MSC Cruises now sails in Alaska—here's what to expect, on board and off

Onboard/Offboard is a series that explores the can't-miss highlights of our favorite cruises—from the shore excursions to book to the spa treatments too relaxing to pass up.

After a long weekend adventuring around Seattle—shooting to the top of the Space Needle, forest bathing on Bainbridge Island, floating around Lake Union in a hot tub boat (not a time machine!)—and immersing ourselves in World Cup fever, my sister Karen and I boarded MSC Poesia for its seven-night Alaska voyage. This is the cruise line’s first year cruising to Alaska, and our first time sailing with MSC. Once onboard, we were excited to drop our things and set out to explore the ship.

MSC Poesia, originally built in 2008, is the second of the cruise line’s four-ship Musica Class fleet to undergo major refurbishments; the Alaska season is the ship’s first since its glow-up this spring. A big part of its refurbishment was the addition of the cruise line’s popular luxury ship-within-a-ship concept, MSC Yacht Club. (MSC turned the concept into its own at-sea brand, Explora Journeys, in 2023.). MSC Poesia’s Yacht Club includes 69 staterooms and suites, all with 24-hour butler service, and exclusive spaces that include a spacious, ship-wide sun deck with a grill, bar, and whirlpools; Yacht Club Restaurant; and Top Sail Lounge, all of which is spread over six decks at the front of the ship.

Our weeklong itinerary was a nice balance of busy days exploring various ports, and relaxing days at sea during which we made the most of the amenities afforded to us during our stay in our MSC Yacht Club stateroom, not to mention catching up on World Cup action with our fellow, mostly international, guests, thanks to the cruise line’s Summer of Sports program broadcasting all matches live across the fleet. Read on for the highlights of our sister time onboard and off.

Onboard: Taking in the views

While I’m fortunate enough to have sailed to Alaska many times, the allure is never lost on me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the boutique feel of MSC Yacht Club; it truly does feel like a smaller, more luxurious ship nestled within the larger, 3,223-passenger vessel. No matter where I am on board, I spend most of my time watching for whales—whether from my cabin, on an outside deck, on a treadmill in the fitness center, or gazing out the windows of a restaurant. I watch for whales like it’s my job. So I was thrilled to discover the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows in Top Sail Lounge, an area exclusively for MSC Yacht Club guests. Open early morning to late night, the expansive, elegantly appointed lounge that was once a gym (that’s been repositioned to the aft of the ship) stretches the width of MSC Poesia and is filled with plush chairs and couches, all facing out to sea—perfect vantage points for my self-assigned whale watching duties. Not only that, but the vibe in the lounge is quiet, with other guests reading or playing board games; evenings bring in a piano player in for delightful ambient music. The only interruption to the quiet was—you guessed it—whale sightings, when people would shriek, point, and grab binoculars to catch a glimpse.

Spending so much time in Top Sail Lounge, we were pampered by attentive Yacht Club butlers who delivered drinks and nibbles to enjoy while I “worked;” a light bites menu satiated us when we were a bit hungrier. One evening after dinner Karen and I adjourned to Top Sail Lounge wherein we were presented with a tasting of sweet treats; we enjoyed every bite. In between watching whales at sunset, that is.

Offboard: Thrill seeking in Ketchikan

The first time I went ziplining was 17 years ago on my first Alaskan cruise with my parents, whom I persuaded to join me. All these years later I’m still up for the adrenaline-filled thrill of flying through the treetops. Our cruise fell over my sister’s birthday, so I asked Karen to choose our excursions in each of the ports we were calling upon. Not typically a thrill-seeker, I was surprised—and proud—when she chose the half-day Rainforest Canopy & Zipline Adventure in Ketchikan, our first port of call. Before gearing up, our small group spent time on terra firma meandering through the Tongass National Forest, the largest in the US at 17 million acres, learning facts about the native fauna and flora from Taylor, a naturalist working in Ketchikan for the season. She pointed out skunk cabbage, sought out by bears emerging from their winter slumbers; devil’s club, harvested by Indigenous people for its medicinal properties; and introduced me to a banana slug, with whom I got up close and personal by holding it in my hand as she told us all about the species.

After the quiet of the rainforest, it was time for some high-flying thrills. Gung ho at the start, butterflies settled into my stomach as we made our way to the platform for the first of nine ziplines. Once Lexi, our attentive guide, checked my harnesses and helmet to ensure it was indeed secure, I took a deep breath and whoosh… just like that I was flying through spruce and hemlock trees about 100 feet off the ground. After Hayley, our guide on the other side, safely clipped me into the platform I turned around to encourage Karen to take that same first step. After a bit of coaxing, she did. That’s how we spent the next hour or so: encouraging each other; laughing nervously together as we eyed the next zipline; and snapping selfies. Not that we'd need any photographic evidence to remember this—I know it's an experience we'll never forget.