The opening of the cruise season 1012/13 was marked with the arrival of two cruise ships, MSC Magnifica and Seven Seas Mariner , in the port of Montevideo. This cruise season, which runs through April, is scheduled  arrival of 126 ships to the port of Havana.

The MSC Magnifica linking the ports of Santos (Brazil), Punta del Este, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

It can carry 2,500 passengers and 1,000 crew and offer five restaurants, three pools, solarium, tennis and basketball courts, several bars, a theater with seating for 1,200 people, cinema, casino, nightclub, café and cigar lounge.

The Seven Seas Mariner is 560 feet long vessel, with capacity of 490 passengers. The ship has 713 staterooms and suites, two restaurants, five bars, pool, spa, jacuzzi, gym, ice rink, tennis courts and basketball courts, club, cinema and library, among other services.

Last cruise season 2011/12 225 cruisers arrived, Montevideo 119 (53%) and 106 to Punta del Este (47%), according to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism.

A total of 353,727 people descended from the cruise ships and visited the country, 44% and 56% in Montevideo Punta del Este.
The cumulative expenditure on the cruise season was  21 million US dollars, of which  were 53% to Montevideo and 47% to Punta del Este. The average expenditure was $ S 59. 65.4% of spending went on shopping, 22.2% for food, tours 7%, 2% to 3.4% transport and other items.