Key Aspects:
- MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages are cruising to Alaska for the first time ever in 2026.
- On May 11, MSC Poesia made her debut in Seattle to officially begin her inaugural Alaska season.
- At the same time, Brilliant Lady made her inaugural call to Vancouver, which is another major port for Alaska itineraries.
May 11, 2026, has been a historic day for two cruise lines that are 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 May 11. This is the first time the cruise line has operated out of this port.
Despite launching in 1988, MSC has never made its way to Alaska because the cruise line has prioritized itineraries in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean.
This milestone marks an important expansion for the cruise line, and is also a key reason for why this will be the busiest cruise season ever in Seattle.
Virgin Voyages is also launching its first ever season in Alaska with the debut of the 2025-launched Brilliant Lady in Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 11.
The 110,000-gross ton vessel also began her first ever cruise to Alaska from Vancouver on May 11. The inaugural voyage is a 10-night sailing that will conclude in Seattle on May 21.
MSC Cruises Arrives in Seattle
MSC Poesia’s arrival in Seattle marks the beginning of the cruise line’s first season in Alaska and establishes Seattle as MSC Cruises’ newest US homeport.
To commemorate the inaugural visit, a traditional maritime plaque exchange ceremony was held at the Port of Seattle.
“The arrival of MSC Poesia in Seattle marks an exciting milestone for MSC Cruises as we bring our distinctive blend of European style and American comfort to the Pacific Northwest for the first time,” Lynn Torrent, President of MSC Cruises North America, said in a statement.
“Launching in Seattle reflects our continued commitment to expanding our presence across North America and offering guests new ways to experience some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations,” Torrent continued.
Adding to the allure of the first season, the Musica-class ship also just returned to service from a dry dock visit, during which time she underwent a major refresh.
Cruise Hive previously reported that the 2008-launched ship was given exciting new additions, such as its own MSC Yacht Club and new specialty dining venues, including the popular Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar.
The 92,627-gross ton vessel embarked on its first voyage to Alaska after arriving in Seattle on May 11, which is a 7-night sailing to Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Endicott Arm (replacing Tracy Arm), Juneau, and Victoria, British Columbia.
Similar 7-night Alaska itineraries will be available through September, with the 2,550-guest ship beginning its repositioning cruise from Seattle to Miami, Florida, on September 28, 2026.
Brilliant Lady Debuts in Vancouver
Although Brilliant Lady will primarily homeport in Seattle, from where she will operate 7- to 12-night itineraries, her inaugural Alaska season will begin and end in Vancouver.
The 2,770-guest ship made her debut at the Canada Place Terminal on May 11 to officially kick off the season. The milestone visit also marked the beginning of what should be a beneficial partnership between the cruise line and port.
“Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady to the Port of Vancouver, marking the cruise line’s and cruise ship’s inaugural call 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 first visit marks another exciting milestone for our growing cruise sector, bringing new visitors, new experiences, and continued momentum to the region through the partnerships that help make it all possible,” the post continued.
After making its debut, the newest Lady ship embarked on a one-way, 10-night sailing to Seattle. The itinerary includes calls at Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Juneau, and Icy Strait Point.
Virgin Voyages will next return to Vancouver on September 11, which will be debarkation day for a one-way, 8-night voyage from Seattle that embarks on September 3. Brilliant Lady will also be back in Vancouver in 2027 for her second Alaska deployment.
