Passengers from two cruises will watch the fireworks display from the sea in Copacabana
Featured photo: Costa Favolosa
In the last days of 2018, Pier Mauá will receive five ships, with almost 20 thousand tourists. On the 27th, the Costa Favolosa arrives, visiting Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, Ilhabela, Búzios, Balneário Camboriú, as well as Buenos Aires and Montevideo on cruises lasting three to eight nights.
On Sunday (30), four large cruise ships dock at Pier Mauá. The ships arrive in the city bringing almost 15 thousand tourists on board. While some will celebrate the arrival of 2019 on the sands of Copacabana, others will watch the pyrotechnic show at sea. This is the case of Costa Fascinosa and Azamara Pursuit. At night, they will be positioned on Copacabana Beach along with other boats so that guests can watch the fireworks display.
MSC Fantasia and Sovereign arrive and depart on the same day. MSC Fantasia is the largest ship to offer sailings in the Marvelous City since the country began receiving cruise ships. Sovereing has shipments in Santos (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Most itineraries are short-term (4 nights) heading to Búzios (RJ) or Balneário Camboriú (SC).
Costa Fascinosa and Azamara Pursuit also arrive on the 30th and spend the night at the Pier, departing at 6pm. Costa Fascinosa offers seven, eight and nine night itineraries with embarkation at the port of Rio de Janeiro and routes that pass through Recife, Maceió, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Ilhabela, Ubatuba, Angra dos Reis, Punta Del Este, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
Azamara Ship
For the first time in Brazil, the Azamara Pursuit was launched in Europe in August 2018 and has capacity for almost 890 people including the crew. As part of the new features for this season are three new itineraries with more than special destinations: Machu Picchu, Galapagos and Iguaçu Falls. The company will also make the dream of those who are going to spend New Year's Eve at sea seeing the traditional Copacabana fireworks up close. The special end-of-year cruise also includes a stop and land itinerary in Paraty. Given its characteristics, Pursuit is the only cruise ship of the season to dock in the historic city of Rio de Janeiro.
About the 2018-2019 season
Pier Mauá in the 2018-2019 season has 102 berths and an increase of 15% in the total number of travelers embarked.
“We are forecasting something around US$ 114 million injected into the city's economy in these six months of the season. It’s a huge movement in Rio’s economy and we need it”, celebrates Alexandre Gomes, operations manager at Pier Mauá.
The season started on October 27th and runs until the end of April 2019. The forecast is to exceed 380 thousand tourists who will enjoy the Marvelous City throughout the period. O International Cruise Terminal operates in Warehouses 4 and 5, with boarding carried out in Warehouse 4 and baggage handling in 5.
Information for cruisers on the best boarding route
Many passengers who are arriving to board at Pier Mauá by taxi or via the app are getting off on Av. Rio Branco corners Acre Street, causing inconvenience for those bringing suitcases, as it is far from Armazém 4, the passenger terminal. The concessionaire wants to inform cruisers that they must get off at Av. Venezuela and Rua Souza Lima. For those coming by car, the nearest 24-hour parking is “Parking Pier Mauá”, with a car entrance between Barão de Tefé and Souza Lima, and pedestrian access on Boulevard Olímpico, almost at the height of Armazém 4. For those coming by VLT, the closest station is Parada dos Navios.
With this, Pier Mauá wants to minimize inconvenience to tourists and make the trip even more pleasant.
