The 2026/2027 cruise season starts earlier this year at the Port of Santos. On October 28, the Buenavista ship will dock for the first time at the Concais maritime passenger terminal, marking the beginning of a season that will offer numerous options for themed voyages with renowned artists, itineraries, and diverse activities for passengers. By April 4, 2027, ten ships are expected to pass through the terminal.
According to Concais, the expectation is to reach 418,000 embarkations and maintain a total movement of approximately 900,000 passengers, considering embarkations, disembarkations, and transit passengers. Thus, the movement is expected to surpass that of the 2025/2026 season at the Port of Santos, when about 800,000 passengers passed through the terminal.
Another highlight of the season will be the presence of the giant MSC Virtuosa, which will also make its first season calling at the Port of Santos. With a capacity for 6,300 passengers, the vessel will arrive at Concais on December 2. It is the cruise ship with the largest capacity since the beginning of the passenger terminal's operations.
Parking
One option for passengers is to use the Concais parking lot, which allows a direct connection to the baggage claim hall and check-in procedures. The address is Avenida Cândido Gaffrée, s/n – Armazém 25, Porto de Santos.
Discounts for Frequent Ships
The Port Authority of Santos (APS), a Brazilian government company responsible for the public infrastructure of the Port of Santos, highlights that vessels operating cruises can benefit from discounts on waterway access fees based on the discount policy for ships with high frequency at the Port of Santos.
Long-haul vessels can receive up to a 55% discount, and cabotage vessels up to 60% (in both cases, when there are 48 or more calls in Santos). Discounts are granted based on the call history of the 12 months prior to the month of docking.
Some cruise ships have also benefited from discounts on fees charged to so-called "green ships," which emit fewer pollutants. Discounts are given to vessels registered with a positive score on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This is a strategy developed by APS with a focus on reducing climate impact.
Source: Porto de Santos
