Currency
Brazilian Real (BRL)
Language
Portuguese
Time Zone
BRT (UTC-3)
Best Time to Visit
Oct–Apr
Typical Duration
7-24 nights
Price Range
From $72 pp
Port Type
Departure & Port of Call
Tender Port
No
Rio de Janeiro is celebrated for its iconic landmarks including Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, vibrant culture, and as a gateway to South American cruise itineraries.
Cruises that visit Rio de Janeiro
- cruises to Rio de Janeiro
- Rio de Janeiro sailings
- Rio de Janeiro cruises
- 1-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 1-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 2-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 3-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 3-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 6-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 6-night Swan Hellenic cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Swan Hellenic cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 8-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 8-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 8-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 9-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 9-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 10-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 10-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
Build Your Day in Rio de Janeiro
Cruise calls are short. Set your ship's arrival time, pick the stops you care about, and we'll show whether they realistically fit before departure.
Ships typically depart around 6:00 PM
Usually about 10 hours ashore
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Getting around:
Christ the Redeemer
One of the best attractions in Rio de Janeiro and all of Brazil.
Museu do Amanhã
Science museum in a futuristic structure
Escadaria Selarón
One of Rio de Janeiro's most interesting attractions.
Open now
AquaRio
Large aquarium with 350 marine species
Shopping RioSul
Amazing location, great brands, fair prices.
Open · Closes 9 PM
Barra Shopping
Food options were plenty, including well known brands and local faire.
Open · Closes 9 PM
Monumento Natural dos Morros do Pão de Açúcar e da Urca
A must-see of all the sights in Rio de Janeiro.
Parque Lage
Park with trails & a cafe
Botafogo Praia Shopping
Clean shopping mall, helpful staff,
Open · Closes 9 PM
Confeitaria Colombo
Everything we tried was fresh and well presented.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Paineiras Corcovado (Cristo Redentor)
Probably one of the most iconic attractions in Rio.
Shopping Leblon
Great shopping, you will find quality products at good price.
Open · Closes 10 PM
Pedra do Arpoador
Scenic peninsula for surfing & sunsets
Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
Modern pyramid-shaped Catholic cathedral
Parque Brig. Eduardo Gomes (Aterro do Flamengo)
Everything here is cheaper than other beaches.
Open now
Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Ornate theater with tours & performances
Tijuca National Park
Rio's rainforest, with famed views
Rio Museum of Art
Unique setting for modern Brazilian art
Pedra do Sal
Open-air spot for samba parties
Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro
Modern art museum with unique gardens
Marius Degustare
The decor was beautiful, the food was great, and the atmosphere was perfect!
VillageMall
Stores like Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hugo Boss and many more.
Open · Closes 8 PM
Shopping da Gávea
Great shopping for all price ranges.
Open · Closes 9 PM
Bossa Nova Mall
Impressive mall design with full facilities within.
Open · Closes 10 PM
Parque das Ruínas
Park with a gallery, ruins & events
Praia do Leme
Showers and changing areas available for small fee.
Terra Brasilis
Home cooking & views of Sugarloaf
Leblon Beach
Popular beach with chair rentals & food
Bar e Restaurante Urca
Seafood & beer by the bay
Boteco Belmonte
A place to relax, drink, & have a snack
Mirante Dona Marta
Lookout point with sweeping city views
Open now
Rio Design Leblon
A mall with some upscale shops
Open · Closes 9 PM
Copacabana Beach
Lively beach with a promenade & bars
Embaixada Carioca
Dine-in·Takeout·No delivery
Fashion Mall
Nice mall, full of art galeries, fadhion stores and the best theatre.
Open · Closes 10 PM
Shopping Cidade Copacabana
I love this place good food nice stores and fair prices.
Open · Closes 10 PM
Aprazível
Attentive waiters, relaxing ambiance and great food choices.
Arpoador
Staple for swimming & sunset viewing
Joaquina
I came here six times and every time the food, drinks and staff was amazing.
Clássico Beach Club Urca
Dine-in·Takeout·No delivery
Joaquina Bar & Restaurant
Brazilian food & patio seating
Cais do Oriente
Extensive menu in a former warehouse
Xian Rio
Best service, best tuna, best view, great ambiance.
Os Imortais Bar
Laid-back taproom with soccer on TV
Praia da Reserva
Sandy hangout with a tranquil feel
Rubaiyat
Fine steakhouse & Mediterranean buffet
Sobrado da Cidade
The food was amazing, fair prices and great services!
Praia da Urca
A small beach in Urca that has calm waters for swimming and relaxing.
Bar Carioca da Gema
Bar & pizzeria with live music
Closed · Opens 7:30 PM Tue
Casa Nossa Lounge
Dine-in
Zazá Bistrô Tropical
Creative and delicious food with excellent service in a hip setting.
Adega Pérola
The food was delicious and at affordable prices.
