Alaska’s Newest Cruise Players Have Official...

Could 11, 2026, has been a historic day for 2 cruise strains which can be kicking off their first seasons cruising to Alaska.

First, MSC Cruises is celebrating the official launch of its first ever Alaska season with MSC Poesia’s debut in Seattle, Washington, on Could 11. That is the primary time the cruise line has operated out of this port.

Regardless of launching in 1988, MSC has by no means made its strategy to Alaska as a result of the cruise line has prioritized itineraries in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean.

This milestone marks an necessary growth for the cruise line, and can be a key cause for why this would be the busiest cruise season ever in Seattle.

Virgin Voyages can be launching its first ever season in Alaska with the debut of the 2025-launched Good Girl in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Could 11.

The 110,000-gross ton vessel additionally started her first ever cruise to Alaska from Vancouver on Could 11. The inaugural voyage is a 10-night crusing that can conclude in Seattle on Could 21.

MSC Cruises Arrives in Seattle

MSC Poesia’s arrival in Seattle marks the start of the cruise line’s first season in Alaska and establishes Seattle as MSC Cruises’ latest US homeport.

To commemorate the inaugural go to, a standard maritime plaque change ceremony was held on the Port of Seattle.

“The arrival of MSC Poesia in Seattle marks an thrilling milestone for MSC Cruises as we convey our distinctive mix of European model and American consolation to the Pacific Northwest for the primary time,” Lynn Torrent, President of MSC Cruises North America, mentioned in a press release.

“Launching in Seattle displays our continued dedication to increasing our presence throughout North America and providing visitors new methods to expertise a number of the world’s most extraordinary locations,” Torrent continued.

Including to the attract of the primary season, the Musica-class ship additionally simply returned to service from a dry dock go to, throughout which period she underwent a significant refresh.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the 2008-launched ship was given thrilling new additions, equivalent to its personal MSC Yacht Membership and new specialty eating venues, together with the favored Butcher’s Reduce and Kaito Sushi Bar.

The 92,627-gross ton vessel launched into its first voyage to Alaska after arriving in Seattle on Could 11, which is a 7-night crusing to Ketchikan, Icy Strait Level, Endicott Arm (replacing Tracy Arm), Juneau, and Victoria, British Columbia.

Comparable 7-night Alaska itineraries shall be out there by means of September, with the two,550-guest ship starting its repositioning cruise from Seattle to Miami, Florida, on September 28, 2026.

Good Girl Debuts in Vancouver

Though Good Girl will primarily homeport in Seattle, from the place she’s going to function 7- to 12-night itineraries, her inaugural Alaska season will start and finish in Vancouver.

The two,770-guest ship made her debut on the Canada Place Terminal on Could 11 to formally kick off the season. The milestone go to additionally marked the start of what must be a useful partnership between the cruise line and port.

“At the moment, we’re thrilled to welcome Virgin Voyages’ Good Girl to the Port of Vancouver, marking the cruise line’s and cruise ship’s inaugural name to the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal,” the Port of Vancouver posted on social media.

“As Vancouver celebrates 40 years as a homeport for Alaska cruises, this primary go to marks one other thrilling milestone for our rising cruise sector, bringing new guests, new experiences, and continued momentum to the area by means of the partnerships that assist make all of it potential,” the put up continued.

After making its debut, the most recent Girl ship launched into a one-way, 10-night crusing to Seattle. The itinerary consists of calls at Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Juneau, and Icy Strait Level.

Virgin Voyages will subsequent return to Vancouver on September 11, which shall be debarkation day for a one-way, 8-night voyage from Seattle that embarks on September 3. Good Girl can even be again in Vancouver in 2027 for her second Alaska deployment.