Dubai: The MSC World Europa, a futuristic, lower-carbon-fuelled cruise ship, made its first port of call in Mina Rashid after serving as a floating hotel during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
With a 4-night voyage from Doha to Dubai to kick off its new winter season, the ship confirmed Mina Rashid and the Emirate’s status as the region’s top choice for leisure marine activities.
Carrying over 4,500 passengers, the vessel and its crew, led by Captain Mr. Marco Massa, were welcomed by Mr. Esam Ahmad, Senior Manager – Business management, P&O Marinas. The captain was presented with a custom-made plaque celebrating the event, in front of senior officials representing MSC and DP World.
The cruise ship is scheduled to make 14 calls to Mina Rashid, bringing in over 189,000 tourists to the Emirate, underscoring Dubai’s position as the gateway for regional and international cruise itineraries.
“The arrival of the MSC World Europa at Mina Rashid is a significant milestone for the cruise terminal. It reaffirms our capabilities in accommodating vessels that are not only massive in size, but also unique in their requirements. We are proud of the fact that Mina Rashid is capable of catering to such distinctive and advanced needs, and we are ready to welcome more ships that require similar services,” Mr. Esam Ahmad, Senior Manager of Business Management, P&O Marinas, stated.
“Owing to Dubai’s strengths, including investments in the tourism industry and the expansion of cruise terminals, we predict another robust winter for the 2022-2023 season. At our cruise terminal, we expect a significant rise in port calls in comparison to last year. Additionally, passenger and crew inflows are expected to rise to around 600,000, which is more than double the number recorded in the previous season,” Mr. Esam added.
Mina Rashid has a berthing capacity of 454 yachts, inclusive of 19 superyachts berths, attracting some of the largest leisure boats across the globe. Additionally, the cruise terminal’s round-the-clock fuelling and dock attendance, yacht repair services, free Wi-Fi, and a variety of other offerings which ensure the comfort of the ship’s crew and passengers, make it a desirable docking station.
These capabilities enhance Mina Rashid’s role in driving the growth of tourism in Dubai. Capable of handling over 25,000 passengers a day, the cruise terminal is well-positioned to cement Dubai as the cruise hub of the region. Furthermore, Mina Rashid’s strategic location in close proximity to Dubai’s most popular landmarks and tourist hotspots, such as the Burj Khalifa, Downtown, makes it the most convenient location for the city’s guests.