Scenic Eclipse Opens Uruguay’s 2025-26 Cruise Season in Montevideo

Scenic Eclipse opened Uruguay’s 2025-26 cruise season with an early call in Montevideo, arriving as the first cruise ship to reach the country for the new season. The 228-guest expedition vessel is repositioning toward Antarctica as ports across South America ramp up cruise activity ahead of peak summer operations.

Montevideo marks the season’s first arrival with a formal welcome

The Port of Montevideo held an official ceremony for Scenic Eclipse’s arrival earlier this week, bringing together representatives from Uruguay’s port authority and tourism offices. Attendees included Constante Mendiondo, vice president of Uruguay’s port authority (ANP), Florecía Ualde, general director of the Ministry of Tourism Secretariat, and Montevideo Director of Tourism Karina Fortete.

Ship officers took part in a gift exchange that featured items highlighting Uruguay’s wine production. Mendiondo also pointed to the preparatory work completed ahead of the season and cited cruise tourism’s broader economic impact across the country.

Uruguay’s cruise calendar combines expedition calls with regional itineraries

In addition to the season-opening call, Montevideo has been serving as a transit and support stop for expedition ships connected to Antarctic operations. Ahead of Scenic Eclipse’s arrival, the port received several expedition vessels on technical calls tied to provisioning and crew changes as they continued toward Argentina without guests onboard.

• G Adventures: The brand’s ships have used Montevideo for operational stops connected to Antarctic itineraries, including provisioning and crew logistics before continuing south.
• Swan Hellenic: The port has hosted Swan Hellenic vessels for technical calls as part of repositioning activity linked to Southern Ocean expedition seasons.
• Albatros Expeditions: Montevideo has been included in technical call planning to support Antarctic-bound operations, including supplies and crew movements.
• Polar Latitudes: The company’s ships have also been among those making Uruguay calls tied to expedition preparations ahead of sailing toward Argentina.

Over the course of the 2025-26 season, Uruguay is also slated to welcome regular cruise calls from major contemporary brands. MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises are set to operate itineraries departing from Montevideo with sailings that include destinations in Brazil and Argentina.

Additional cruise brands expected to call during the season include Princess Cruises, Viking, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Holland America Line.

Scenic Eclipse’s route into South America and onward to Antarctica

Scenic Eclipse arrived in South America after departing Europe in late September, beginning regional operations with guests onboard. The ship was also described as the first vessel to reach South America with passengers during the 2025-26 season, preceding a broader wave of arrivals expected later in the spring.

Before its Montevideo call, Scenic Eclipse also opened the 2025-26 cruise season in Brazil, calling at nine destinations in the country. After its Uruguay visit, the ship is scheduled to begin a series of expedition cruises departing from Ushuaia starting in mid-November, with planned itineraries that include Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.

Rio de Janeiro builds momentum with expedition turnarounds and homeport operations

In Brazil, activity tied to the 2025-26 South American cruise season has been increasing at Rio de Janeiro’s Pier Mauá Cruise Terminal, which is handling both transit calls and turnaround operations. Scenic Eclipse called at Pier Mauá on October 11, 2025, marking the start of the terminal’s season, while SH Vega and MSC Preziosa also visited during October.

On November 11, 2025, Pier Mauá welcomed Seabourn Venture for a turnaround operation as the ship repositioned toward Antarctica. The call launched a 28-day cruise to Ushuaia, Argentina, combining ports in Brazil and Uruguay with extended expedition time in the South Atlantic and Antarctica.

Seabourn Venture’s 28-day voyage to Ushuaia

After departing Rio, Seabourn Venture is scheduled to call at Paraty, Balneário Camboriú, and Montevideo before continuing toward the Falkland Islands. The itinerary includes a two-day Seabourn expedition experience in the Falklands, followed by a call to Port Stanley.

The voyage then features a five-day expedition experience in South Georgia and a six-day expedition experience in the Antarctic Peninsula before concluding in early December in Ushuaia.

More calls expected as the season progresses

Pier Mauá is also preparing for an increase in arrivals in the coming weeks. Ships scheduled to visit Rio include MSC Fantasia, Silver Whisper, Hamburg, Viking Jupiter, Celebrity Equinox, and Seven Seas Splendor.

The terminal is also slated to host homeport operations for MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises. Ships expected to operate cruises from Rio include MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, and Costa Favolosa, offering three- to nine-night itineraries to destinations such as Ilhabela, Maceió, Punta del Este, and Buenos Aires.

With Scenic Eclipse already calling in Brazil and Uruguay and expedition turnarounds underway in Rio, South American ports are moving into the core operating window for the 2025-26 season. Scenic Eclipse’s Antarctic itineraries are scheduled to begin from Ushuaia in mid-November, while Rio’s call volume is expected to rise starting in late November as additional ships arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many guests can Scenic Eclipse carry?

Scenic Eclipse is a 228-guest expedition cruise ship.

When are Scenic Eclipse’s Antarctica voyages scheduled to start?

The ship is scheduled to begin expedition cruises departing from Ushuaia starting in mid-November, with itineraries that include Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.

What does a cruise “turnaround operation” mean at a port?

A turnaround is when a ship begins or ends a cruise at a port, typically involving guest embarkation and disembarkation along with logistics such as provisioning.

What are the highlights of Seabourn Venture’s Antarctic itinerary from Rio?

Seabourn Venture’s 28-day repositioning cruise includes calls in Paraty, Balneário Camboriú, and Montevideo, followed by multi-day expedition experiences in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia (five days), and the Antarctic Peninsula (six days) before arriving in Ushuaia in early December.

Which cruise operators will be based out of Rio de Janeiro this season?

MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises are slated to operate homeport itineraries from Rio de Janeiro, with MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, and Costa Favolosa offering three- to nine-night cruises to destinations in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.