MSC Poesia Welcoming New Menus and Dining Venues for Alaska Season
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MSC Poesia is adding new menus and beverage options ahead of its inaugural Alaska season, beginning in May 2026.
The culinary focus will be on regional seafood and cold-weather offerings, including hot drinks during glacier viewing.
The ship is also adding Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar to its specialty dining options.
Hot chocolate on deck while sailing past glaciers is one of several changes coming to MSC Cruises’ Alaska season as the cruise line rolls out new menus and dining venues aboard MSC Poesia.
The company announced that its inaugural Alaska season, beginning in May 2026, will include updated food and beverage offerings designed to reflect the region.
The changes introduce a stronger focus on seafood and bring more menu items suited to cooler weather conditions.
“Our inaugural season in Alaska represents an exciting milestone for MSC Cruises, and enhancing the onboard dining and beverage experience to reflect the destination was a key priority for us,” said Neil Palomba, executive vice president, MSC Cruises USA.
Palomba said the changes will mix European style and American comfort with a goal of matching Alaska’s natural experience with the cruise line’s culinary experience.
He added MSC Poesia will give guests “everything from the perfect cup of hot chocolate as they sail past stunning glaciers to a taste of Alaska’s trademark seafood after an exhilarating day of exploring on shore.”
Menus across the ship’s main dining venues will include regional dishes like halibut tacos, amber-battered cod, and seafood chowders. Alaskan salmon is expected to appear across multiple venues throughout the sailing season.
Dining updates extend across multiple areas of the ship, including both included and specialty venues, with menu additions intended to align with destinations on the itinerary.
The beverage program is also being adjusted for Alaska sailings with a range of hot cocktails. Among them are a gin-based “Hot Honey Soother,” a lighter take on a mulled wine called “Un-Wined in Juneau,” and a traditional hot toddy and spiked hot chocolate.
Additional options include a chocolate-based martini, a martini featuring smoked salmon flavors, and a crisp sparkling cocktail, “Fjord the Love of Bubbly.”
During daytime sailing, the Mojito Bar will host a Bloody Mary experience.
New Restaurants for a New Destination
The dining updates for MSC Poesia also include two new specialty restaurants being added during the 92,627-gross-ton vessel’s dry dock ahead of the Alaska season.
The ship entered dry dock in Malta on February 19, 2026, and is expected to resume service on April 6, beginning a transatlantic repositioning to Seattle with several cruises and a Panama Canal crossing.
Butcher’s Cut, the cruise line’s American-style steakhouse found across much of the MSC fleet, including MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, and World-class ships, will serve a menu centered on premium cuts of beef alongside traditional steakhouse sides.
Kaito Sushi Bar will bring a second new option, focusing on sushi and Asian-inspired dishes.
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The 3,223-passenger MSC Poesia is scheduled to operate its first full Alaska season from May 11 through September 28, 2026. The ship will sail roundtrip from Seattle on 7-night itineraries, marking MSC Cruises’ inaugural season in the area.
Each sailing is expected to include a mix of port calls and scenic cruising with stops in Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Juneau, along with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia.
The cruise line has also confirmed that MSC Poesia will return to Alaska for the 2027 season.
MSC Poesia Welcoming New Menus and Dining Venues for Alaska Season