MSC Cruises Brings Marine Scientists on Board for Its First Alaska Season

(NEWS) GENEVA, Switzerland, 2026-Feb-4 — /Travel PR News/ — MSC Cruises has announced a new partnership with marine conservation organisation ORCA that will place a dedicated, ORCA-trained Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) on board MSC Poesia during the line’s inaugural Alaska season in summer 2026. Based on details shared in the company’s official announcement, the initiative is intended to strengthen science-based marine conservation, enhance crew training, and deepen guest understanding of whale protection as MSC expands operations into one of the world’s most environmentally sensitive cruise regions.

Under the agreement, the ORCA MMO will sail on MSC Poesia for a month during peak whale season from late July to late August 2026, a period chosen to maximise the quality and statistical relevance of behavioural data. According to official information, the observer will monitor whale responses to vessel presence and activity, collecting real-time data that will be shared with the scientific community and used to refine whale-avoidance training for cruise and shipping crews.

The partnership also extends beyond research into operational practice. Based on official updates, ORCA will advise MSC Cruises on responsible wildlife tourism in Alaska, reviewing whale-watching excursions, identifying best-practice operators, and providing ongoing assessments throughout the season to help ensure high standards of sustainable tourism. This element of the collaboration positions the initiative as both research-led and operationally relevant for day-to-day cruise activities.

Guest engagement forms a central pillar of the programme. During each Alaska itinerary, the ORCA MMO will host onboard educational sessions explaining the research underway and its broader conservation impact. Official communications indicate that passengers will also be introduced to ORCA’s citizen science initiatives, offering opportunities for deeper involvement with Alaska’s marine ecosystem.

MSC Cruises has framed the partnership as part of its wider sustainability strategy as it prepares for its first Alaska deployment. MSC Poesia, newly upgraded for the region, will operate seven-night sailings from Seattle in 2026, with sales already open for a second Alaska season in 2027, reflecting strong demand. The collaboration with ORCA was formally launched at CLIA’s Pacific Northwest Symposium in Anchorage, where industry and conservation leaders gathered to discuss sustainable cruise operations.

By integrating independent scientific monitoring, enhanced crew training and structured guest education, MSC Cruises is positioning its Alaska programme as a model for science-driven marine stewardship, signalling how cruise lines can balance growth with greater accountability for their environmental footprint.

ORCA – the Ocean Research & Conservation Association – is widely regarded as one of the first technology-driven marine conservation organisations in the United States. Founded in 2005 by renowned deep-sea explorer Dr. Edith (Edie) Widder, ORCA was established in response to growing evidence that traditional land-based conservation approaches were inadequate for protecting marine environments. According to the organisation’s publicly stated mission, ORCA focuses on improving water quality and ecosystem health through the use of innovative scientific tools, rigorous data collection, and community engagement, with the aim of reversing the long-term degradation of coastal and ocean habitats.

Dr. Widder, a bioluminescence specialist and former senior scientist at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, has been instrumental in developing new technologies that allow scientists to observe marine life with minimal disturbance. Her work includes the creation of ORCA’s “Eye-in-the-Sea” deep-sea camera system, which has captured rare footage of elusive marine species in their natural habitats. Widder’s contributions to ocean science and conservation have earned her multiple accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship, and her research continues to inform ORCA’s approach to science-led marine protection, education, and public outreach.

As MSC Cruises prepares to enter Alaska for the first time, its collaboration with ORCA signals a broader shift within the cruise sector toward independent scientific oversight and transparent environmental stewardship — a model that could shape how the industry balances growth with the protection of some of the world’s most fragile marine ecosystems.