The United Arab Emirates will be the base next winter for the largest and most environmentally efficient passenger ship to sail in the Middle East, MSC World Europe.
The ship’s Swiss-based owner and operator, MSC, will also dedicate a second vessel, MSC Operain the Gulf region for the 2022/23 sailing season, as it aims to further strengthen its position as the regional frontline for vacations at sea.
The announcement was made by MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato following the official opening this week by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Sovereign’s Representative in the Al Dhafra region, of a new jetty for passenger ships on the island of Sir Bani Yas.
This development, according to MSC, will be very well received by cruise passengers visiting the incredible island off the coast of Abu Dhabi.
Mr Onorato hailed the cruise sector in the UAE as an integral part of its vibrant tourism industry, paid tribute to health and safety measures across the country and outlined MSC Cruises’ business outlook for the winter. next in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf as being very positive. Therefore.
Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruisesnoted, “The UAE is a very important market for us and next winter we will deploy our newest addition to our fleet – MSC World Europa – and further increase our capacity from this year with the introduction of a second ship, MSC Opera, in recognition of the region’s ever-growing status in the cruise industry.
“MSC World Europa will redefine the cruise experience with a variety of never-before-seen features unlike anything at sea today and the ship will be an added benefit to the UAE’s tourism industry. The ship will attract many international passengers from around the world, especially from Europe, and we also hope to see strong interest from the guests of the Gulf Cooperation Council, especially from the United Arab Emirates.
“One of our newest ships, MSC Virtuosa, is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf and while there are challenges ashore associated with the global pandemic, we have been working closely with the relevant authorities across the region to ensure the health and safety of our passengers, crew and the communities visited by the ship.The combination of measures on board and ashore has been extremely effective, as evidenced by the fact that MSC Virtuosa is one of our most efficient vessels during the winter season.
Deployment in the Persian Gulf
MSC Virtuoso March 26 will end its planned trips to the UAE and will be replaced by MSC Bellissima between April 2 and June 25, 2022. This is the first time that MSC Cruises has extended its sailing season in the Gulf and offered spring breaks at sea.
MSC World Europe from December will be based in the United Arab Emirates and will offer 7-night cruises from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Sir Bani Yas Island, Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Doha in Qatar.
MSC Opera will operate a different and contrasting itinerary from Dubai and Abu Dhabi with visits to Sir Bani Yas Island and also Muscat and Khasab in Oman. The 7-night cruise ends with an overnight stay in Dubai to give international passengers plenty of time to explore the city.
About MSC World Europe
MSC World Europe is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and will be delivered in October 2022 before heading to the Persian Gulf to operate cruises from December to March 2023.
The 2,626-cabin vessel will accommodate up to 6,762 passengers, will have a gross tonnage of 205,700 GT and be 333.3 meters long. The ship will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the first ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet to use the cleanest fuel currently available on a large scale for ocean-going cruise ships.
MSC Cruises shares the UAE’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and LNG MSC World Europe represents a major step in the company’s strategy to achieve its goal of eradicating carbon emissions.
