7 nights Tropical Brazil from Rio de Janeiro

The 7 nights Tropical Brazil from Rio de Janeiro is a 7-night South America cruise aboard MSC Musica, operated by MSC Cruises. Departing Rio de Janeiro on December 29, 2026, the voyage visits 7 ports. Fares start from $1,679 per person.

Length: 7 nights
Departs: Dec 29, 2026
Returns: Jan 5, 2027
Ports of call: 7

from $1,679

$239 / night per person, incl. taxes & fees

See prices

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from $1,679 pp

Continues on MSC Cruises's site

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Itinerary

Day 1 Dec 29, 2026 Rio de Janeiro Departs 18:00 As you’ll be able to appreciate when you cruise the Atlantic Ocean with MSC Cruises, in its position on the southern shore of the magnificent Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro has, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most stunning settings in the world. Extending for 20km along an alluvial strip, between an azure sea and forest-clad mountains, the city’s streets and buildings have been moulded around the foothills of the mountain range that provides its backdrop, while out in the bay there are many rocky islands fringed with white sand. The aerial views over Rio are breathtaking, and even the concrete skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline add to the attraction. As the former capital of Brazil and now its second-largest city, Rio has a remarkable architectural heritage, some of the country’s best museums and galleries, superb restaurants and a vibrant nightlife – in addition to its legendary beaches. A shore excursion on your MSC South America cruise can be the opportunity to visit the Pão de Açúcar. The Sugar Loaf Mountain rises where Guanabara Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its name may simply reflect a resemblance to the moulded loaves in which sugar was once commonly sold. Alternatively, it may be a corruption of the indigenous Tamoya word Pau-nh-Açuquá, meaning “high, pointed or isolated hill”. On the top of Corcoavado Mountain instead the Art Deco statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), arms outstretched in welcome, stands 30m high and weighs over 1000 tonnes. It was supposed to be completed for Brazil’s centenary independence celebrations in 1922, but wasn’t actually finished until 1931. In clear weather, fear no anticlimax: climbing to the statue is a stunning experience, with the whole of Rio and Guanabara Bay laid out before you. Rio de Janeiro port guide Search cruises visiting Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro photo — Day 1 Dec 29, 2026 Rio de Janeiro Departs 18:00 As you’ll be able to appreciate when you cruise the Atlantic Ocean with MSC Cruises, in its position on the southern shore of the magnificent Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro has, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most stunning settings in the world. Extending for 20km along an alluvial strip, between an azure sea and forest-clad mountains, the city’s streets and buildings have been moulded around the foothills of the mountain range that provides its backdrop, while out in the bay there are many rocky islands fringed with white sand. The aerial views over Rio are breathtaking, and even the concrete skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline add to the attraction. As the former capital of Brazil and now its second-largest city, Rio has a remarkable architectural heritage, some of the country’s best museums and galleries, superb restaurants and a vibrant nightlife – in addition to its legendary beaches. A shore excursion on your MSC South America cruise can be the opportunity to visit the Pão de Açúcar. The Sugar Loaf Mountain rises where Guanabara Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its name may simply reflect a resemblance to the moulded loaves in which sugar was once commonly sold. Alternatively, it may be a corruption of the indigenous Tamoya word Pau-nh-Açuquá, meaning “high, pointed or isolated hill”. On the top of Corcoavado Mountain instead the Art Deco statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), arms outstretched in welcome, stands 30m high and weighs over 1000 tonnes. It was supposed to be completed for Brazil’s centenary independence celebrations in 1922, but wasn’t actually finished until 1931. In clear weather, fear no anticlimax: climbing to the statue is a stunning experience, with the whole of Rio and Guanabara Bay laid out before you. Rio de Janeiro port guide Search cruises visiting Rio de Janeiro

Day 2 Dec 30, 2026 Ilha Grande, Brazil 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore As you approach the low-lying, whitewashed colonial port of Vila do Abraão in Ilha Grande with your MSC cruise ship, the mountains rise dramatically from the sea, and in the distance there’s the curiously shaped summit of Bico do Papagaio (“Parrot’s Beak”), which rises to a height of 980m and can be reached in about three hours. There’s really very little to see in Abraão itself, but it’s a pleasant enough base from which to explore the rest of the island. Ilha Grande comprises 193 square kilometres of mountainous jungle, historic ruins and beautiful beaches, excellent for some scenic tropical rambling. The island is a state park and the authorities have been successful at limiting development and maintaining a ban on motor vehicles. Ilha Grande offers lots of beautiful excursions along well-maintained and fairly well-signposted trails, but it’s sensible to take some basic precautions. Carry plenty of water with you, and remember to apply sunscreen and insect repellent at regular intervals. According to legend, the pirate Jorge Grego was heading for the Straits of Magellan when his ship was sunk by a British fleet. He managed to escape with his two daughters to Ilha Grande, where he became a successful farmer and merchant. However, in a fit of rage, he murdered the lover of one of his daughters, and shortly afterwards, a terrible storm destroyed all his farms and houses. From then on, Jorge Grego passed his time roaming the island, distraught, pausing only long enough to bury his treasure before his final demise. If there is any treasure today, though, it’s the island’s wildlife: parrots, exotic hummingbirds, butterflies and monkeys abound in the thick vegetation.

