Msc lands in Alaska from summer this year

New itineraries for Msc Crociere in 2026 (including Alaska, Syros in the Cyclades, and Marmaris in Turkey) and a new global brand campaign, with an unprecedented claim (Best holiday ever) as well as, in Italy, the company's presence on the programme La Ruota della fortuna on Canale 5: a cruise (seven days for two people), whose destinations will change from time to time, will be the official prize of the Wheel of Wonders, awarded for seven consecutive weeks during the programme.

The world's third-largest cruise company offers its guests a fleet of 23 ships, which will be enriched by 12 more over the next 10 years, with an overall investment that, according to market rumours amounts to about 13 billion euros, to reach 35 cruise ships by 2035. The new flagship Msc World Asia is scheduled to be launched this year, while the World Atlantic will arrive in 2027. Meanwhile, the Msc Magnifica set off in early January on the round-the-world voyage, with an itinerary that is the longest ever covered by a cruise ship of the company.

"Alongside the 35 ships, with the Explora brand," said Leonardo Massa, vice-president Southern Europe of Msc's cruise division, during the presentation, in Cologno Monzese, of the company's strategies for 2026, "we are present with two operational ships, we will have six by 2028. This underlines the growth path we want to take. We strongly believe in the development opportunities of this industry. Looking to the future, we will continue to invest in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, which are our roots to which we are very attached. I believe there are development opportunities in the Italian market considering that in 2024 1.2 million Italians chose to take a cruise trip."

Another important area of investment, he added, concerns cruise terminals: 'In Miami we have built the largest in the world, which handles up to 36,000 passengers per day'. He also mentioned the terminals in Barcelona and Durban, South Africa. With regard to Arctic itineraries, Massa pointed out, referring to US President Donald Trump's declarations on Greenland: 'We have already been subjected to major geopolitical crises and cruises, in this sense, have shown that they have an incredible advantage: we move around and this allows us to choose where to go and where not to go. We don't go to Greenland. And anyway, if there were geopolitical situations that made a route unsafe for our guests, we would change that route'.

As for the 2026 destinations, Luca Valentini, Msc Cruises' commercial director, explained that, for the first time, "Msc Poesia will sail to Alaska. Guests will be able to explore for the first time the majesty of the Arctic's last frontier, with its spectacular landscapes, wildlife and rich cultural heritage of native peoples, with itineraries that include Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Tracy Arm and Juneau (Alaska), as well as Victoria (British Columbia, Canada)".