Princess Opens 2027 South America Cruises to 15 UNESCO Sites

Travelers planning ahead for 2027 can now lock in extended South America and Antarctica journeys with Princess Cruises, with itineraries and cruisetours built around access to as many as 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites across the region.

Expanded 2026–2027 South America Season Now Open for Booking

Princess Cruises has released its dedicated 2026–2027 South America and Antarctica program, allowing travelers to reserve voyages that will still be sailing deep into 2027. Publicly available deployment flyers and destination guides show an emphasis on longer itineraries that combine marquee cities, remote expedition-style cruising and a growing list of UNESCO World Heritage sites woven into shore excursions and land extensions.

The season centers on Majestic Princess, a Royal-class ship scheduled to operate a series of South America and Antarctica sailings ranging from about two weeks to more than a month. Reports indicate the ship will run multiple departures from late 2026 through early 2027, typically between Buenos Aires, Santiago and other major regional ports, with scenic cruising in Antarctica on select itineraries.

Marketing materials for the South America program highlight the combination of classic sightseeing and in-depth regional experiences, positioning these voyages as a way to see bucket-list landmarks with the convenience of a large-ship cruise product. Bookings opened with early-fare promotions and are expected to build steadily as travelers map out longer-haul trips for 2027 and beyond.

While individual sailing dates and cabin categories will fluctuate in price, early-access materials suggest that longer Antarctica-inclusive journeys and cruisetours connected to marquee UNESCO sites tend to command the strongest demand and should be secured well in advance.

Up to 15 UNESCO Sites Featured Across Cruises and Cruisetours

Princess does not market a single itinerary that calls at 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites in one voyage. Instead, its South America and Antarctica portfolio for 2026–2027 layers UNESCO access across multiple cruises and optional pre- or post-cruise land programs. Travelers planning a 2027 trip can, in practice, stitch together visits to as many as 15 distinct UNESCO-inscribed destinations by choosing specific routes and extensions.

Destination brochures list Iguazu or Iguacu Falls on the Argentina and Brazil border as a headline UNESCO site, often packaged as part of a land program that can be combined with sailings starting or ending in Buenos Aires. The falls are one of South America’s most photographed natural landmarks, and cruisetour descriptions emphasize time on both the Argentine and Brazilian sides.

Machu Picchu and the historic center of Cusco in Peru are another focal point. Princess cruisetours branded around Machu Picchu typically include overnights in Lima, the Sacred Valley and Cusco, along with guided visits to the Inca citadel and key colonial-era sites. These land segments can be paired with select South America voyages that call in or connect via Peruvian ports.

Other UNESCO highlights referenced in Princess destination collateral for South America include Rio de Janeiro’s carioca landscapes, Valparaiso’s historic quarter, and colonial districts in cities such as Montevideo. In Antarctica, scenic cruising days may pass regions recognized under the broader Antarctic Treaty System and related international protections, which are often discussed in onboard enrichment programming even when landings are not part of the large-ship experience.

Key Ships, Routes and 2027 Departure Patterns

Majestic Princess is positioned as the primary ship for the 2026–2027 South America and Antarctica program, with six departures across five main itineraries, some extending into January and February 2027. Trade coverage notes that these sailings generally range from about 15 to 33 days, linking Buenos Aires, Santiago and ports across Patagonia, the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Complementing these longer itineraries, Princess also promotes a cluster of South America cruisetours in its destination brochures. These pair a core cruise segment with several nights on land, allowing guests to reach inland UNESCO sites such as Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls that are not accessible from port calls alone. For many travelers targeting 2027, these bundled packages offer the most streamlined way to see multiple UNESCO locations in a single extended trip.

Schedules published for the 2026–2027 season indicate that South America cruises are concentrated in the Southern Hemisphere summer, with most departures between December and March. Guests aiming to travel later in 2027 may find that the principal South America and Antarctica runs fall in the early months of the year, while the line’s ships redeploy to other regions such as Alaska or Asia for the Northern Hemisphere summer.

Travel advisors and cruise specialists following the program suggest that some 2027 South America capacity is already visible across consumer booking sites, particularly for marquee voyages bundling Rio de Janeiro, Antarctica scenic cruising and access to land-based UNESCO extensions. Additional minor adjustments to schedules and categories may still occur as the season develops.

What Travelers Should Know Before Booking

Prospective guests looking to maximize UNESCO coverage on a 2027 South America adventure with Princess will need to study itineraries and cruisetours in detail. Because the 15 UNESCO sites referenced across marketing materials are spread among multiple routes and land packages, choosing the right combination is more important than focusing on any single voyage label.

Public information indicates that some itineraries include only coastal cities and scenic cruising, while others are specifically timed to connect with overland components reaching Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls or other inland sites. Travelers should confirm whether a chosen departure offers an official cruisetour add-on, and whether that package includes rail segments, internal flights, guided touring and entry to UNESCO-listed monuments.

Weather is another consideration. South America and Antarctica sailings operate during the regional summer, but conditions can still vary significantly between Rio de Janeiro, Patagonia and Antarctic waters. Guests planning substantial time ashore at high-altitude UNESCO sites in Peru or in the subtropical environment around Iguazu Falls will need to pack for a broad temperature range, as well as prepare for humidity, rain and strong sun.

Insurance and documentation requirements also warrant attention. Long-haul trips that link multiple countries and involve internal flights or high-altitude stays can carry stricter conditions for changes and cancellations. Travelers are generally encouraged, by publicly available advisories, to secure comprehensive travel insurance and to verify passport validity and any visa rules well ahead of their 2027 departure.

Planning Strategies to Capture Multiple UNESCO Highlights

Because reaching all 15 UNESCO sites highlighted across Princess materials would require multiple trips, most travelers will instead focus on building a realistic cluster of must-see locations into one extended 2027 journey. A common strategy is to center the cruise itself around Antarctic scenic cruising and the Patagonian fjords, then bolt on a pre- or post-cruise land program that targets two or three inland UNESCO sites.

For example, guests might choose a Majestic Princess itinerary between Buenos Aires and Santiago that includes visits to ports near Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands, then add a pre-cruise Iguazu Falls package from Buenos Aires, or a post-cruise Machu Picchu and Cusco itinerary that begins with flights north from Chile or Peru. Commercial descriptions of these bundles emphasize that transfers, hotels and most touring logistics are handled by the operator, simplifying what would otherwise be a complex independent itinerary.

Budget planning is equally important. Published cruise-only fares for South America and Antarctica are typically higher than for more common warm-weather routes, and cruisetours visiting multiple UNESCO sites add extra cost for hotels, flights and guided excursions. Travelers looking at 2027 departures can sometimes secure lower introductory fares or added-value promotions by booking early and monitoring price-adjustment policies advertised by the line.

Finally, reports from previous seasons underline the importance of flexibility. Weather, port conditions and operational factors can occasionally alter specific calls or timing, particularly in remote regions such as Antarctica. Guests whose primary goal is to experience a portfolio of South American UNESCO sites in 2027 may wish to build a small margin of flexibility into their land arrangements, and to view the cruise and tours as a comprehensive regional experience rather than a checklist of individual stops.