Key Aspects:
- MSC Cruises identified six growing travel trends that will emerge in 2026.
- They range from low-season cruising to sporting event destinations.
- The trends are seen as helping to determine when and how people will cruise.
Cruise lines love to talk about how they satisfy, and hopefully exceed, guest expectations, and MSC Cruises is no exception. The cruise line is pointing to several key travel trends that it believes will influence cruise bookings and itinerary choices during 2026.
MSC Cruises revealed the trends on December 11, 2025, along with its plans to capitalize on each one.
For instance, the line cites the “Rise of the Me-Kend,” which it describes as “a weekend just for me.” It satisfies the trend toward indulgent quick trips with a goal of self-wellness and de-stressing.
MSC Cruises is answering the call by offering 3- and 4-night getaway sailings from convenient drive-to ports such as PortMiami or Port Canaveral, onboard MSC Seaside and MSC Seashore, respectively. They make for easy, no-fly getaways to the Caribbean and Bahamas, with port calls to MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC Cruises also identified a desire by guests for “Low-Season Travel,” such as fall and winter cruises in Europe, for instance, when temperatures are mostly still mild, cruise fares are lower, and popular destinations are devoid of the big crowds seen during summer.
Read Also: Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?
The cruise line offers multiple opportunities to cruise without the peak-season chaos to places like Greece and other destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Three ships, MSC Orchestra, MSC Lirica, and MSC Divina offer such voyages.
MSC Divina, for instance, offers departures from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Mykonos, Greece, Kusadasi and Marmaris, Turkey, and Naples, Italy, while MSC Lirica sails from Venice (Marghera) to Kotor, Montenegro, Mykonos and Syros, Greece, and Ancona, Italy.
Cruise Line Has The Perfect Voyage For Every Trend
Here’s a recap of the remaining four trends the cruise line has identified:
Fan Voyages: MSC Cruises expects 2026 will be a big year for certain sporting events, as it notes that some 5 million people will go to soccer competitions in US cities such as Miami and Seattle. Both destinations are homeports for MSC Cruises’ ships.
Moreover, the cruise line is the title sponsor of multiple Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix races in 2026. The line’s partnership with Formula 1 continues through 2026. The line suggests that cruisers who attend the Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, for instance, can add on a cruise from Galveston onboard MSC Seascape.
Kidfluencing: This trend refers to the way children help the family decide where and how to vacation. According to MSC Cruises, more than 80% of parents say their children help determine and plan their travel.
MSC Cruises responds to its youngest passengers with supervised programming for children, based on age group, and keeps them busy enjoying sports courts, water parks, bumper cars, thrill rides, and interactive games.
Quiet-cations: MSC Cruises has found that plenty of potential guests are looking to step away from their digital lives and instead embrace a quiet and calm escape. In fact, it says that 43% of travelers want to experience nature.
The cruise line has the ideal destination: Alaska. MSC Cruises in summer 2026 will deploy a ship to Alaska for the first time, when MSC Poesia sails roundtrip from Seattle. Itineraries feature glacial views, whale-watching, hiking in pristine forests, and spotting various wildlife.
All-Inclusive and Personalized Luxury Experiences: According to MSC Cruises, upscale vacationers in 2026 will seek complete relaxation in a space where their specific needs are met.
Welcome to MSC Yacht Club. The cruise line addresses this trend with its exclusive luxury accommodations area as the cure-all for what ails affluent people. Think 24-hour butler and concierge services, thermal spa access, luxury suites, a premium beverage package, and private areas that feel like a sanctuary.
