In short
Rio is the easier trip: the terminal is in the historic centre, 30–45 minutes from the airport, and the city deserves a couple of days. Sailings run from December to April, mostly a week or longer. Santos, São Paulo's port, is two hours from the airport but has more sailings, a season from November and many short cruises.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- Feb, Mar, Apr
- Where ships go
- Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina · Transatlantic crossings
- Usual length
- 6–9 / 15+ nights
- Round trips
- about half
Which port suits you
You want a short transfer and Rio itself
A non-stop flight from Amsterdam, 30–45 minutes from the airport to the ship and a terminal in the historic centre. Before or after the cruise: Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Corcovado. Sailings from here are mostly a week or longer, and in April almost all of them cross to Europe.
Rio de Janeiro port guide →You want more dates or a short cruise
More sailings in almost every month of the season, which opens as early as November, and plenty of mini-cruises of 2–5 nights. Allow about two hours by road from São Paulo airport: there is no train, so plan a night in Santos or São Paulo before you sail.
Santos port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Rio de Janeiro | Santos (São Paulo) |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from the Netherlands and Belgium | KLM flies non-stop from Amsterdam to Galeão airport in about 12 hours. From Brussels you change planes, for example in Lisbon, Paris or Madrid. | Non-stop flights to São Paulo-Guarulhos from Amsterdam and, since June 2026, from Brussels, also about 12 hours. Then about two hours by road. |
| Terminal to city centre | Píer Mauá is in the historic centre: Praça Mauá and the Museum of Tomorrow are 5–10 minutes on foot. Copacabana is 25–40 minutes by taxi. | The Concais terminal is inside the port, close to the historic centre; the Gonzaga beachfront is 15–20 minutes by taxi. São Paulo is about 70 km away, an hour and a half by road. |
| Airport and train | From Galeão, 30–45 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app. From Santos Dumont city airport, the VLT tram runs to the Parada dos Navios stop opposite the terminal. | There is no train from São Paulo. From Guarulhos it is about two hours by road; on ship days Viação Cometa runs buses straight to the terminal from Guarulhos and Congonhas. |
| Season | December to April, busiest from January to April. Hardly anything from May to October. | November to April, busiest in December, with March close behind. More sailings than Rio in almost every month of the season. |
| Typical itineraries | A week along the Brazilian coast; 8–9 nights to Argentina and Uruguay; few short cruises. In March and April, crossings to Europe, most often to the Mediterranean. | Mini-cruises of 2–5 nights, especially in November and December; 5–7 nights along the coast; 7–9 nights to Argentina and Uruguay. In March and April, crossings to Europe. |
| City before or after | Rio is a trip in itself: Sugarloaf, Copacabana, Corcovado. Allow two or three days. | A small seaside city: the Coffee Museum, the Monte Serrat funicular, gardens along the beach. São Paulo, a huge city, is close by for a day or two. |
| Where to stay | Centro is closest but quiet in the evening; Flamengo and Botafogo are 15–20 minutes from the port; Copacabana and Ipanema 25–50 minutes. | Gonzaga by the beach, 15–20 minutes by taxi to the terminal, or Ponta da Praia, closer to the port. Or São Paulo, with a transfer or the direct bus on boarding day. |
Itineraries: what they share and how they differ
The key point: during the Brazilian season the same cruise lines sail from Rio and Santos, and many ships from Santos call at Rio along the way. On some sailings you can board at either port, and you usually leave the ship where you joined it. In that case you are not really choosing a cruise, but a convenient flight and the city you want to see. The booking for the specific sailing shows where boarding is possible.
- The start of the season belongs to Santos. In November and December it has mini-cruises of 2–5 nights, New Year sailings and the first weeks to Argentina and Uruguay; December is its busiest month of the year. Rio has almost nothing in November, and its week-long coastal cruises begin in December.
- High summer: both ports. From January to March both Rio and Santos have weeks along the Brazilian coast and 7–9 night sailings to Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Punta del Este. Santos offers more dates, and short cruises from Rio are rare. In 2027 Carnival falls in early February, and those sailings sell out first.
- End of the season: home by sea. In March and April ships leave both ports across the Atlantic to Europe, almost always one way. In April almost every sailing from Rio is such a crossing, most often to the Mediterranean. Santos also has some to northern Europe: Costa Diadema, for example, sails to Kiel on 5 April 2027 — closer to the Netherlands and Belgium than Italy.
The whole season, with all ports: South America cruise season.
If you want Rio and a cruise from Santos
Fly to Rio, spend two or three days there and board at Píer Mauá. Or choose a cruise from Santos that calls at Rio, and see the city during the stop. A flight from Rio to São Paulo takes about an hour, but from São Paulo it is another hour and a half to two hours by road to the terminal in Santos. And remember: on a round trip you leave the ship where you joined it, so book your flight home from the same city.
Common questions
Which port is easier to reach from the Netherlands or Belgium?
Usually Rio: there are non-stop flights from Amsterdam, and the terminal is 30 to 45 minutes from the airport. São Paulo has non-stop flights from both Amsterdam and Brussels, but then it is about two more hours by road to Santos, with no train.
Which port has more cruises, Rio or Santos?
Santos: it is Brazil's biggest cruise port, the season runs from November to April, and almost every month has more sailings, especially short ones. Cruises leave Rio from December to April, mostly for a week or longer.
Can I join the same cruise in Rio or in Santos?
Sometimes: many ships from Santos call at Rio, and on some sailings you can board at either port. You usually leave the ship where you boarded. The booking for the specific sailing shows which boarding ports are available.
Which port is better for sailing back to Europe?
Both: in March and April ships cross the Atlantic, almost always one way. In April almost every sailing from Rio is such a crossing, most often to the Mediterranean; Santos also has some to northern Europe — Costa Diadema, for example, sails to Kiel on 5 April 2027.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Rio de Janeiro and Santos that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Rio and Santos dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.