Those looking to explore The Last Frontier on a cruise ship will have more choices starting in 2026, with MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages announcing their inaugural sailings to Alaska.
MSC Cruises will bring MSC Poesia, a Musica Class ship launched in 2008, to Seattle, Washington, offering 7-night cruises to Alaska and Canada beginning on May 11. Passengers can expect visits to popular ports like Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and more.
Virgin Voyages, known for its innovative, adults-only approach to cruising, is also making its debut in Alaska. Brilliant Lady, Virgin's newest ship slated to launch in 2025, will embark on a series of 7- to 12-night itineraries departing from Seattle and Vancouver that promise to elevate the Alaskan cruise experience.
Alaska cruises have seen a significant rise in popularity. The Port of Vancouver, a key embarkation port for Alaska itineraries, ended the 2024 season with a record-breaking 1.32 million passengers, a 7% increase from 2023, and Juneau, Alaska's capital, welcomed over 1.6 million cruise ship guests.
Read more: 14 lessons learned after I tried my first Alaska cruise
MSC Cruises
“MSC Cruises offers an unparalleled choice of destinations and embarkation ports in every corner of the world and by introducing sailings to Alaska we’re further extending our global offering and giving our guests the opportunity to experience this must-see region," said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.
"These new itineraries also see the introduction of a new homeport in the U.S., our fifth to date. Seattle is the perfect location to depart for Alaska, with excellent international flight connections making it easily accessible to guests from around the world, in particular we know our European guests have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to sail to Alaska with MSC Cruises."
The 7-night cruises from Seattle onboard MSC Poesia, a 92,000 gross registered ton vessel that can accommodate over 3,000 passengers, will run from May through September. The week-long voyages include calls to Icy Strait Point; Juneau; Ketchikan; Tracy Arm; and Victoria, British Columbia.
According to MSC's website, pricing starts at $779 per person for an inside cabin. If you want to cruise during June or July, be prepared to spend upwards of $970 for an interior stateroom or $1,359 for a balcony.
MSC Poesia doesn't have MSC's coveted Yacht Club onboard, so if you book a suite, you won't receive access to the exclusive amenities and services that come with the Yacht Club experience, including a private butler and drink package. That said, standard suites still provide a range of amenities designed for relaxation and convenience.
Read more: 10 things I wish I knew before my first MSC cruise
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is bringing its newest ship to Alaska in 2026. Following Brilliant Lady's launch, Virgin will offer a series of exciting itineraries focusing on adult travelers, allowing them to take advantage of the ship's unique amenities (including a tattoo parlor!), upscale dining options, and vibrant atmosphere that distinguishes Virgin from other mainstream cruise lines.
Brilliant Lady will cruise to Alaska from May to September 2026. The 110,000 gross registered ton vessel can accommodate over 2,700 passengers and will offer 7- to 12-night sailings. The voyages will go on sale this week for loyal members who signed up for "Front(ier) of the Line" passes earlier this year. They'll open to the general public on Nov. 13, 2024.
The "MerMaiden" voyage is scheduled to depart from Seattle on May 21, 2026, calling at Ketchikan; Sitka; and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, along with scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord.
“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 of Virgin Voyages.
Read more: 10 things I loved and hated about my first Virgin Voyages cruise
Solution to cruise ship congestion
In June, Juneau adopted a voluntary agreement that is set to begin in 2026 that says the country's four largest cruise lines cannot schedule more than 16,000 standard beds (AKA "lower berths") in Juneau per day, with the limit dropping to 12,000 on Saturdays.
However, some residents want tougher restrictions on cruise ships, claiming they have caused issues in overcrowding, housing shortages, noise pollution, and air pollution, as reported by Alaska Beacon.
To help improve Juneau's traffic congestion, Royal Caribbean Group announced a new partnership with Goldbelt Incorporated, an Alaskan Native company, to co-develop a new port in Juneau. The goal of the new port is to "[strengthen] the city's infrastructure while improving traffic congestion downtown and enhancing the local and visitor experience," Royal Caribbean Blog reported.
It's estimated that the new port would remove around one-third of bus traffic from Juneau's most congested roadways by allowing passengers to depart on whale-watching tours or shuttle boats to Mendenhall Glacier from West Douglas Island.
"The Port of Tomorrow" is expected to be completed during the 2027 Alaska cruise season, following the launch of MSC and Virgin Voyages' Alaska itineraries.
One-way Alaska cruises on Quantum Class ships
Royal Caribbean also recently announced another exciting update to their Alaska line-up. Historically, one-way cruises have been offered on smaller, Radiance Class ships. Starting in 2026, however, the cruise giant will offer open-jaw sailings on Ovation of the Seas from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska.
This will allow passengers the chance to see the Hubbard Glacier while taking advantage of everything a Quantum Class ship has onboard, from the indoor SeaPlex to the North Star Observation Capsule. Plus, guests can combine their cruise with Cruisetour to explore more of Alaska's breathtaking inland landscapes.
Read more: 20 Alaska cruise must-do excursions
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
