After an 11-day transatlantic voyage MSC Fantasia, the first cruise ship to open the 2022-23 Brazil cruise season, arrived today in Rio de Janeiro. As part of its Brazilian season, the MSC Fantasia is set to offer regular sailings from Santos, Sao Paulo, starting tomorrow, November 2.
This year Brazil will see a record-breaking cruise season lasting almost six months. Nine cruise ships will visit Brazilian ports providing 780 thousand berths, 47% higher than the pre-pandemic season (2019/2020), which has 530 thousand berths.
The rest of the cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Brazil are Costa Firenze, Costa Fortuna, Costa Favolosa, MSC Armonia, MSC Música, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seashore and MSC Seaview will offer a total of 184 voyages from the ports of Itajaí (SC), Maceió (AL), Rio de Janeiro ( RJ), Salvador (BA) and Santos (SP). In all, 486 stopovers are planned in 17 destinations, including Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Montevideo and Punta del Este, in Uruguay.
Brazil's Ministry of Tourism expressed the importance of the cruise season which will inject about 772 million US dollars into the economy and create 44,000 direct and indirect jobs.
"Cruises are the best way to get to know the world, as they offer accommodation, transportation, entertainment, food, and a different view every day in a single holyday. We started this season with great responsibility, always putting guests, crew, the environment and compliance first, and delivering the memorable trips that cruise travelers already known," said Marco Ferraz, president of CLIA Brazil. "In addition, we see many opportunities for expansion in the sector in Brazil, as the activity grows around the world, with new ships under construction, and investments in efficiency, technology, and sustainability. We are working continuously so that the Brazilian cruise industry continues to evolve and contribute even more to the economy and job creation in the country."
This season also marks the return of Brazil to the route of important shipping companies from all over the world. From October 7, 2022 to May 17, 2023, 35 long-haul vessels will make 309 stops in 45 destinations located in 15 Brazilian states such as Amazonas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, with high expectations of generating economic impact for the national economy.
