As travelers increasingly seek “hassle-free vacations” with “attractive value propositions,” Erin Douglas, senior vice president of trade sales for MSC Cruises USA, sees a real opportunity for the line to expand its presence in North America and beyond.
We sat down with Douglas to learn more about the line’s ongoing debut season in Alaska, upcoming ships including MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic and more.
How is MSC being received by the travel advisor community in Alaska?
The response from the travel advisor community has been incredibly positive. Our advisor partners are excited to have a new option for clients looking to experience Alaska, and MSC Cruises is offering a unique product that delivers European style with American comfort along with differentiators including the MSC Yacht Club, Alaska-inspired food and drink options, world-class entertainment, family programming and wellness experiences.
These unique offerings help advisors to match clients with the right vacation, while providing exceptional value in one of the most sought-after destinations.
What other booking trends are you seeing in the North American market?
We’re seeing continued demand from North American travelers looking for vacations that deliver outstanding experiences at an exceptional value. In Alaska specifically, we’ve seen an increasing number of guests from the Pacific Northwest as travelers look for convenient vacations that are closer to home.
More broadly, travelers are increasingly looking for hassle-free vacations that require less planning and offer attractive value propositions.
More broadly, travelers are increasingly looking for hassle-free vacations that require less planning and offer attractive value propositions. Cruising with MSC provides accommodations, dining, entertainment and transportation between destinations all in one package, at a value that is often difficult to replicate through other travel options.
Guests can also visit multiple destinations without the hassle of repacking, while convenient embarkation ports make travel even more seamless.
Erin Douglas, senior vice president of trade sales for MSC Cruises USA
2026 MSC CruisesWhat else should advisors and their clients be aware of regarding MSC now and in the near future?
Looking ahead, MSC Cruises continues to expand both our fleet and global deployment strategy, giving travelers more choices than ever before. We're investing in new ships, enhanced onboard experiences and a diverse mix of itineraries and destinations.
In November 2026, we will launch MSC World Asia sailing the Mediterranean, and in November 2027, we will launch MSC World Atlantic sailing the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Florida, adding two new World Class ships to our fleet. We're also continuing to grow MSC Yacht Club and other guest experience offerings with refurbishments to our existing ships, creating more opportunities for travel advisors to match clients with the vacation experience that's right for them.
Beyond our ships, we are expanding and updating our private destination offerings to cater to an increasing number of guests and traveler preferences. At Ocean Cay, we’re adding new family-focused and adults-only experiences. In addition, we’re developing Sandy Cay as a complement to Ocean Cay, which will offer a more intimate, elevated and immersive experience.
We are also looking forward to an upgraded experience on Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic in conjunction with our new year-round operation from La Romana. Together, these investments provide even more reasons for guests to choose MSC Cruises and for advisors to confidently recommend our brand.
How is the new MSC World Asia getting customers excited?
We‘re thrilled to introduce MSC World Asia and areseeing strong enthusiasm from both guests and travel advisors. The success of MSC World Europa and MSC World America is a testament to how much our guests love the innovative design, expansive dining options and diverse experiences offered onboard our World Class ships.
MSC World Asia will continue to build on these experiences, offering guests another exciting way to explore the Mediterranean. We’re also seeing strong anticipation for MSC World Atlantic, which will launch in 2027.
As we continue expanding our presence in North America, advisors will have even more opportunities to introduce clients to the unique blend of European style and American comfort on our ships.
