Exploring Alaska with MSC Cruises

I was lucky enough to recently experience Alaska for the first time, sailing with MSC Cruises on board MSC Poesia. This is an exciting year for MSC, with 2026 marking their very first season cruising Alaska and I was lucky enough to experience one of their 7 night Itineraries departing from Seattle.

Alaska had always been one of those destinations I wanted to experience, and cruising really is such a great way to see it. The scenery is incredible, the ports are all very different, and there is so much to see both from the ship and while you are ashore. It was also a great opportunity to experience MSC Cruises and see firsthand what they offer in Alaska, from the ship and life onboard, to the ports, shore excursions and the overall cruising experience.

One thing I really liked about this itinerary was how easy it was to explore each of the ports. There were no tender boats, so at each stop you could simply walk off the ship and easily access the local area. It gave you so much flexibility, you could head off in the morning for an excursion or a wander, come back onboard for lunch or a break, and then head out again in the afternoon.

We travelled in late August, which I thought was a great time to experience Alaska. July and August are peak season, with wildlife very active and plenty of daylight to enjoy the scenery and hopefully spot some animals along the way. Alaska weather can always be unpredictable, but we were incredibly lucky with beautiful sunny days and mostly only needed light jackets. The clear weather made such a difference for wildlife spotting, exploring the ports and just generally enjoying the incredible scenery around us.

Ketchikan was exactly how I pictured a small Alaskan town, colourful buildings, waterfront views and plenty of character. It was really easy to explore on foot and I particularly loved walking around Creek Street and the creek walk circuit. Any opportunity to spot wildlife and I will take it, so naturally I also booked a bear-watching excursion to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary.

Icy Strait Point was another standout for me. I took the Skyline Gondola to the top and then did the ZipRider, which offered incredible views over the surrounding water and wilderness. From the top, I could actually see multiple pods of humpback whales bubble-net feeding in the waters below, as well as seals playing around in the bay. The ZipRider was definitely an adrenaline rush, but it felt very safe and was surprisingly smooth. Not at all like being thrown around on a rollercoaster! If you have the courage, I would absolutely recommend it. If not, the views from the top are worth taking the gondola up for alone.

Afterwards, our group decided to walk into the main town of Hoonah, which was around a 20-minute scenic walk along the coast. I always like getting out of the main port area and seeing somewhere the locals actually live, and Hoonah gave us a great opportunity to chat with people who call this part of Alaska home. You are also in brown bear country, so naturally I was keeping an eye out the entire way! Unfortunately no bears for me this time, but hopefully next time…