MSC Cruises is set to double its presence in the United Arab Emirates, after it has announced MSC Lirica will head to Dubai at the end of 2018.
MSC Lirica will join MSC Splendida when it moves to its new homeport in November 2018 and will offer longer sailings of 11 and 14 nights. Splendida will offer 7 night cruises with two embarkation ports, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises said: ‘This will be our seventh season in the UAE and we have seen strong demand for our quality product offering from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A strong Fly & Cruise programme means that guests from all around the world are able to enjoy this popular cruise region.”
He continued “‘Introducing India to MSC Cruises’ winter 18/19 itineraries demonstrates how our significant investment plan is enabling us to expand our global footprint and establish a presence in a high-potential market, one that we expect to grow considerably over the coming years.”
The move also means new ports of call for the cruise line including India’s Mumbai, Goa and Mangalore. This will be alongside stops at Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Bahrain with certain voyages including overnight stays in Dubai, Muscat and Mumbai.
