MSC WORLD EUROPA TO DEBUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN 2022
Marking a new era in cruising, MSC Cruises have announced the debut of circuits with LNG-powered MSC World Europa from Q4 2022 – sailing in the Middle East, with bookings now open.
Set to sail in December 2022, MSC World Europa will spend her inaugural season in the Gulf, commencing with a four-night sailing from Doha in Qatar to her new homeport of Dubai.
The MSC World Europa will offer seven-night cruises from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and then on to Sir Bani Yas Island. MSC Cruises says its programme in the Gulf has also been enriched with calls to the port of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, visiting the Al Ahsa oasis. The ship will also call at Doha, before returning to Dubai with an overnight in the city.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman at MSC Cruises, said: “Quite unlike anything else at sea today, MSC World Europa redefines the cruise experience in so many ways: from the future-proof on board technologies that this completely new platform introduces for the first time all the way to its ground-breaking marine and interior design features. Put simply, MSC World Europa marks the beginning of a new era for cruising. At MSC Cruises innovation will and has always been at the heart of our business, driving how with each new class of ships we reimagine the guest experience, the operations as well as every single aspect of the technology that brings it all together. Whether it is the new advanced air filters that will be introduced here or the vessel’s iconic and never seen before Y-shape design, MSC World Europa is all about the future.”
Departing Dubai on March 25, 2023, the MSC World Europa will head to the Mediterranean where she will offer seven-night cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.
The LNG-powered ship is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
MSC Cruises says the size of the ship allows for completely distinct districts, each with their own mood and experiences, from a tranquil adults-only zen district to the lively promenade with entertainment, shops and bars, to a separate family district that houses as many as 10 new kids facilities.
The ship will feature 13 dining venues, including six specialty restaurants. According to MSC Cruises, the new prototype offers a blank canvas with the opportunity to introduce brand-new concepts and experiences, based around creative expression and offering an unexpected, interactive experience with two entirely new locations: the trendy Chef’s Garden Kitchen focussing on flavourful microgreens and La Pescaderia, a traditional seafood grill with alfresco seating. On the cabin side, the ship will offer 19 different categories to choose from and 65% of cabins will have balconies.
“We are really excited to present a total re-invention of our cruise retail offering onboard the MSC World Europa,” said Adrian Pittaway, Head of Retail at MSC Cruises. “On this amazing new ship, we will launch our first ever ‘department store at sea’, our first ever outdoor luxury boutiques and a truly exciting new vision for our logo stores built around sustainability. When MSC World Europa launches next year with her maiden first season in the Middle East, we will really bring a truly exciting wow factor as you would find in Dubai into our cruise retailing that you simply would not expect to find on a ship – a really exciting future awaits.”
On board, the 333-metre, 22-deck ship boasts 40,000 sq m of public space. The centrepiece of the promenade is The Spiral, an 11-deck dry slide, which is the longest at sea.