MSC Group (via its subsidiary MSC Cruises) recently signed a 5-year agreement with Cruise Saudi for preferential berthing rights at Port Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), a further sign of the long-term commitment to support the development of the local tourism by operating voyages in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.
One of fleet's most modern liners MSC Bellissima celebrated the opening of the new passenger terminal at the port city with a commemorative event onboard. The terminal will welcome passengers for the highly anticipated inaugural season of MSC Bellissima in the Red Sea with 3- and 4-night sailings from Jeddah to both Egypt and Jordan through the end of October.
MSC Foundation (MSC Group's non-profit organization) and Ba’a Foundation (a non-profit in Saudi Arabia) announced that they would join forces to advance coral conservation in order to help safeguard marine ecosystems. The two Foundations are coming together to disseminate the knowledge they acquire to the global audience. The partnership aims to further the scientific understanding of the best practices for the restoration of coral reefs as well as to increase the area of reef habitat actively restored. It will initially focus on specific locations of the Red Sea and the Caribbean where restoration efforts are most needed.
Bellissima is scheduled to sail 21 Red Sea cruises from Jeddah between the end of July-late October 2021 with 3- and 4-night trips to Safaga-Luxor Egypt) or Aqaba-Petra Jordan prior to returning to Jeddah.
These summer sailings add to MSC Cruises’ winter 2021-2022 Red Sea voyages from Jeddah beginning in November.
Sistership MSC Virtuosa will also debut in Saudi Arabia during winter 2021-2022 with calls in the port of Dammam (Saudi Arabia, Riyadh).