MSC Cruises announced details of the line’s new itinerary in the Red Sea for the Winter 2021-2022 season.
The first-time cruises visiting destinations in Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia promise culturally rich destinations, some of the best beaches in the world, and a chance for passengers to explore the traditions of the region that date back centuries.
Homeporting in Jeddah (Saudi Arabian port to Mecca-Medina), MSC Magnifica will sail on 7-night cruises, starting from November 13, 2021, through to the end of March 2022. Out of Jeddah, the liner will call Aqaba-Petra Jordan, Safaga for Luxor (Egypt), then the other Saudi ports of AlWajh and Yanbu prior to sailing back to Jeddah.
With 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Al-Hijr Archaeological Site in AlUla and Historic Jeddah, both accessible to MSC Magnifica passengers, the Kingdom offers a voyage of discovery.
The itinerary will see MSC return to Egypt visiting the historic port of Safaga, from where travelers will be able to reach Luxor - the largest open-air museum in the world with renowned Ancient Egyptian sites. The itinerary also features Aqaba in Jordan, dating back to 4,000 B.C. from where guests can reach Petra - one of the new 7 wonders of the world.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the inaugural Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on December 5 in Jeddah, and guests will have the chance to follow the global sports event during their journey aboard MSC Magnifica.
To make the trip stress-free, Fly & Cruise packages are available due to a dedicated partnership with Saudi Arabia’s national airline Saudia, a long-time SkyTeam member. With Friday night flights from most major European airports and NYC New York, vacationers will arrive in Jeddah the night before the cruise begins. Due to the ship’s late departure Saturday evening, there will be enough time to enjoy Jeddah before the voyage departs, making the most of the stay. The same variety of return flights awaits passengers for a Saturday morning trip back home offering maximum comfort and peace of mind.
MSC Virtuosa will also debut in Saudi Arabia as her winter 2021-2022 cruise program in the Arabian Gulf has been enriched with visits to Port Dammam, visiting AlAhsa oasis (also a UNESCO site). Virtuosa will spend her first winter cruise season homeporting in Dubai UAE. From there, the vessel will sail to the nearby metropolis of Abu Dhabi, on to Sir Bani Yas Island, where passengers will have the opportunity to discover an array of wildlife or bask in the sun on the beaches, all exclusive to MSC on the days which the liners call. MSC Virtuosa also calls Doha Qatar before returning to Dubai with an overnight in the port city.