South America Cruises in 2027

What Does a South American Cruise in 2027 Actually Look Like?

South America in 2027 is one of the most compelling destinations in ocean cruising, and the shape of these sailings reflects that. The majority of routes focus on the continent itself — Brazil features prominently, with Rio de Janeiro and Santos (the port for São Paulo) appearing as both embarkation and disembarkation points. Buenos Aires, Argentina is the single busiest hub for departures and arrivals, while San Antonio, Chile appears regularly on itineraries working down the Pacific coast. A significant share of the sailings are transatlantic crossings — ships heading out from or returning to European ports — so if you are happy to fly one way and sail the other, these repositioning routes offer a genuine long-haul experience at a competitive price.

Durations across the range are wide, with a median of around 15 nights — long enough to do the continent justice. A small number of sailings are river cruises rather than ocean voyages, so it is worth checking the route type when you filter. More than half the itineraries in the sample are one-way rather than round-trip, which means a flight home is needed at the end; we can book that for you, along with any hotels you need either side.

Which Cruise Lines Sail South America in 2027?

MSC Cruises leads the way for volume in 2027, making it the most popular line for South America this year and offering the widest choice of ships and dates. Costa Cruises and Holland America Line both have a strong presence, with Holland America particularly well suited to longer, destination-focused sailings. Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line round out the main options, each bringing a distinct style on board. Cruise1st Packages combine a cruise with flights, hotels and transfers into one booking — worth looking at if you want everything arranged in one place.

Where Do South America Cruises Go in 2027?

The itineraries divide broadly into three groups, and knowing which suits you makes choosing a ship much simpler.

South America and Brazil Coastal Routes

The largest concentration of sailings focuses on the continent directly, with Brazil cruises calling at ports along the Atlantic coast. Rio de Janeiro and Santos are the anchor points for most Brazil-focused itineraries, and Salvador da Bahia, Camboriu and Itajaí appear on longer routes heading further south. These sailings suit anyone who wants time in port, with the cruise providing overnight passages between cities so you arrive fresh each morning.

Transatlantic Crossings

A large share of the 2027 programme is made up of transatlantic sailings — ships repositioning between Europe and South America, or crossing between South America and North America. If you are interested in a broader transatlantic sailing programme, our Transatlantic Cruises 2027 page covers the full range. These crossings typically run between 12 and 20 nights, and they suit travellers who enjoy sea days as much as port days. The pace is different from a coastal cruise — more time on the water, fewer stops — and they pair well with a few nights in the embarkation or disembarkation city. Some end in Miami or Fort Lauderdale: Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) are about half an hour apart, so a Florida trip can sail from either — worth checking both for dates and prices.

Central America and the Caribbean

A smaller selection of sailings takes in Central America and dips into the Southern Caribbean, useful if you want a mix of South and Central American ports on a single voyage. There is also one world cruise in the programme, calling at ports across multiple continents — see our World Cruises 2027 from Southampton page for that option.

Which Ships Are Sailing South America in 2027?

MSC operates the most ships on these routes, and several of them are worth knowing in detail before you choose.

MSC Musica

MSC Musica is a 294-metre Musica-class ship, launched in 2006 and renovated in 2024, with a three-tiered waterfall running through the atrium. The La Scala Theatre seats 1,200 guests for Broadway-style productions featuring song, dance and acrobatics nightly. For dining, the Kaito Sushi Bar and Butcher’s Cut steakhouse (arriving November 2026) sit alongside the exclusive MSC Yacht Club. Cabin grades on MSC Musica run from inside to suite:

• Inside cabin Bella I1 — 14 m², sleeps up to 4, a practical choice with more floor space than the smallest inside options
• Ocean-view cabin Bella O1 (obstructed view) — 16 m², sleeps up to 4, natural light at a lower price point
• Aurea Suite S3 — 28 m² balcony suite, sleeps up to 5, the largest in this selection
• Super Family Balcony cabin FLA — 40 m², sleeps up to 4, more than twice the space of a standard balcony, ideal for families or longer voyages
• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite — 47 m², sleeps up to 4, with a separate living area and dining room

For a full breakdown of decks and layouts, see the MSC Musica cabins and deck plans.

MSC Divina

Christened by Sophia Loren, MSC Divina is built around Italian glamour — a Swarovski crystal staircase, a De Jorio-designed Piazza, and an Infinity Pool at the stern that dissolves seamlessly into the ocean horizon. The Pantheon Theatre delivers Broadway-scale productions nightly, and the Casino Veneziano, a 4D cinema, and an F1 simulator keep evenings varied. Cabin grades:

• Deluxe Inside Cabin Fantastica — 16 m², sleeps up to 4
• Premium Ocean View Fantastica — 20 m², sleeps up to 4, unobstructed sea view
• Balcony Aurea — 18 m², sleeps up to 4, private balcony for breakfast or sundowners
• Premium Suite Aurea — 33 m² balcony suite, sleeps up to 4
• MSC Yacht Club Executive & Family Suite — 40 m², sleeps up to 4, separate lounge, dining room and walk-in wardrobe

Check the MSC Divina cabins and deck plans for the full picture.

