports in Latin America to bring the best vacations closer to people across the region. These itineraries begin in October with the Serenade of the Seas departing from Colón, Panama, and Cartagena, Colombia. Our presence in the region will continue with the Grandeur of the Seas, which will begin its season in May 2026 and remain in Latin American ports until April 2027. These ships will visit Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, but will not stop in Brazil”, the company said in a statement.

Another company contacted was Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which has had an office in Brazil for a decade, representing the brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas. The company, however, chose not to comment on the matter.

Figures The cruise sector in Brazil closed the 2024/2025 season with 838,100 cruise passengers, a 0.8% drop compared to the previous season (844,000). The 2025/2026 season will see a further decline, with 674,600 available berths across seven regular ships — a reduction of 186,400 berths (-19.5%). The upcoming season will also be shorter, running from October 21, 2025, to April 24, 2026, with two fewer ships compared to the previous season.