Day 3 Dec 31, 2026 Buzios 07:00 – 16:00 9.0 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 3 Dec 31, 2026 Buzios 07:00 – 16:00 9.0 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

Day 3 Dec 31, 2026 Copacabana, Brazil 22:00 – 23:59 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 Copacabana, Brazil 00:01 – 01:00 59 min 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 5 Jan 2, 2027 Paranagua 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Capital of Panama, Curitiba is a small colonial town nestled at the foot of the Serra do Mar chain of mountains. Founded in the 17th century, the town thrived under the first European colonialists who became prosperous by running the many rubber plantations. The Serra Verde Express train is well worth taking, as it winds its away along the rugged slopes of a mountain overlooking vertiginous canyons and vast tropical plains, before reaching an equatorial forest that is as deep as it is mysterious. Paranagua port guide Search cruises visiting Paranagua

Paranagua photo — Day 5 Jan 2, 2027 Paranagua 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Capital of Panama, Curitiba is a small colonial town nestled at the foot of the Serra do Mar chain of mountains. Founded in the 17th century, the town thrived under the first European colonialists who became prosperous by running the many rubber plantations. The Serra Verde Express train is well worth taking, as it winds its away along the rugged slopes of a mountain overlooking vertiginous canyons and vast tropical plains, before reaching an equatorial forest that is as deep as it is mysterious. Paranagua port guide Search cruises visiting Paranagua

Day 6 Jan 3, 2027 Itajai 08:00 – 17:00 9.0 hrs ashore Next stop: Brazil! An MSC cruise will have you discovery this colorful Country, by docking in its second port located between Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo: Itajaí, in the state of Santa Catarina. Founded by the Portuguese coming from Madeira and the Azores, the city is located on the banks of the rio Itajaí-Açú and, being an important export trade point, it is a strategic hub of Brazilian economy. Itajai is also a city full of history, as you will see by walking through its historic center, rich in traditions thanks to the old fish market, and visiting the imposing church of the Santissimo Sacramento. Brazil is renown above all for its beaches. An excursion will take you to Praia Brava, between Itajaí and Balneário Camboriú. Known for its natural beauty and the clear sea, this beach is the ideal destination for relaxation, whether you just want to sunbathe or swim between the calm waves. A little further south is Balneário Camboriú. This is one of the capitals of tourism of Santa Caterina that during summer can reach even 1 million inhabitants. Av. Brazil is a vibrant shopping street, while Atlantic Avenue runs along the beach with its sidewalk in pavê like the one in Copacabana. Here, you can stop in a bar or restaurant to admire the sea and the island of Cabras, just offshore. For nature lovers, the area around Itajai offers the Parque Unipraias Camboriu. An excursion will take you to the Barra Sul Station, where you can take the cable car to Morro de Aguada at 240 meters of height and to the Mata Atlântica station. There are various paths to take to immerse yourself in this forest and come in contact with the Brazilian flora and fauna or the youngest visitors can cross it on board a sledge. Downhill the destination is the beach of Praia das Laranjeiras, the ideal place to enjoy some free time. Itajai port guide Search cruises visiting Itajai

Day 7 Jan 4, 2027 Ilhabela 09:00 – 18:00 9.0 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.

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 13-day span: $1,651 · range $1,651–$1,679

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

from $1,679

$239 / night

Fare rows

INTERIOR BELLA GUARANTEED

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,679

$239 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE INTERIOR FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,739

$248 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE INTERIOR FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,759

$251 / night

per person · incl. taxes

INTERIOR BELLA GUARANTEED

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,071

$295 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE INTERIOR FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,131

$304 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE INTERIOR FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,151

$307 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Oceanview

from $1,859

$265 / night

Fare rows

OCEAN VIEW BELLA GUARANTEED

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,859

$265 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW WITH OBSTRUCTED VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,889

$269 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,949

$278 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,959

$279 / night

per person · incl. taxes

OCEAN VIEW BELLA GUARANTEED

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,251

$321 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW WITH OBSTRUCTED VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,281

$325 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,341

$334 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,351

$335 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

from $2,039

$291 / night

Fare rows

BALCONY BELLA GUARANTEED

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,039

$291 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,139

$305 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,149

$307 / night

per person · incl. taxes

PREMIUM BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,199

$314 / night

per person · incl. taxes

PREMIUM BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,209

$315 / night

per person · incl. taxes

BALCONY AUREA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,339

$334 / night

per person · incl. taxes

BALCONY BELLA GUARANTEED

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,431

$347 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,531

$361 / night

per person · incl. taxes

DELUXE BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,541

$363 / night

per person · incl. taxes

PREMIUM BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,591

$370 / night

per person · incl. taxes

PREMIUM BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,601

$371 / night

per person · incl. taxes

BALCONY AUREA

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,731

$390 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Suite

Not available

Prices verified Jun 21, 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 16 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
BALCONY AUREA	BA	Balcony
BALCONY BELLA GUARANTEED	BB	Balcony
PREMIUM BALCONY FANTASTICA	BL1	Balcony
PREMIUM BALCONY FANTASTICA	BL2	Balcony
DELUXE BALCONY WITH PARTIAL VIEW FANTASTICA	BP	Balcony
DELUXE BALCONY FANTASTICA	BR1	Balcony
DELUXE BALCONY FANTASTICA	BR2	Balcony
INTERIOR BELLA GUARANTEED	IB	Inside
DELUXE INTERIOR FANTASTICA	IR1	Inside
DELUXE INTERIOR FANTASTICA	IR2	Inside
Inside Cabin	SPL	Inside
OCEAN VIEW BELLA GUARANTEED	OB	Oceanview
DELUXE OCEAN VIEW WITH OBSTRUCTED VIEW FANTASTICA	OO	Oceanview
DELUXE OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA	OR1	Oceanview
DELUXE OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA	OR2	Oceanview
PREMIUM SUITE AUREA	SL1	Suite