| Poesia readies for Alaska

MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia has shown off her new look and enhanced spaces ahead of her inaugural Alaska season, which begins next month.

Poesia recently emerged from the Palumbo Malta Shipyard with upgrades including the addition of MSC Yacht Club, as well as enhanced dining, wellness, and fitness venues.

MSC Yacht Club, the cruise line’s exclusive ‘ship-within-a-ship’ concept, now offers 69 freshly appointed suites, along with 24-hour butler and concierge service, and access to a private area featuring a dedicated restaurant, lounge, private sundeck with whirlpools, and grill restaurant and bar.

Guests will also enjoy two new specialty dining venues as part of the refurbishment: Butcher’s Cut, an authentic American-style steakhouse; and Kaito Sushi Bar, where guests can savour authentic Asian dishes.

Other enhancements include a newly designed MSC Aurea Spa, and MSC Gym, complete with a Gentleman’s Barber, various workout studios, and the Top 15 Exclusive Solarium, a spacious outdoor area for Aurea guests.

Poesia will operate seven-night Alaska itineraries from Seattle starting in May 2026, visiting a range of iconic destinations throughout the state, including Ketchikan, Juneau, Endicott Arm, and Icy Strait Point.

Following her Alaska season, Poesia will reposition to offer round-trip Caribbean cruises from Miami during winter 2026/27, visiting destinations including Jamaica, Colombia, Costa Rica, Aruba, Curacao, and Belize, before returning to Alaska in summer 2027.

Poesia becomes the second of four MSC Musica-class vessels to be upgraded as part of MSC’s fleet modernisation program, following sister ship MSC Magnifica, which left the shipyard in Dec (CW 23 Dec). MS