As more than 2 million cruise passengers are expected to move through Seattle this season, and the economic wave could stretch far beyond the water.
SEATTLE — Seattle’s record-breaking cruise season just got even bigger Monday as MSC Cruises officially launched its first-ever Alaska sailings from the city.
The MSC Poesia docked at Pier 91 before setting sail on its inaugural seven-night Alaska voyage — marking the company’s entry into one of the fastest-growing and most competitive cruise markets in the world.
“Alaska is what we missed,” said Neil Palomba, executive vice president for MSC Cruises. “It was one of the bucket list destinations our guests in the U.S. and globally want to experience.”
The MSC Poesia recently emerged from a six-week refurbishment after sailing from the Mediterranean to Miami, then through the Panama Canal before arriving in Seattle.
The upgrades included new restaurants, expanded wellness spaces and environmental enhancements designed specifically for Alaska sailings.
“There was a lot of enhancement to the equipment we have on board, the advanced water treatment, how we recycle on board,” Palomba said.
The launch comes as the Port of Seattle expects its biggest cruise season ever with more than 2 million passengers projected to move through the city this year, the highest number in port history.
Last year alone, the cruise industry generated an estimated $1.2 billion in economic impact across the region, according to the Port of Seattle. Officials expect this season could surpass that.
And businesses across Seattle are hoping to ride that wave.
“Not just for us but like for the whole pier for sure, the food, restaurants, souvenir stores, everything,” said Josue Garcia with The Seattle Shop. “It will be good for everyone.”
Garcia said cruise traffic brings a noticeable energy boost to the city.
“Just having a lot of people in here, I just feel like the energy definitely uplifts you,” he said.
But the voyage is also bringing renewed attention to environmental concerns tied to Alaska cruising.
MSC has partnered with the nonprofit Orca to place whale experts onboard during parts of the Alaska season to help crews avoid collisions with whales in busy marine corridors.
“Vessel strikes — so large whales being hit by ships — is probably the biggest threat to large whales in the 21st century,” said Steve Jones with Orca. “Estimates say between five and 20,000 large whales a year are killed from ships all sorts of ships, cargo, freight, cruise.”
The onboard observers help crews monitor whale activity and adjust course or speed when needed.
“The first thing we encourage them to do is slow down,” Jones said. “The quicker the whale can get out of the way and the less likely there is to be a collision.”
MSC says the inaugural sailing from Seattle is completely sold out, though there is still limited availability later this season. The company has already opened bookings for 2027 Alaska sailings.
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