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MSC Cruises is set to enter the Alaska cruise market, a move announced on Monday. The company, typically recognized for its European routes, plans to launch its first Alaska sailings in May 2026. MSC Poesia will be based in Seattle from May through September and will embark on weekly seven-night voyages to Alaska and Canada.
This initiative marks MSC Cruises' debut in Alaska and is also the first time the line has stationed a ship in Seattle. By adding Seattle as a home port, MSC aims to strengthen its presence among U.S.-based cruisers and expand within the American cruise market.
Seattle joins Miami, Port Canaveral, New York City, and Galveston as MSC's fifth U.S. home port. The 92,627-ton MSC Poesia will start its inaugural Alaska journey from Seattle on May 11, 2026. It will conclude the season with a Panama Canal voyage departing September 28, 2026. During this period, the ship will offer round-trip cruises visiting Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and Victoria.