Closed · Opens 12 PM Mon
San Omakase
The food, of course, meets the expectations of a Michelin-starred kitchen.
Closed · Opens 7 PM Tue
Boardwalk of Copacabana
Great walk by the beach and a variety of food and drinks options.
Babbo Osteria
Amazing food, great service, and outstanding environment.
Braseiro
Great food, generous portions,lovely service, friendly environment.
Explorer Bar
Global dining, cocktails & breakfast
Maria e o Boi
Delicious well-presented food and helpful staff.
Chiktal
All the stuff we picked up were delicious.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Praia da Gávea
Very clean safe beach.
Nosso
Bright spot for ceviche & cocktails
Closed · Opens 6:30 PM
Oro
Definitely reasonable for the cost and worthy of its Michelin stars
Closed · Opens 7 PM Tue
Lilia
Dine-in·Delivery
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM Mon
Bistrô Ouvidor
Excellent place for lunch while walking around the city centre!
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM Mon
Marchezinho
Dine-in·Delivery
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM Tue
Restaurante Pérgula
Delicious food, lovely atmosphere and excellent service!
Térèze
The dinner itself was excellent and reasonably priced.
Booze Bar Ipanema
Dine-in·Curbside pickup·No-contact delivery
Botafogo Beach
Great waters.Good swimming, skiing and surfing.
MASI
Dine-in·No delivery
Lasai
This is in the top 3 Michelin restaurant experiences I have had globally!
Closed · Opens 7 PM Tue
Quitéria
Food, drink and service is all top notch and at surprisingly low prices.
Razzi Restaurante
Razzi is absolutely wonderful 😍😍😍😍😍😍
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Praia do Flamengo
Very cool spot for activities but swimming is not recommended
Sky Leme | Rooftop & Lounge
Upscale restaurant in a 5-star hotel
Marine Restô
The food was phenominal and honestly felt deserving of a Michelin star.
ToTo
Dine-in·No delivery
Isabel Lounge
Dine-in
Closed · Opens 6 PM
Vizta Rooftop Bar
Dine-in·No takeout·No delivery
Oseille
Worth more than one Michelin star
Closed · Opens 7:45 PM Wed
Casa 201
Dine-in·No delivery
Closed · Opens 8 PM Tue
Escada Bandeira do Brasil
Opening hours are indicative — always confirm before you go. Travel times are estimates from Google Maps.
Rio de Janeiro
is an embarkation port. Many cruises start or end here —
it's worth arriving a day early or extending your stay to explore beyond a single port day.
About Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro stands as one of South America's premier cruise destinations, with ten major cruise lines calling at this vibrant port. With 257 upcoming cruises and a strong presence year-round, Rio offers exceptional variety for cruise travelers. Most voyages are seven-night itineraries that use Rio as a port of call, making it an ideal stop on longer South American cruises heading to destinations like Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Ushuaia, or even transatlantic crossings to Barcelona. The peak season runs from January through April and again in November, when the port welcomes ships from prestigious lines including Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, and Silversea.
Stepping ashore in Rio, cruise passengers discover a city of legendary natural beauty and cultural richness. The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and dramatic Sugarloaf Mountain provide unforgettable backdrops, while the city's pulsing energy, world-class beaches, and vibrant neighborhoods offer endless exploration. Whether you're seeking adventure, culture, or simply soaking in one of the world's most spectacular settings, Rio delivers an unforgettable port experience that captures the spirit of Brazil.
Stepping ashore in Rio, cruise passengers discover a city of legendary natural beauty and cultural richness. The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and dramatic Sugarloaf Mountain provide unforgettable backdrops, while the city's pulsing energy, world-class beaches, and vibrant neighborhoods offer endless exploration. Whether you're seeking adventure, culture, or simply soaking in one of the world's most spectacular settings, Rio delivers an unforgettable port experience that captures the spirit of Brazil.
Cruise Lines at Rio de Janeiro
- MSC Cruises (218 cruises)
- Seabourn (41 cruises)
- Oceania Cruises (11 cruises)
- Silversea (8 cruises)
- Viking Ocean Cruises (8 cruises)
- PONANT EXPLORATIONS (6 cruises)
- Holland America Line (5 cruises)
- Celebrity Cruises (3 cruises)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (3 cruises)
- Swan Hellenic (3 cruises)
- Carnival Cruise Line (1 cruise)
- Explora Journeys (1 cruise)
Cruises Departing From Rio de Janeiro
Cruises Visiting Rio de Janeiro
Ship Schedule at Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Location
Other Cruise Ports in Brazil
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rio de Janeiro best known for?
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Carnival, and famous beaches.
Which sights should first-time visitors see?
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and the Lapa arches.
What language is spoken and what is the currency?
Portuguese is spoken; currency is the Brazilian real (BRL).
When is the best time to visit?
March-May or Oct-Nov offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds.