Scenic Cruising Removed From MSC Poesia Alaska Itineraries

Scenic cruising along glacial fjords can be one of the most memorable and awe-inspiring experiences of an Alaskan cruise, but for guests onboard the September 14, 2026 sailing of MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia, their sailing will be a little less awe-inspiring than they may have hoped.

MSC Cruises has reached out to booked guests to alert them to an itinerary change that now removes the visit through Endicott Arm from their schedule.

“Due to seasonal operational considerations, we will not be able to proceed with the scheduled scenic cruising through Endicott Arm,” the email, sent September 1 and shared on Facebook, explains. “We understand this is an experience many guests look forward to, and we sincerely regret that this portion of the itinerary will not be possible.”

MSC Poesia is offering 7-night roundtrip sailings from Seattle for the Alaska season. Cruise Hive has covered her time in the Last Frontier as this is MSC Cruises’ inaugural season offering Alaskan itineraries.

On the September 14 sailing, the ship was scheduled to be cruising Endicott Arm on Friday, September 18, 2026 from 7-8:30 a.m. before heading to Juneau for an afternoon arrival.

Because of the change, the 3,223-guest ship will be arriving in Juneau much earlier than originally planned. Now, MSC Poesia will arrive at 8 a.m. instead of 2 p.m., giving guests six extra hours to enjoy Alaska’s capital city.

The ship’s departure from Juneau at 10 p.m. is not changed, and there are no changes to the other ports on the weeklong itinerary: Ketchikan (Wednesday, September 16 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Icy Strait Point (Thursday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), or Victoria, British Columbia (Sunday, September 20 from 8 p.m. to midnight).

Why the Change?

While the email from MSC Cruises does not explain the nature of the “seasonal operational considerations” causing MSC Poesia‘s itinerary change, guests onboard the ship have shared further details.

“We are on board at the moment and attended a presentation this morning where they told us we were the last cruise to do it and the last 3 cruises in the season after us wouldn’t have time due to daylight hours,” one guest commented.

According to Sunrise Sunset, on September 18, sunrise in Endicott Arm will be at 6:28 a.m. while sunset will be at 7:05 p.m. While this may seem to be a long enough period for scenic cruising as planned, it is important to note that heavy fog can be present in the fjord during the morning.

It may take several hours for that fog to clear enough for ships to safely navigate the narrow passage. Furthermore, full Endicott Arm passage typically does require several hours in and out of the passage, including the scenic viewing time.

Because MSC Poesia is scheduled to visit Juneau on the same day after the scenic cruising, it is important that the ship be able to enter Endicott Arm early enough for a full experience.

Multiple Itineraries Impacted

Cruise Hive has learned that the September 14 sailing of MSC Poesia is not the only cruise impacted by these changes. According to Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, the ship will also be arriving in Juneau six hours early for her visits on September 10 (September 7 Seattle departure) and September 25 (September 21 Seattle departure).

The September 7, 14, and 21 departures from Seattle are the last three sailings MSC Poesia will have in Alaska in 2026 before she leaves on September 28 for a 24-night Grand Voyage to reposition to Miami for winter in the Caribbean.

MSC Poesia is not the only vessel to have her time in Juneau adjusted recently, however.

On August 29, 2026, Oceania Riviera arrived an hour early, at 10 a.m. instead of 11 a.m., while on Wednesday, September 2, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will depart the city at 7:30 p.m., an hour later than originally scheduled.

Different cruise lines frequently tweak itineraries for a variety of reasons, including port operations, berth availability, and environmental restrictions.