Adverse weather conditions along the Brazilian coast have diverted two cruise ships to Ilhabela this week.

According to local authorities, the Costa Favolosa and the MSC Sinfonia were forced to change their original itineraries and seek shelter at the destination.

The Costa ship made an unscheduled visit to Ilhabela on Tuesday, while the MSC vessel arrived at the town on Wednesday.

Mayor Toninho Colucci said that the choice reinforces Ilhabela as a safe destination to visit even in rough climates.

Located on the São Sebastião Channel, the town’s pier is naturally protected from weather and sea conditions, he noted.

“Cruise ship stops are very important for our main industry, which is tourism. In addition to bringing visitors and boosting the local economy, the ships also contribute to the promotion of our destination,” Colucci stated.

In a statement, local authorities also highlighted the town’s readiness to welcome large ships on short notice.

Offering a short cruise that departed from Santos, the Costa Favolosa was originally set to visit Porto Belo on Tuesday.

The three-night itinerary also included a visit to Balneário Camboriú, which was carried out as scheduled.

Also sailing from Santos, the MSC Sinfonia was offering a short cruise to the Brazilian coast. The four-night itinerary originally included visits to Búzios and Ilha Grande.

Due to the adverse conditions, the visit to Ilha Grande was brought forward, while the call to Búzios was replaced with the visit to Ilhabela.

Ilhabela is expected to welcome over 50 cruise ship calls during the 2025-26 season, which extends through April.

The vessels are expected to bring over 217,000 visitors to the town for a projected economic impact of over R$80 million.

In addition to MSC and Costa, Ilhabela will welcome vessels from other brands, including Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Azamara and AIDA.