MSC Cruises to Sail in Alaska for First Time in 2026

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MSC Cruises is continuing to expand its ever-growing North American presence by launching new Alaska itineraries in 2026. With MSC Poesia set to homeport in Seattle beginning May 11, 2026, it will be the first time the cruise line will offer cruises to Americaโ€™s Last Frontier.

The 7-night sailings will take passengers through popular destinations, including Juneau and Ketchikan. They will also stop in Victoria, British Colombia, and Icy Strait Point, the first Indigenous-owned cruise destination where guests can participate in cultural experiences in Hoonah, Alaska.

As the 92,627-gross-ton ship is designed to navigate narrow channels, the vessel will travel the Inside Passage for glacier viewing.

โ€œGuests from all over the world tell us they want to see Alaskaโ€™s beauty firsthand, which makes these itineraries the perfect addition to MSC Cruisesโ€™ global portfolio of bucket-list destinations,โ€ said Lynn Torrent, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of MSC Cruises USA.

โ€œSeattle will be our fifth US homeport, bringing our signature mix of European style and American comforts to the west coast as we continue to expand our offerings in the North American market,โ€ she continued. 

The Port of Seattle, which witnessed 277 sailings to Alaska across seven different cruise lines during its 2024 season, concluding today, October 28, is excited to add MSC Cruises to its roster.

Said Stephanie Jones Stebbins, managing director, maritime, at the port, โ€œThe Port of Seattle looks forward to welcoming MSC Cruises and MSC Poesia to Seattle. We know that MSC guests will enjoy exploring our region before and after their Alaska adventure.โ€

The port, which will require cruise ships to utilize shore power by 2027, is also impressed with theย cruise lineโ€™s sustainabilityย commitment. MSC Cruises actively seeks ports with shore power connections and anticipates 220 calls in 2024 will receive power at port.

MSC Poesia in Alaska
MSC Poesia in Alaska

The 2,550-passenger MSC Poesia will spend the summer months in Alaska, ending her season on September 28, 2026. She will then return to PortMiami, where she is also spending winter 2025 and 2026, for another Caribbean season.

A Growing MSC Presence in North America

MSC Cruises is steadily increasing its footprint in North America. In 2023, the cruise line had just two ships operating out of US homeports. However, this winter, 2024 and 2025, MSC will have five ships sailing in the Caribbean.

The ships โ€“ย MSC Seascape,ย MSC Seaside,ย MSC Seashore,ย MSC Meraviglia, andย MSC Divinaย โ€“ will operate from key US ports, including PortMiami, Port Canaveral near Orlando, Florida, and New York Cityโ€™s Brooklyn.

In 2022, MSC Cruises USA President Ruben Rodriguez saidโ€œBringing more ships to the US allows us to offer a wide variety of itineraries, adding new destinations and providing more opportunities for travelers to discover our unique international flavor.โ€

The Geneva, Switzerland-based cruise lineโ€™s ships often feature sleek interiors with a touch of Italian flair with onboard dining featuring a variety of Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

However, in April 2025, the cruise line will debut a new ship in Miami, specifically designed for the North American market. The vessel, the 6,782-guest, 215,863-gross-ton MSC World America, will offer 7- to 14-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

MSC Cruises will also introduce its fleet to Galveston, Texas, in November 2025, when MSC Seascape arrives for year-round Western Caribbean voyages.

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Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot has been covering travel for more than a decade, including sites such as TripAdvisor, CruiseCritic, The Points Guy, Family Vacation Critic, and Family Traveller. Her love of travel has led Lissa to visit more than 43 countries and has her on a mission to see every state in the U.S. (only 4 states to go!). When she's not traveling, she's exploring new attractions and events on the weekends, be it in New York City or Philadelphia, as Lissa lives between both fabulous cities.

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