MSC Cruises has outlined the reasoning behind its decision to scale back from deploying two ships in Dubai during the winter season, opting instead to concentrate resources on a single, larger vessel. The company indicated that operating one flagship ship is more cost-effective and avoids the inefficiencies of running two vessels of differing sizes on overlapping itineraries.
At Connections Cruise Arabia, Angelo Capurro, Executive Director of MSC Cruises, explained that the company had trialed a two-ship deployment in the Gulf shortly after the pandemic. That experiment, however, highlighted the challenges of splitting capacity between one larger and one smaller ship. The outcome showed that the ships effectively competed with each other rather than expanding the market, leading MSC to conclude that a single larger vessel provides stronger economies of scale, wider onboard facilities, and greater passenger capacity.
This approach will be reflected in MSC’s future Gulf operations, with MSC World Europa—the line’s largest vessel, capable of carrying more than 6,700 passengers—scheduled to return to Dubai for the 2026-2027 winter season. Capurro noted that Dubai remains the company’s strongest-performing winter deployment worldwide, supported by the city’s air connectivity, cruise terminal infrastructure, and suitability for week-long itineraries.
The strategy contrasts with that of Celestyal Cruises, which intends to homeport its entire two-ship fleet in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha for the 2025-2026 season, pursuing a dual-ship model to capture rising demand.
Looking ahead, MSC Cruises confirmed it is studying ways to extend the Gulf season by engaging both local and regional markets. The company also reaffirmed its intention to resume Red Sea itineraries once secure transit through the Suez Canal can be guaranteed.