The short answer: if you want sun between November and March without an all-inclusive hotel, South America is the one big cruise region where it is properly summer. You can fly there for a one-week cruise, cross the Atlantic on the ship itself in autumn, or go south to Patagonia and Cape Horn.
When the season runs
Cruise lines move ships to South America as the European season ends. For the 2026/2027 season, eight ships from three companies are based on the Brazilian coast, with the season running from mid-November 2026 to early April 2027. Most of them are ships that sail the Mediterranean in summer — MSC and Costa — so the onboard experience is familiar.
- November and March — calmer, fewer local holidaymakers, still warm.
- December to February — peak summer and school holidays in Brazil and Argentina. Hot, lively, and the busiest ships of the season.
- Christmas, New Year and Carnival — special sailings that fill up early. Carnival 2027 falls on 6–9 February.
Option 1. Fly over, then cruise
The most common way: fly to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires and join a cruise of three to nine nights. Ships leave from Santos (the port for São Paulo), Rio, Salvador and several other Brazilian ports, and from Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Typical routes run along the Brazilian coast — Ilhabela, Búzios, Balneário Camboriú, Salvador — or south to the River Plate: Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta del Este.
Make the long flight worth it
A twelve-hour flight for a three-night cruise rarely makes sense. Combine a seven-night cruise with a few days in Rio or Buenos Aires before or after — that is where the trip really earns its distance.
Option 2. Sail there from Europe
This is the option few people know about. The ships do not fly to South America — they sail. Every autumn, between late October and mid-November, several ships leave Mediterranean ports such as Barcelona, Genoa and Civitavecchia and cross the Atlantic to Brazil, stopping on the way at places like Valencia, the Canary Islands and Madeira. These crossings take roughly 17 to 20 nights and end in Santos or, for some ships, Buenos Aires.
What an Atlantic crossing is really like →
In spring the same thing happens in reverse. Costa Diadema, for example, sails from Santos to Kiel in Germany on 5 April 2027 — a 26-night crossing.
Who it suits: people with time — retirees, those working remotely, anyone who enjoys days at sea. You still need one flight, either there or back, but the long journey becomes the holiday itself.
Honest downsides: many consecutive sea days, a long time away from home, and a one-way flight to arrange separately.
Option 3. Patagonia and Cape Horn
From December to March, ships sail around the southern tip of the continent — roughly two weeks between Buenos Aires and Chile, or round trip from Buenos Aires. Typical stops: Puerto Madryn, the Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, sailing past Cape Horn, Punta Arenas and the Chilean fjords.
This is a nature trip, not a beach holiday: even in summer it is cool and windy down there, so pack layers.
Patagonia and Cape Horn in detail →
Practical things to check
- Entry rules. Short tourist stays in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile are generally visa-free for EU passport holders. Check the rules for your own passport before you book.
- Vaccinations. Ask your GP or a travel clinic what they recommend for the regions you will visit.
- Time difference. Brazil is four hours behind the Netherlands in our winter — easier on the body than Asia.
- Language. English is spoken on board; on shore it is Portuguese in Brazil and Spanish elsewhere.
- Getting home. On fly-cruises, leave a buffer day between the ship's arrival and your flight.
South America by ship: ports and routes →
How the club fits in
This season is a good example of why planning ahead pays off. The ships and routes for the next season are known about a year in advance, so you can decide now and travel much later.
In the club there are three ways to pay for a cruise, and you choose one per booking — they do not add up:
- Member price (INsider Pricing) — roughly 17% below the listed price, paid in cash.
- Points plus payment — accumulated points cover up to half of the cruise price.
- Entirely in points — possible when you have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Points build up gradually, with every paid month of membership. So for trips that fill up early, it helps to plan well ahead and check which way of paying your points allow at that moment.
Common questions
Is it worth flying so far for a cruise?
For a short cruise on its own, usually not. For a week at sea plus a few days in Rio or Buenos Aires — or for an Atlantic crossing that replaces one of the flights — it can be the most memorable winter trip you take.
Which months are the quietest?
November and March. December to February are local summer holidays, and the ships are at their busiest.
Can I combine a cruise with Carnival?
Yes, there are special sailings around Carnival, but they are among the first to fill up. If that is the plan, decide well in advance.
Do I need to speak Portuguese or Spanish?
Not on board — English is standard. A few basic phrases make life on shore easier, especially outside the big cities.
Ships, dates and routes are taken from cruise line announcements for the 2026/2027 season and may change; check the current itinerary when booking. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.