7 nights Northeast Brazil from Salvador

Itinerary

Salvador photo — Day 1 Dec 29, 2026 Salvador Departs 17:00 High above the enormous bay of Todos os Santos (All Saints), where your MSC cruise ship awaits your return, Salvador de Bahia has an electric feel from the moment you arrive. This is the great cultural and historical centre of Brazil, where Afro-Brazilian heritage is strongest and where capoeira, candomblé and samba de roda were created. MSC South America cruises offer excursions to the centro histórico of this magical place, a melange of narrow cobbled streets, peeling purple walls, grand Baroque churches, kids kicking footballs, rastas, locals sipping bottled beer on plastic chairs, the wafting aroma of herbs and the almost constant beating of drums, especially as the sun sets. Beyond the old town Salvador is a vast, sprawling city, with a vibrant beach life, modern skyscrapers and plenty of favelas. The centro histórico is the traditional heart of Salvador; it’s built around the craggy, 70m-high bluff that dominates the eastern side of the bay, and is split into upper and lower sections. Cidade Alta (or simply “Centro”) is strung along its top, linked to the less interesting Cidade Baixa (the old commercial centre, aka “Comércio”) by precipitous streets and the towering Art Deco lift-shaft of the Elevador Lacerda. Cidade Alta is the cultural centre of the city, and the section known as the Pelourinho is the groovy old district with colourful and hilly winding streets, its most vibrant and beguiling neighbourhood. The best spot to begin a walking tour of the city is at the Praça Municipal, the square dominated by the impressive Palácio do Rio Branco, the old governor’s palace which was in use until 1979. The fine interior is a blend of Rococo plasterwork, polished wooden floors and painted walls and ceilings. Salvador port guide Search cruises visiting Salvador

Day 3 Dec 31, 2026 Copacabana, Brazil 21:00 – 23:59 3.0 hrs ashore Copacabana is dominated to the east by Sugar Loaf Mountain and circled by a line of hills that stretch out into the bay as you’ll see when you’re cruising the Atlantic Ocean with MSC Cruises. The town’s expansion as a residential area has been restricted by the Morro de São João, which separates it from Botafogo, and the Morro dos Cabritos, a natural barrier to the west. Consequently, Copacabana is one of the world’s most densely populated areas as well as a frenzy of sensual activity. Of course, Copacabana hasn’t always been as it is today, and traces remain of the former fishing community that dominated the area until the first decades of the twentieth century. Each morning before dawn, the boats of the colônia de pescadores (the descendants of the fishermen) set sail from the Forte de Copacabana, returning to the beach by 8am to sell their fish from stalls at the southern end of the beach. Rio’s sophisticated beach culture is entirely a product of the twentieth century. The 1930s saw the city’s international reputation emerge and “flying down to Rio” became an enduring cliché, celebrated in music, film and literature. Nonetheless, Rio’s beaches are first and foremost the preserve of cariocas: rich or poor, young or old, everybody descends on the beaches throughout the week, treating them as city parks. Copacabana is amazing, the over-the-top atmosphere apparent even in the mosaic pavements, designed by Burle Marx to represent images of rolling waves. The seafront is backed by a line of prestigious, high-rise hotels and luxury apartments that have sprung up since the 1940s. Some fine examples of Art Deco architecture are scattered around the bairro.

Day 4 Jan 1, 2027 Copacabana, Brazil 00:01 – 02:00 2.0 hrs ashore Copacabana is dominated to the east by Sugar Loaf Mountain and circled by a line of hills that stretch out into the bay as you’ll see when you’re cruising the Atlantic Ocean with MSC Cruises. The town’s expansion as a residential area has been restricted by the Morro de São João, which separates it from Botafogo, and the Morro dos Cabritos, a natural barrier to the west. Consequently, Copacabana is one of the world’s most densely populated areas as well as a frenzy of sensual activity. Of course, Copacabana hasn’t always been as it is today, and traces remain of the former fishing community that dominated the area until the first decades of the twentieth century. Each morning before dawn, the boats of the colônia de pescadores (the descendants of the fishermen) set sail from the Forte de Copacabana, returning to the beach by 8am to sell their fish from stalls at the southern end of the beach. Rio’s sophisticated beach culture is entirely a product of the twentieth century. The 1930s saw the city’s international reputation emerge and “flying down to Rio” became an enduring cliché, celebrated in music, film and literature. Nonetheless, Rio’s beaches are first and foremost the preserve of cariocas: rich or poor, young or old, everybody descends on the beaches throughout the week, treating them as city parks. Copacabana is amazing, the over-the-top atmosphere apparent even in the mosaic pavements, designed by Burle Marx to represent images of rolling waves. The seafront is backed by a line of prestigious, high-rise hotels and luxury apartments that have sprung up since the 1940s. Some fine examples of Art Deco architecture are scattered around the bairro.

