The UAE to serve as home base for MSC...

MSC World Europa accommodates up to 6,762 passengers and is powered by liquified natural gas (LNG)

MSC World Europa – MSC Cruises’ largest and most environmentally sustainable passenger ship – will be based in the UAE next winter.

MSC will also dedicate a second ship, MSC Opera, to the Gulf region for the 2022/23 sailing season in an effort to further strengthen its position as the region’s leading cruise line.

The announcement was made by MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato following the official opening in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, of a new jetty for passenger ships at Sir Bani Yas Island.

Onorato said: “The UAE is a very important market for us and next winter we are going to 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 sector.

“MSC World Europa will redefine the cruise experience with a variety of never-before-seen features unlike anything at sea today and the vessel will be an additional benefit to the UAE’s tourism industry. The ship will attract many international passengers from around the world, especially from Europe, and we hope to also see strong interest from guests from the Gulf Cooperation Council, especially the UAE.”

SIGN UP NOW: GET THE CONNECTING TRAVEL DAILY NEWSLETTER

MSC World Europa is the first vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet to use LNG, the cleanest fuel currently available at scale for ocean cruise ships. The operator shares the UAE’s ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and the LNG-powered MSC World Europa represents a major milestone in the company’s strategy to achieve its goal of eradicating carbon emissions.

For more information, visit www.msccruises.com