In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during winter 2022-2023 will be homeported the largest passenger ship in the Middle East - MSC World Europa.
Operated by the world's 3rd-largest cruise company - MSC Cruises, World Europa joins in the Arabian Gulf the fleetmate MSC Opera.
MSC's CEO Gianni Onorato made the announcement following the official opening by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler’s representative in the Al Dhafra Region of the UAE, of a brand new jetty for passenger vessels at Sir Bani Yas Island.
The development, according to MSC, will be greatly welcomed by cruisers visiting the island off the Abu Dhabi coast.
Mr. Onorato hailed the UAE's cruise shipping sector as being an integral part of the country's dynamic tourism industry, paid tribute to the health & safety measures throughout the UAE, and described the business outlook of MSC Cruises for next winter in the Gulf as ‘very positive.'
On March 26, MSC Virtuosa will finish her scheduled voyages in the UAE and be replaced by MSC Bellissima from April 2 through to June 25, 2022. It is the first time MSC has extended its cruise season in the Gulf and offers spring break holidays.
From December, MSC World Europa will be based in the UAE to sail 7-night roundtrip itinerarues from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Sir Bani Yas Island, Dammam (Saudi Arabia), and Doha (Qatar).
MSC Opera will sail on a different 7-night itinerary from Abu Dhabi and Dubai also calling at Sir Bani Yas. Passengers can then discover Oman with a visit to the capital city Muscat, one of the oldest in the Middle East, and Khasab, the most northerly city in the country. The voyage ends with an overnight in Dubai to give passengers plenty of time to explore the metropolis.