Day 4 Jan 1, 2027 Ilhabela 10:00 – 18:00 8.0 hrs ashore Without a shadow of a doubt, Ilhabela is one of the most beautiful spots on the Brazilian coast between Santos and Rio. When you step ashore from your MSC cruise ship you’ll feel surrounded by nature. Of volcanic origin, the island’s startling mountainous scenery rises to 1370m and is covered in dense tropical foliage. With 83 percent of the island protected within the boundaries of the Parque Estadual de Ilhabela, the dozens of waterfalls, beautiful beaches and azure seas have contributed to the island’s popularity. Old or new, most of the buildings are in simple Portuguese-colonial styles – as far removed from brash Guarujá as you can get. The island is a haunt of São Paulo’s rich who maintain large and discreetly located homes on the coast, many of which have mooring facilities for luxury yachts or helicopter landing-pads. Almost all of the island’s 30,000 inhabitants live along the sheltered western shore, with the small village of Vila Ilhabela (often referred to as “Centro”) serving as the main population centre. On an MSC South America cruise excursion you can visit Vila Ilhabela, which has a few pretty colonial buildings, dominated by the Igreja Matriz, a little church completed in 1806. Situated on a hill, the white-and-blue wedding cake-like building has a Spanish-marble floor and provides both a cool retreat from the sun and a good view over the area. Following the coastal road south from Vila Ilhabela along the mainland-facing shore, the beaches are small, but pleasant enough, the calm waters are popular with windsurfers, and bars and restaurants dot the roadside as far as Perequê, the island’s second-biggest town, about halfway south along the island and the location of the port. There are more attractive beaches on the further-flung coasts of the island, most of which can be reached by schooner and/or jeep.

Day 5 Jan 2, 2027 Sao Paulo 07:00 – 17:00 10.0 hrs ashore São Paulo, Brazil’s vibrant financial center, is among the world's most populous cities, with numerous cultural institutions and a rich architectural tradition. Its iconic buildings range from its neo-Gothic cathedral and the 1929 Martinelli skyscraper to modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer’s curvy Edifício Copan. The colonial-style Pátio do Colégio church marks where Jesuit priests founded the city in 1554. Sao Paulo port guide Search cruises visiting Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo photo — Day 5 Jan 2, 2027 Sao Paulo 07:00 – 17:00 10.0 hrs ashore São Paulo, Brazil’s vibrant financial center, is among the world's most populous cities, with numerous cultural institutions and a rich architectural tradition. Its iconic buildings range from its neo-Gothic cathedral and the 1929 Martinelli skyscraper to modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer’s curvy Edifício Copan. The colonial-style Pátio do Colégio church marks where Jesuit priests founded the city in 1554. Sao Paulo port guide Search cruises visiting Sao Paulo

Day 6 Jan 3, 2027 Buzios 09:00 – 19:00 10.0 hrs ashore On a peninsula north of Cabo Frio, Armação dos Búzios, or just Búzios, is an immensely scenic resort full of high-spending beautiful people, and a very popular port of call on holidays to Brazil with MSC Cruises. Armação, the main settlement, is built in a vaguely colonial style, its streets lined with restaurants, bars and chic boutiques, and has been nicknamed “Brazil’s St Tropez”. It comes then as little surprise to find that it was “discovered” by none other than Brigitte Bardot, who stumbled upon it while touring the area in 1964. Búzios consists of three main settlements, Manguinos, Armação and Ossos, each with its own distinct character. Manguinos, on the isthmus, is the main service centre, with a tourist office, a medical centre and banks. Midway along the peninsula, linked to Manguinos by a road lined with brash hotels, is Armação, an attractive village where cars are banned from some of the cobbled roads. Most of Búzio’s best restaurants and boutiques are concentrated here, along with some of the resort’s nicest pousadas, or inns, and there’s also a helpful tourist office on the main square, Praça Santos Dumont. When you step ashore from your MSC cruise, a fifteen-minute walk along the Orla Bardot – which follows the coast from Armação, passing the lovely seventeenth-century Igreja de NossaSenhora de Sant’Ana on the way –, brings you to Ossos, the oldest settlement, comprising a pretty harbour, a quiet beach and a few bars, restaurants and pousadas. Within walking distance of all Búzios’ settlements are beautiful white-sand beaches – 27 in total – cradled between rocky cliffs and promontories, and lapped by crystal-clear waters. The beaches are varied, with the north-facing ones having the calmest and warmest seas, while those facing the south and east have the most surf. Buzios port guide Search cruises visiting Buzios

