MSC Cruises Is Sending Another Ship to the Panama Canal
It’s one of the great passages of world travel — the journey through the Panama Canal. And now, MSC Cruises is bringing it to the forefront on the MSC Poesia in the winter 2026 season.
Fresh off her inaugural Alaska season, Poesia will chart a new course south, offering highly coveted Panama Canal voyages that link Seattle and Miami. It’s the chance to experience a true maritime milestone, a route where Pacific meets Atlantic in a single unforgettable crossing.
On board, you’ll sail in European style — from elegant dining rooms and wide teak decks to evening shows and music under the stars. Days at sea unfold with that signature MSC rhythm: espresso at breakfast, time at the pool, an afternoon in the Aurea Spa, a night of Mediterranean flavors.
The Canal itself is the centerpiece. Watching the locks open, feeling the ship lift and lower with the tide, and standing on deck as Poesia glides through the jungle-lined waters is the kind of moment that stays with you. It’s equal parts engineering marvel and bucket-list travel dream.
A New Chapter for MSC Poesia
This is a turning point for Poesia. After showing travelers Alaska’s glaciers and fjords, she now heads for warmth and tropics — Miami, the Caribbean, the crossing that connects it all. The duality makes her season unique: a ship that takes you from icy frontiers to the tropic heart of the Americas.
How to Book
MSC says the Poesia’s Panama Canal itineraries will be limited — a small run of sailings between Seattle and Miami, making them some of the most in-demand voyages in the company’s lineup. Travelers looking to secure a spot will need to book early.
These are some long cruises — with the shortest at 18 nights out of Miami (which is priced at $1,699 per person). You can also sail, for example, on a 33-night sailing from Marseille to Seattle through the Canal, with prices at $3,065 per person.
If you can’t wait until next year, here’s more on some of our favorite Panama Canal cruises in 2025.
