It’s official: Norwegian Cruise Line is returning to South America! After stepping away from the region entirely, NCL is set to return to South America for the 2027–2028 cruise season, marking a notable reversal from its recent withdrawal.
The cruise line has opened bookings for a series of long South America sailings aboard Norwegian Star, featuring itineraries that include visits to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.
NCL’s South America itineraries will also feature scenic cruising near Antarctica, though the itineraries are not advertised as “Antarctica cruises.” The change comes after Norwegian Cruise Line removed all sailings from South America for numerous seasons.
In late 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line began canceling itineraries planned for the 2025–2026 season in South America and Antarctica aboard Norwegian Star. The canceled sailings had been scheduled to operate between November 2025 and April 2026.
By March 2025, Norwegian completed what was widely described as its final South America season. In April 2025, the ship was reassigned to Caribbean itineraries departing from Florida. South America remained absent from Norwegian’s deployment plans for the following two seasons in 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
At the time, Norwegian Cruise Line cited broader fleet deployment strategies and shifting demand patterns when it exited the region.
At this time, NCL has not made an official announcement about its return to South America, but here’s everything we know about Norwegian’s newest itineraries to the region.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s South America itineraries and dates
For the 2027–2028 season, Norwegian Star will operate two primary South America sailings:
- 15-day South America from Santiago to Buenos Aires
- 16-day South America from Buenos Aires to Santiago
Both itineraries include a mix of port-intensive days and extended sea days, which is typical for larger vessels operating in the region. Norwegian’s itineraries include stops in Ushuaia, Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, Montevideo, and Puerto Montt.
Pricing currently starts at approximately $2,739 USD per person for inside staterooms on select sail dates, with balcony and suite pricing climbing significantly higher depending on sailing date and availability.
15-Day South America: Santiago to Buenos Aires
This itinerary emphasizes Chilean and Argentine gateways, with visits to Patagonia and the Falklands, before concluding in Buenos Aires.
- Departing: Santiago (San Antonio), Chile
- Ports: Puerto Montt; Ushuaia; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn; Montevideo
- Scenic Cruising: Elephant Island (Cape Lookout)
- Sail Dates: Jan. 2–17, Feb. 1–16, Mar. 2–17, 2028
- From: ~$2,739 per person (inside cabin)
16-Day South America: Buenos Aires to Santiago
Disembarkation on this round-trip reversal returns passengers to Santiago after a broad South Atlantic and southern Patagonia loop.
- Departing: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Ports: Montevideo; Puerto Madryn; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia; Punta Arenas; Puerto Montt
- Scenic Cruising: Elephant Island (Cape Lookout)
- Sail Date: Dec. 17, 2027–Jan. 2, 2028
- From: ~$3,489 per person (inside cabin)
In December 2027, Norwegian Star will also operate a repositioning cruise from Lisbon, Portugal to Buenos Aires, Argentina for the ship’s South American season. This transatlantic itinerary will include stops in Carpe Verde, Brazil, and Uruguay before arriving in Argentina.
The same itinerary will be offered in reverse from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Lisbon, Portugal in March 2028 when Norwegian Star repositions back to Europe.
Scenic cruising near Antarctica, though not marketed as such
Interestingly enough, Norwegian is not marketing these sailings as Antarctica cruises. In contrast to past seasons, Norwegian’s 2027–2028 South America deployment appears deliberately conservative in its branding.
The itineraries reference scenic cruising without explicitly naming Antarctica in the cruise title, likely reflecting lessons learned from the 2024 controversy and the operational challenges of navigating Antarctic waters.
More specifically, both itineraries include scenic cruising near Elephant Island, a location closely associated with Antarctic exploration history.
Elephant Island lies off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula and is geographically part of Antarctica, though it is often treated differently in cruise marketing and regulatory frameworks.
Cruise ships typically conduct scenic cruising only in this area, without landings, zodiac operations, or passenger disembarkation.
This distinction appears intentional from the cruise line. Despite including Elephant Island on itineraries, Norwegian Cruise Line has avoided using “Antarctica” in the official cruise titles, instead framing the voyages as South America itineraries.
Norwegian Star’s infamous Antarctica controversy in 2024
Norwegian’s cautious marketing approach comes after a high-profile backlash in 2024, when passengers aboard Norwegian Star were informed after boarding that Antarctica had been removed from their itinerary.
The incident was widely reported and sparked outrage among passengers who had specifically booked the cruise to visit Antarctica.
According to passenger accounts, the itinerary’s name was quietly changed in the app, and Antarctica scenic cruising was either altered or removed entirely due to operational constraints.
Norwegian Cruise Line later cited regulatory requirements and reduced sailing speeds as factors impacting the itinerary, stating that modifications were made to optimize the guest experience.
Regardless, the incident left many passengers feeling misled, particularly given the high cost of the voyage and the once-in-a-lifetime nature of an Antarctica cruise.
About Norwegian Star
Norwegian Star is a mid-sized cruise ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, known for her versatility and year-round global deployments.
Launched in 2001 and built by Meyer Werft in Germany, the ship measures approximately 965 feet in length with a gross tonnage of about 91,740 GT, placing it in the Dawn-class category of vessels.
NCL Star accommodates roughly 2,348 passengers at double occupancy across more than 1,170 staterooms, supported by a crew of over 1,000.
Norwegian Star was one of the first ships custom-designed for NCL’s Freestyle Cruising concept, offering a wide range of dining, entertainment, and recreational options without fixed dining times or formal dress codes.
NCL Star has sailed in diverse regions, from the Caribbean and Mediterranean to Alaska and South America, and has undergone periodic refurbishments to modernize public spaces and amenities.
