MSC Orchestra Marks First Cruise Ship Visit to Salvador in 2025

The MSC Orchestra became the first cruise ship to dock at Salvador, Brazil, in 2025, arriving on January 2 as part of a New Year’s cruise itinerary.

The vessel, operated by MSC Cruises, carried over 2,550 passengers and remained in the Bahia port overnight, according to the local port authority.

The visit was part of an eight-night voyage that departed from Rio de Janeiro in late 2024. Alongside Salvador, the itinerary included stops at Búzios and Ilhabela. Before arriving in Salvador, the Orchestra joined five other ships in Copacabana on December 31 for the city’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

Salvador’s 2024-25 cruise season, which began in late October, is expected to include 61 ship calls and bring over 230,000 passengers to the port, located in Brazil’s Northeast region.

“This season shows Salvador’s position as a major tourist hub, solidifying its place as the third largest port in Brazil for cruise ships,” said Demétrius Moura, director of business relations at the Bahia Port Authority.

The season features regular visits from the MSC Grandiosa, the largest cruise ship currently operating in Brazil, which has been calling at Salvador since mid-December on weeklong itineraries.

In addition to vessels from MSC and Costa Cruises, the schedule includes ships from other lines such as Phoenix Reisen and Cunard. Cunard’s Queen Victoria is set to visit Salvador in February, marking the British line’s return to Brazil after five years.

Other notable ships include Silversea’s Silver Ray, which entered service in June 2024, and the Odyssey from residential cruise line Villa Vie. The Odyssey, which debuted in September, will make a 12-hour stop in Salvador on March 10, 2025.