Key Aspects:
- The seasonal port of Ilhabela enjoyed two unexpected ship visits in two days due to the weather.
- Both Costa Favolosa and MSC Sinfonia diverted to the Brazilian port this week.
- Weather-related changes aren’t unusual and Ilhabela is more sheltered than other destinations.
Two cruise ships in two days have unexpectedly visited Ilhabela on the coast of Brazil, 150 miles west-southwest of Rio de Janeiro. While the calls weren’t scheduled, poor weather along the coast cancelled the ships’ plans to visit other ports and they rerouted to Ilhabela instead.
According to Radar Litoral, the impacted ships were Costa Favolosa and MSC Sinfonia, both of which were sailing short itineraries.
The 114,500-gross-ton Costa Favolosa visited “Beautiful Island” (the translation of the Portuguese Ilhabela) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, bringing roughly 3,800 passengers to the island.
MSC Sinfonia arrived the next day, spending from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in port. The 58,200-gross-ton ship brought approximately 2,500 guests to Ilhabela.
“Cruise ship stops are very important for our main industry, which is tourism,” commented Toninho Colucci, mayor of Ilhabela. “In addition to bringing visitors and boosting the local economy, the ships also contribute to the promotion of our destination, fostering the economic development of Ilhabela.”
Because the island’s cruise pier is on the western coast, it is relatively sheltered from poor weather and easy for even larger cruise ships to dock when other ports may not be available.
Upon arrival, guests onboard the two ships found a beautiful island indeed, with spectacular beaches and amazing watersports to enjoy, including sailing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, and more.
Hiking trails lead to outstanding waterfalls, while craft boutiques, delicious restaurants, bars, and other shopping are huge draws in the port area.
Ilhabela is located just off the mainland coast of southern Brazil, approximately 75 miles from Sao Paulo. For ships with full day visits, guests can enjoy longer tours and opportunities to dive even deeper into Brazilian culture, history, and art in the most populous city in the country.
Weather Changes Not Unusual
It is not uncommon for cruise ships to cancel ports of call based on poor weather. In some cases, it may seem like the perfect vacation day for guests onboard, but conditions at piers or for the use of tenders may be unsuitable and unsafe, leading to a port cancellation.
Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather
Whenever possible, cruise lines attempt to arrange alternative ports to give guests more opportunities to enjoy visits in unique destinations. Substitute ports are not always available, however, depending on berth numbers, itinerary schedules, port staffing, and other factors.
Cruising to Ilhabela
The cruise season in Ilhabela generally runs from November to March or April, depending on exact schedules.
In the coming months, additional ships from Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises will both visit the port, including MSC Fantasia, MSC Armonia, and additional calls from MSC Sinfonia.
From Costa Cruises, visits are planned for Costa Diadema as well as Costa Favolosa.
Other cruise lines that visit the charming port include Azamara, AIDA Cruises, Silversea, Fred Olsen, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with various ships visiting on both short getaways as well as longer sailings.
In March 2026, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox will also call on the destination.
In total, more than 50 ship visits are planned for Ilhabela during the 2025-2026 cruise season, with the last visit scheduled on April 13, 2026, for Costa Diadema.
MSC Cruises’ MSC Musica is expected to open the 2026-2027 season for the port on November 19, 2026.
