The cruise season in South America has several ships traveling, round trip, the coasts of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile.
Part of the success of this type of product -beyond the fact that there is a wide variety of proposals and prices– is that the vacation begins as soon as one steps foot on board and that the bills They are controlled: the trip is paid in advance and includes accommodation, food and activities on board, with the bonus of visiting a different place every day.
As the season comes to an end, between March and Aprilcruise companies will begin moving their ships to other seas, just in time for the northern hemisphere’s future peak seasons.
We talk, on the one hand, about the transatlantic cruisesroutes that cross the Atlantic Ocean, from America to Europe – many did the reverse route between October and December – and offer great crossings, with many days of sailing.
On the other hand, there are cruises that go from south to north, bordering the American continent, a similar proposal in terms of length/type of trip.
In both cases, a product ideal for those who already know about cruises (and he likes them).
“The transatlantic is a journey of repositioning. The massive ships are positioned in a port and make itineraries for that season,” explains Joaquín Salgueiro, vice president of Organfur.
When the season changes, cruise companies change the region’s ships and “reposition” them to get from one to another.
“They are long itineraries, more than 10 days, they are not regular – that is, they do not come and go doing the same thing – and they require an air ticket oneway”, adds Salgueiro.
If you go from Buenos Aires to a port in Europe, then you will have to buy the air ticket to return, something that Salgueiro defines as “inconvenient” to buy because it is less common.
Keys to transatlantic cruises and long voyages
Before purchasing this type of product – any cruise, in fact – it is good Consult with a travel agent specialized in cruiseswho knows which is the best itinerary/company according to each person’s expectations.
Specifically, regarding repositioning, Salgueiro highlights that due to the dates they are not usually an alternative for families with children; What are they long itineraries -there are 12 days or 20 days-, ideal for those who have already taken a cruise and like the life on board since they have several days of navigation – even 5 or 6 days without stopping on any scale – and perhaps the most attractive thing: that They are cheaper than other itineraries. This is explained because the company is forced to make that move.
It is also true that to that price you have to add the airfare to return home.
The key is have time and get a good air For the return.
He type of boat also makes a big difference and that is why it is important to review the characteristics of each shipping company and the proposals they offer on board, especially thinking about several days of navigation.
Cruises and prices to take into account
Among the boats that are covering the season this summer, the MSC Lirica goes up on March 5th from Buenos Aires heading to Venice on an itinerary of 25 nights. And it is tempting: go through Paranaguá, Itajai (Balneario Camboriu), Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Maceió (Brazil), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Cádiz, Barcelona (Spain), Messina (Italy), Corfù (Greece), Dubrovnik (Croatia) and arrives in Venice. Rates start at US$2,657 per person (plus taxes).
The company’s other ship is the MSC Musica, which departs on March 31 from Buenos Aires to Genoa with a 21-night itinerary. It passes through Montevideo (Uruguay), Itajai – Balneario Camboriu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Recife (Brazil), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona (Spain), Marseille (France) and Genoa (Italy). Prices start at US$1,743 per person (rate without taxes)
Costa Cruises has the Fabulous Coast departing from Buenos Aires on March 29 with a 20-night itinerary that includes Rio de Janeiro, Recife (Brazil), Mindelo (Cape Verde), Las Palmas (Spain), Casablanca (Morocco), Barcelona (Spain), Marseille ( France) and Savona (Italy).
For those who are projecting with timeon November 13, 2024, will depart from Europe on a 21-night voyage with the following itinerary: Savona/ Marseille/ Barcelona/ Casablanca/ Tenerife/ Recife/ Salvador de Bahía/ Ilheus/ Rio de Janeiro/ Montevideo/ Buenos Aires.
Costa liners cost from US$1,529 per person plus fees and taxes
Another option is the one offered by the Celebrity Eclipse ship, which ends its season in South America with a 7-night trip from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro and then another 14-night trip that reaches New York.
With an itinerary of 32 nightshe Sapphire Princess It leaves Buenos Aires and ends its journey on April 5 in The Angels. Stopovers: Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, San Antonio (Santiago de Chile), La Serena (Coquimbo), Pisco, Callao (Lima – 2 days), Manta, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Luke. It costs from US$2,545 per person, taxes included, in an interior cabin (taxes and air tickets are not included).
The trip can also be “shortened” by boarding the ship in San Antonio, the port of Santiago de Chile, on March 18, and from there traveling 18 nights until ending in Los Angeles. In this case the rate is US$ 1,134 per person.
A similar alternative offers Holland America Line, but arriving at Ft. Lauderdale, near Miami, through the Panama Canal. The Oosterdam ship leaves Buenos Aires on March 5 and arrives at its destination on April 5. The trip lasts 31 nights and passes through Montevideo, Malvinas Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, San Antonio (Santiago de Chile), La Serena (Coquimbo), Pisco, Callao (Lima – 3 days), Manta, Fuerte Amador ( 2 days), crossing the Panama Canal and Aruba. It can also be shortened by taking the boat in Santiago (Chile)
The 31-night trip to Ft. Lauderdale costs from US$3,593 per person in an inside cabin; the 18-night leg from Santiago, from US$ 1,832 per person.
The Star Ship, Norwegian Cruise Line, leaves from Rio de Janeiro towards Lisbon. It passes through Buzios, Salvador, Maceió, Recife (Brazil), Porto Grande and Praia (Cape Verde), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas (Spain), Funchal and Lisbon (Portugal). It costs from US$ 1,498 per person in an internal cabin.