MSC Cruises will launch Alaska itineraries for the first time, with seven-night sailings available from May to September 2026 aboard MSC Poesia out of the cruise line’s new Seattle home-port – its fifth in the US. The summer season will also feature two itineraries transiting Panama Canal between Seattle and Miami.

The inaugural sailing to Alaska will take place on May 11, 2026, with calls including Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Tracy Arm, and Juneau (Alaska), and Victoria, BC.

MSC says the mid-size Poesia is ideal to explore the narrow channels of the Inside Passage and to reach glaciers up close. Shore excursions will range from ATV expeditions to riding the world’s largest zipline, whale watching, and generally showcasing the state’s impressive landscapes, rich heritage, and exceptional wildlife encounters.

“Guests from all over the world tell us they want to see Alaska’s beauty firsthand, which makes these itineraries the perfect addition to MSC Cruises’ global portfolio of bucket-list destinations,” says Lynn Torrent, EVP and CCO, MSC Cruises USA.

 Panama Canal cruises

MSC Poesia’s seasonal repositioning between Miami and Seattle allows for two itineraries – departing Miam April 23, 2026, and Seattle on Sept. 28 – sailing through the Panama Canal at the start and end of the season. Guests will be able to explore up to 10 destinations between Seattle and Miami including San Diego; Los Angeles; Cartagena Colombia; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province.

The vessel with also reposition from the Mediterranean in the spring of 2026, offering a transatlantic itinerary under MSC Cruises’ Grand Voyages portfolio. The sailing departs Civitavecchia (Rome) on April 6, 2026 with stops to include Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Funchal, Madeira; Philipsburg, St Maarten; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, The Bahamas; before reaching Miami on April 22, 2026.

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