MSC Sinfonia Docks 10 Hours Late in Santos After Rough Seas

MSC Sinfonia arrived in Santos, Brazil, on Jan. 5, 2026, about 7 p.m. local time, more than 10 hours later than scheduled after adverse weather off Brazil’s southeastern coast delayed the ship’s departure from Itajaí.

What caused the late docking in Santos

The MSC Cruises ship was due to dock in Santos, São Paulo, at 8 a.m. to end a seven-night cruise, but difficult conditions the prior day kept it alongside longer than planned in Itajaí. MSC Sinfonia had been scheduled to depart Itajaí at 6 p.m. on Jan. 4, but did not leave until about 4 a.m. on Jan. 5 as the vessel prioritized passenger and crew safety.

With roughly 230 nautical miles between Itajaí and Santos, the overnight delay made an on-time arrival unrealistic. Even at higher cruise-ship speeds, the transit between the two ports can take around 10 to 11 hours.

How the delay affected turnaround-day operations

The late arrival disrupted a key turnaround day at Santos, the ship’s homeport for the sailing, affecting both disembarkation for guests ending their trip and check-in and boarding procedures for guests beginning the next seven-night cruise. The operator of the Santos cruise terminal said in an operational update that check-in procedures were impacted by the delayed arrival.

For disembarking passengers, the compressed schedule created challenges for onward travel, including missed flights and other connections. Embarking guests also faced delays and, in some cases, incidental costs tied to waiting longer for boarding and adjusting local transportation plans.

No official statement from MSC Cruises was included in available reports, and there was no confirmed information on guest compensation or reimbursement related to disrupted travel plans.

Timeline of the Jan. 4-5 disruption

• Jan. 4, 2026: MSC Sinfonia’s planned call in Itajaí extended into the night due to weather, and the ship remained alongside far longer than originally scheduled.
• Early Jan. 5, 2026: The ship departed Itajaí at roughly 4 a.m., putting the Santos turnaround day behind schedule before the vessel was even underway.
• Jan. 5, 2026 (about 7 p.m.): MSC Sinfonia docked in Santos around 10 hours late, pushing back disembarkation and embarkation processes at the terminal.
• Jan. 5, 2026 (late evening): Public ship-tracking information showed the vessel still alongside in Santos, signaling a delayed departure for the next sailing.

Questions over the next sailing’s timing

As of late on Jan. 5, no itinerary changes had been announced publicly for the sailing departing Santos, although the ship’s departure was clearly behind its planned schedule, creating uncertainty over the timing of upcoming calls.

The next scheduled stop after Santos was Ilhabela, with an arrival time set for the morning of Jan. 6. Ilhabela is relatively close to Santos, about 40 nautical miles away, which left some room for the ship to potentially recover time depending on when it ultimately departed and the operating windows at ports in the days immediately after the delay.

MSC Sinfonia’s Brazil itinerary and embarkation options

MSC Sinfonia is a 65,591-gross-ton ship built in 2002 that is operating a regular seven-night itinerary introduced by MSC Cruises for the 2025-26 South America season. In addition to embarking in Santos, guests can also join select sailings in Itajaí and Rio de Janeiro.

The itinerary includes calls that can feature Ilha Grande, Búzios, Ilhabela, and Rio de Janeiro, and the ship alternates between Santos, Itajaí, and Rio de Janeiro as primary homeports during the season.

Ilhabela’s cruise-season role and local impact

Later in the month, MSC Sinfonia called in Ilhabela as scheduled on Jan. 20 amid what local officials described as a strong 2025-26 cruise season. Ilhabela’s Secretariat of Economic Development and Tourism said more than 12,000 cruise guests visited the town in a four-day period from Jan. 17 to Jan. 20 on ships including Costa Favolosa and MSC Fantasia, delivering an estimated R$80 million boost to the local economy that benefited restaurants, retail outlets, and local service providers.

Officials also pointed to Ilhabela’s natural protection against harsh weather as a factor that can make it a useful alternative stop during periods of adverse conditions. During the same period, MSC Sinfonia and Costa Favolosa diverted their itineraries due to weather elsewhere, highlighting the island’s role in regional cruise operations.

MSC Cruises’ wider South America deployment

The Jan. 5 delay took place during MSC Cruises’ broader 2025-26 deployment in South America, with itineraries in the region ranging from three to nine nights. Reported homeports for the season include Santos, Salvador, Maceió, Balneário Camboriú, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo.

Available reports described the size of MSC’s regional deployment differently, with one account describing MSC Sinfonia as one of five MSC vessels operating in South America this season, while another said five other MSC Cruises ships were sailing in the region in addition to MSC Sinfonia. The season began in late October with MSC Preziosa and is scheduled to run through early April.

As the season continues, the key operational focus following the Jan. 5 disruption remains whether MSC Sinfonia can maintain planned port times on subsequent sailings, depending on sailing conditions and port operational windows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why was MSC Sinfonia delayed arriving in Santos?

Adverse weather along Brazil’s southeast coast affected the ship’s prior call in Itajaí and prevented departure on schedule, pushing MSC Sinfonia’s Santos arrival to about 7 p.m. local time on Jan. 5, 2026, more than 10 hours behind plan.

Did MSC Sinfonia’s itinerary change because of the delay?

No itinerary changes had been announced publicly as of late on Jan. 5, although the ship’s departure from Santos was running behind schedule.

What was the impact of the delay on passengers disembarking in Santos?

Passengers ending their cruise in Santos faced a compressed disembarkation window that complicated travel connections, including flights and transfers. No official statement from MSC Cruises was included in available reports, and there was no confirmed information on compensation or reimbursement tied to disrupted travel plans.

Where can guests embark MSC Sinfonia on its Brazil itinerary?

MSC Sinfonia’s seven-night Brazil program includes embarkation in Santos, Itajaí, and Rio de Janeiro, depending on the sailing date and itinerary.

How does MSC Cruises serve the South American market this season?

MSC Cruises’ 2025-26 South America season features itineraries ranging from three to nine nights, with homeports that include Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, as well as Santos, Salvador, Maceió, and Balneário Camboriú. The season began in late October with MSC Preziosa and is scheduled to run through early April.