One of the world’s most popular cruise destinations will see some new ships arrive in summer 2026, as MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages will both explore The Last Frontier for the first time.
MSC Cruises 2026 Alaska sailings on the MSC Poesia will depart from Seattle, Washington. Virgin will send Brilliant Lady, the newest ship in its fleet, to wrap up its inaugural North American tour with 17 7-12-night Alaska voyages departing from Seattle and Vancouver.
“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,” Lynn Torrent, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at MSC Cruises USA.
“Seattle will be our fifth U.S. 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.”
The line’s first Alaska cruise will set sail on May 11, 2026, with the season running through September. MSC Poesia can accommodate 2,550 passengers based on double occupancy. Port calls will include Vancouver, Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point.
Virgin Voyages says its guests want to see new places, while travelling aboard its adult-only ships.
“We have incredibly high repeat rates, so our Sailors are always challenging us to seek new horizons; they always want to know ‘Where else can we sail with Virgin?’ This brand is charting new paths, and the sold-out response to our Front(ier) of the Line passes earlier this year showed us just how sought after our Alaskan itineraries are,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO, Virgin Voyages.
Access for pre-sale passholders is now open, while itineraries go on sale for the general public starting November 13.
Debuting in September 2025, Brilliant Lady will start its first season sailing out of New York, with voyages from Miami, L.A. and Seattle in the following months. The ship’s schedule includes a 16-night sailing through the Panama Canal. Alaska voyages will run from May through September.
In addition to Alaska, Virgin unveiled an additional seven-night itinerary from L.A. Highlights include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.
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