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Princess Cruises is charting a fresh course for adventure seekers, unveiling new 2027–28 South America and Antarctica voyages aboard Majestic Princess that pair Rio de Janeiro’s iconic coastline with the glaciers, wildlife and remote waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula.
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New Season Showcases Antarctica and Iconic South American Cities
According to newly released deployment details, the 3,650‑guest Majestic Princess will return to South America for the 2027–28 season, offering itineraries that combine classic coastal cities with extended scenic cruising in Antarctica. The program is scheduled to run from October 2027 through January 2028, a period that typically delivers longer daylight hours in the Southern Hemisphere and more favorable conditions for Antarctic viewing.
Publicly available information indicates that the season will feature multiple departures built around marquee ports such as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Montevideo, along with calls in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands. Scenic cruising in the Antarctic Peninsula remains a central draw, with itineraries designed to balance time amid ice cliffs and wildlife with visits to cultural hubs along the Atlantic seaboard.
The deployment continues a broader strategy by Princess Cruises to position Majestic Princess on longer, destination‑focused sailings. The vessel has already been scheduled on South America and Antarctica routes in the 2026–27 season, and the newly announced 2027–28 voyages effectively extend that presence, giving travelers additional seasons to secure a berth on some of the line’s most remote itineraries.
Industry coverage notes that these sailings are being promoted as a way to explore both the “end of the world” and South America’s urban highlights in a single journey. That combination is expected to appeal to guests who want immersive wildlife and landscape experiences without sacrificing time in world‑famous cities such as Rio.
Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and UNESCO Highlights Anchor the Routes
Rio de Janeiro figures prominently in the new season, with itineraries including daylight approaches to the city’s dramatic harbor framed by Sugarloaf Mountain and the Tijuca Forest. Reports on earlier deployment for Majestic Princess in the region highlight access to UNESCO‑listed sites such as the landscapes around Rio and cultural attractions associated with Brazilian modernism, a pattern that is expected to continue into 2027–28.
Buenos Aires remains another cornerstone of the program, typically serving as a gateway for many guests joining or disembarking longer voyages. The Argentine capital offers access to its own roster of notable landmarks, including historic neighborhoods and celebrated cemeteries, providing a sharp contrast to the isolation of the Antarctic Peninsula visited later in the journey.
In addition to these headline ports, summary material on upcoming South America seasons for Majestic Princess points to calls at destinations such as Montevideo, Puerto Madryn and Punta Arenas, as well as scenic transits near Cape Horn. Many of these locations are associated with wildlife viewing, rugged coastal landscapes and further UNESCO‑recognized environments in Patagonia and the South Atlantic.
The result for travelers in 2027–28 is a sequence of sailings that link samba, tango and glacier fields in one continuous arc up and down the continent’s Atlantic flank. For cruise planners, that mix of cultural and natural highlights is being positioned as a key differentiator in an increasingly competitive expedition and adventure‑style market.
Extended Itineraries Emphasize Scenic Cruising and Sea Days
Based on patterns seen in the confirmed 2026–27 deployment, the 2027–28 South America and Antarctica program is expected to retain an emphasis on extended itineraries that run well beyond a traditional one‑week cruise. Earlier seasons on Majestic Princess in the region have featured sailings ranging from roughly two to four weeks, with segments marketed as grand voyages linking multiple regions in a single trip.
These longer itineraries typically include several consecutive days at sea dedicated to panoramic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. During these segments, the ship remains offshore while guests watch for icebergs, penguin colonies and marine mammals from open decks and lounges. The extended time in polar waters, supported by sea days on either side, aims to provide a deeper immersion in the region’s scenery without the need for technical expedition landings.
Industry observers note that such voyage lengths also support a variety of embarkation and disembarkation combinations, such as sailings between Fort Lauderdale and Buenos Aires or between Buenos Aires and major European gateways. Although detailed 2027–28 routing is still being parsed, publicly available itineraries for 2027 already show Majestic Princess connecting Florida, the Caribbean, Brazil and the Southern Cone, suggesting that similar long‑haul patterns will continue into the following season.
For travelers, the concentration of sea days around Antarctica and the South Atlantic passage means more time to use onboard amenities between port calls. That balance of shipboard relaxation and intensive sightseeing ashore is being held up as a core selling point for the 2027–28 cruises.
Redeployment Strategy Extends Majestic Princess Presence in the Region
The decision to keep Majestic Princess in South America and Antarctica into the 2027–28 season follows a broader redeployment trend for the ship. Earlier reports showed that Princess Cruises canceled a planned series of 2026–27 sailings from Galveston, Texas and instead reassigned the vessel to South America, adding new Antarctic and Brazilian itineraries in late 2026 and early 2027.
Cruise industry coverage indicates that the move allowed the line to consolidate its offering in the Southern Hemisphere and build a continuous multi‑season presence in one of the sector’s fastest‑growing adventure regions. Extending that presence through 2028 gives Princess additional time to refine itineraries, onboard programming and shore excursion options tailored to Antarctica and South America.
Analysts following the brand suggest that the strategy reflects ongoing demand for longer, once‑in‑a‑lifetime style voyages, even as mainstream Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises continue to dominate overall capacity. By dedicating a Royal‑class ship like Majestic Princess to routes that emphasize scenic cruising and remote destinations, the company is aligning a large‑scale vessel with premium, experience‑driven itineraries.
For ports along the South American coastline, the continued presence of a large international ship is likely to sustain tourism spending and visibility through at least two consecutive summer seasons. That continuity can be especially important for smaller gateway cities in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands that rely heavily on cruise calls during the austral summer months.
What Travelers Can Expect Onboard and Ashore
Alongside the itinerary announcements, recent coverage of Majestic Princess highlights the ship’s refreshed spaces following a dry dock completed ahead of its 2025 Mediterranean season. Reports describe new or updated dining venues and social spaces, improvements that will carry through to guests booking the 2027–28 South America and Antarctica voyages.
On board, travelers can expect the familiar Princess Cruises blend of specialty restaurants, spacious decks and entertainment options adapted for longer journeys. The ship’s size allows for a wide choice of cabins and suites, including balconies that can be particularly prized during scenic cruising days off the Antarctic Peninsula or along the cliffs and fjords of southern Chile and Argentina.
Ashore, the 2027–28 sailings continue to emphasize shore excursions that showcase local culture, gastronomy and outdoor adventure. In Brazil, that can mean visits to Rio’s beaches and viewpoints; in Argentina and Uruguay, walking tours through historic districts; and in Patagonia, opportunities to see penguin colonies or learn more about regional conservation efforts.
With bookings opening into 2027 and beyond, the new season positions Majestic Princess as a consistent presence in South America and Antarctica for travelers planning far in advance. For many guests, the 2027–28 program may represent a chance to pair bucket‑list polar scenery with some of the continent’s most storied cities on a single extended voyage.