MSC expands capacity and renews ship fleet for the 2026/2027 cruise season in Brazil

The main internal gallery with an LED ceiling is one of the highlights of Virtuosa, which has 19 decks and is one of the newest ships, inaugurated in 2020 (MSC Cruises/ Disclosure)

MSC Cruzeiros confirms that in the 2026/2027 season its ships will offer approximately 10% more berths in Brazil compared with the current cycle. The company will keep only four ships operating in the country, but with a fully renewed fleet and larger vessels. The ships will be Virtuosa, Divina and Musica, all three with exclusive embarkations at the Port of Santos, as well as Lirica, with departures from the Santos pier and from Rio de Janeiro.

Combined, these MSC ships will have capacity for 16,550 passengers, 10.8% more than the 14,940 passengers of the current season, which operates in Brazil with Seaview, Preziosa, Armonia and Sinfonia.

New developments

The season will mark the debut of MSC Virtuosa in the country. With capacity for 6,334 guests, it is one of the company’s newest ships, inaugurated in 2020.

“Virtuosa will be homeported in Santos and will operate cruises to the Northeast, replacing Seaview. It will be the flagship of the national operation, the largest and most modern ship to sail in Brazilian waters,” highlighted Adrian Ursilli, Managing Director of MSC Cruzeiros in Brazil.

MSC Divina, which was in Brazil in 2014 during the World Cup and was chartered exclusively to transport fans, will operate regular cruises for the first time. It will replace Preziosa, starting with mini-cruises from Santos and later itineraries to Argentina.

“We will also have the return of MSC Musica, which has already completed several seasons in Brazil, is very well known and popular among Brazilians. It will return to operate mini-cruises and some cruises to Buenos Aires. It will be the third ship operating from Santos,” said Ursilli.

MSC Lirica will operate seven-night itineraries, with embarkations at multiple ports such as Rio de Janeiro, Itajaí (SC), Paranaguá (PR) and Santos, according to the MSC executive.

Unable to fully replace capacity

The increase in cabin supply by MSC Cruzeiros, although significant, does not fully offset the 31.7% reduction that occurred from 2024/2025 (ships with capacity for 21,869 passengers) to the current 2025/2026 season (14,940).

In September, CVC, the country’s largest travel operator, stated that the reduction in the number of cabins had been limiting sales and even considered returning to chartering ships, as it did in the past, to expand capacity in the Brazilian market, or forming partnerships with two new international cruise lines with which it was already in talks.

Asked about CVC’s demand for greater capacity, Ursilli emphasized that the company’s planning is done well in advance and follows a global strategy. “Obviously, we are in contact with our partners, travel agents and tour operators. It is always very important to listen to everyone’s opinions and comments, but these programs follow our global schedule,” he added.

The executive explained that the company is working together with the Associação Brasileira de Cruzeiros Marítimos (Clia Brasil) to address bottlenecks that limit the attractiveness of the Brazilian market, but believes that this issue will be overcome so that more ships can operate in the country.

Inspired by Italian actress Sophia Loren, MSC Divina will also operate cruises in Brazil for the first time (MSC/ Disclosure)

Costa keeps two ships

Costa Cruzeiros will keep two ships in the 2026/2027 season, with the same total capacity as the past two cycles: 8,700 guests. The company will once again deploy Diadema and will replace Favolosa with Serena.

At the beginning of the season, Costa Diadema will operate 3- and 4-night mini-cruises along the Brazilian coast, with embarkations in Santos and Itajaí and stops in Ilhabela. Starting with the Christmas cruise, departing on December 20, 2026, it will begin 7-night itineraries with embarkations in Santos and Itajaí, continuing in this format until March 2027.

Costa Serena has been refurbished and will arrive with a pop aesthetic inspired by the world of the gods. It will sail to Argentina and Uruguay on 8- and 9-night itineraries, with embarkations in Rio de Janeiro.