MSC Virtuosa

Built in 2021 as MSC’s Meraviglia-Plus flagship, MSC Virtuosa is home to Rob — the world’s first humanoid robotic bartender at sea. Seven specialty restaurants include Indochine (French-Vietnamese fusion), Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, and 2 Kaito Japanese venues. The Savannah Aquapark, a 1,168 m² LED Galleria, the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, and Starlink internet throughout round out the offer. Cabin grades:

• Deluxe Inside Cabin Fantastica — 17 m², sleeps up to 4
• Ocean-view cabin FPO — 57 m², sleeps up to 10, the largest ocean-view cabin on board
• Family cabin FMB — 29 m², sleeps up to 6, generous space without a balcony
• Suite with balcony D3x — 59 m², sleeps up to 4, large private balcony
• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite — 58 m² spanning two decks, separate bedroom, 2 walk-in wardrobes and open living/dining area

See the MSC Virtuosa cabins and deck plans for full details.

MSC Seaview

MSC Seaview was purpose-built for those who want to spend as much time outdoors as possible — it carries the highest ratio of open deck space in the MSC fleet, over 13,000 sq metres. The 360° glass-railed Waterfront Promenade wraps the entire ship on Decks 7 and 8, and the Aqua Park runs 5 waterslides plus a 120-metre zip line, the longest onboard zip line at sea. Check the MSC Seaview cabins and deck plans when you are ready to choose your grade.

MSC Splendida

A classic 137,936-tonne Fantasia-class ship, MSC Splendida offers 5 swimming pools, the exclusive Top 18 Solarium, and 20 bars and lounges — including The Purple Jazz Bar and Club 33. The Strand Theatre delivers world-class variety shows nightly. The MSC Yacht Club provides a ship-within-a-ship experience: private pool deck, 24-hour butler service, and exclusive access to the L’Etoile gourmet restaurant. Deck plan details are on the MSC Splendida cabins and deck plans page.

Costa Serena

Costa Serena is the only Costa ship with the Fiorentina Steak House — an Italian steakhouse concept serving authentic Florentine cuts. The Samsara Spa spans 6,000 m² across two decks, with direct cabin access for Samsara suite guests. A three-storey theatre hosts musicals and cabaret every evening, and 4 pools include one with a retractable glass roof. See the Costa Serena cabins and deck plans for more.

What Do South America 2027 Fares Include?

Fare inclusions vary by cruise line, and it is worth comparing them carefully before you book — what looks like a lower headline price sometimes covers less.

Costa Cruises offers several fare types, including an All Inclusive tier that covers drinks and dining packages alongside full board, and a Comfort Plus tier that adds unlimited drinks, 24-hour room service and a reserved table. Flash and last-minute fares are also available for those booking closer to departure. Princess Cruises has a Standard base fare (cruise only, with packages available to add) and a Princess Plus tier covering casual dining meals, beverages up to a set daily limit, MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, and reserved theatre seating — good value if you plan to drink and use the internet regularly. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a lowest-fare brochure option and a Free at Sea-style bundle covering specialty dining, premium beverages, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credits per port. MSC fares vary by experience tier — Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea — with the MSC Yacht Club sitting above all of them as a premium ship-within-a-ship option.

How Much Can I Save on a South America Cruise in 2027?

Reduced fares are available across the 2027 programme. Discounts are measured from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on each individual sailing — so you are comparing like for like, not an inflated headline rate. The maximum reduction available reaches up to 50% on one departure, though that is the exception rather than the rule; most reduced sailings are discounted by around 10%. It is worth searching across departure dates rather than fixing on a single one, as the savings vary considerably sailing by sailing. Our team can help you identify where the reductions are strongest for the route and cabin grade you have in mind.

Why Book Your South America Cruise with Cruise1st?

As one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, we know these ships and these routes in detail. The vast majority of South America sailings in 2027 depart from overseas — Buenos Aires, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Miami — so getting there and back is part of the planning. We can put together a Cruise1st Package covering your flights, hotels before or after the cruise, transfers and tours, all on a single booking. That means one point of contact if anything changes, and no loose ends to chase separately.

We are also ABTA- and ATOL-protected, and rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews. Our expert advisers are available by phone to talk through cabin grades, fare tiers, and which itinerary suits your plans — the kind of detail that makes a real difference on a long-haul cruise. Whether you want an inside cabin at £598 pp* for a short sailing, or a full Yacht Club suite for a transatlantic crossing, we will help you find the right match.

A small number of sailings depart from Southampton, where you can board by road or rail with no airport at either end — though these represent a minority of the 2027 programme. If you are sailing from the UK and want to explore what else is leaving from home in 2027, our 2027 cruises from Southampton page has the full picture.

Exploring South American 2027 Cruises Further

If you are still weighing up your options, it helps to look at what is available by cruise line and region. MSC Cruises fly-cruise options for 2027 are worth exploring given MSC’s volume on these routes. For Princess fans, Princess Cruises 2027 from Southampton covers their UK departure programme, while MSC Cruises from Southampton in 2027 has their no-fly departures. If the idea of a voyage that goes further appeals, our America cruises in 2027 page covers the broader programme including North and Central America. For all 2027 cruises in 2027 across every destination, the full catalogue is available too.

Also worth a look if your dates are flexible: cruises from Southampton in August 2027 and Christmas cruises from Southampton — both of which include sailings that connect with South American routes at either end of the season.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.