Buzios photo — Day 6 Jan 3, 2027 Buzios 09:00 – 19:00 10.0 hrs ashore On a peninsula north of Cabo Frio, Armação dos Búzios, or just Búzios, is an immensely scenic resort full of high-spending beautiful people, and a very popular port of call on holidays to Brazil with MSC Cruises. Armação, the main settlement, is built in a vaguely colonial style, its streets lined with restaurants, bars and chic boutiques, and has been nicknamed “Brazil’s St Tropez”. It comes then as little surprise to find that it was “discovered” by none other than Brigitte Bardot, who stumbled upon it while touring the area in 1964. Búzios consists of three main settlements, Manguinos, Armação and Ossos, each with its own distinct character. Manguinos, on the isthmus, is the main service centre, with a tourist office, a medical centre and banks. Midway along the peninsula, linked to Manguinos by a road lined with brash hotels, is Armação, an attractive village where cars are banned from some of the cobbled roads. Most of Búzio’s best restaurants and boutiques are concentrated here, along with some of the resort’s nicest pousadas, or inns, and there’s also a helpful tourist office on the main square, Praça Santos Dumont. When you step ashore from your MSC cruise, a fifteen-minute walk along the Orla Bardot – which follows the coast from Armação, passing the lovely seventeenth-century Igreja de NossaSenhora de Sant’Ana on the way –, brings you to Ossos, the oldest settlement, comprising a pretty harbour, a quiet beach and a few bars, restaurants and pousadas. Within walking distance of all Búzios’ settlements are beautiful white-sand beaches – 27 in total – cradled between rocky cliffs and promontories, and lapped by crystal-clear waters. The beaches are varied, with the north-facing ones having the calmest and warmest seas, while those facing the south and east have the most surf. Buzios port guide Search cruises visiting Buzios

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 85-day span: $1,831 · range $1,831–$2,027

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

Not available

Balcony

from $2,027

$289 / night

Fare rows

Deluxe Balcony With Partial View FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,027

$289 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,038

$291 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,050

$292 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,061

$294 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Aurea

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,176

$310 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony With Partial View FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,419

$345 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,430

$347 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,442

$348 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,453

$350 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Aurea

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,568

$366 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony With Partial View FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,050

$578 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,072

$581 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,096

$585 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,118

$588 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Aurea

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,348

$621 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Suite

from $10,361

$1,480 / night

Fare rows

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $10,361

$1,480 / night

per person · incl. taxes

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $10,361

$1,480 / night

per person · incl. taxes

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $20,718

$2,959 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 24, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via MSC Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Show all 23 cabin grades

Cabin grades and pricing
Name	Supplier code	Type
Balcony Aurea	BA	Balcony
Balcony Bella	BB	Balcony
Deluxe Balcony With Partial View FANTASTICA	BP	Balcony
Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA	BR1	Balcony
Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA	BR2	Balcony
Deluxe Balcony FANTASTICA	BR3	Balcony
Studio Balcony FANTASTICA	BS	Balcony
Interior Bella	IB	Inside
Deluxe Interior FANTASTICA	IR1	Inside
Deluxe Interior FANTASTICA	IR2	Inside
Studio Interior FANTASTICA	IS	Inside
Ocean View Bella	OB	Oceanview
Premium Ocean View FANTASTICA	OL2	Oceanview
Junior Ocean View FANTASTICA	OM2	Oceanview
Junior Ocean View with obstructed view FANTASTICA	OO	Oceanview
Deluxe Ocean View FANTASTICA	OR1	Oceanview
Premium Suite Aurea	SL1	Suite
Premium Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool	SLJ	Suite
Grand Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool	SXJ	Suite
MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite	YC1	Suite
MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with Whirlpool Bath	YC3	Suite
Yacht Club Interior Suite	YIN	Suite
MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Jacuzzi	YJD	Suite

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