MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based global cruise brand, and SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, today confirmed details of a 36,800-seat agreement from Europe and North America to support its new winter sailing program in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. This will bring approximately 20,000 new tourists to Saudi Arabia this winter, in line with the Kingdom's vision of welcoming international visitors.
MSC Cruises passengers can now book the perfect holiday experience with a 'Cruise & Flight' from major international airports to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to join MSC Bellissima and enjoy 7-night itineraries between November of this year and March 2022.
MSC Cruises began sailing from Jeddah in July after signing a five-year preferential berthing agreement with Cruise Saudi in the city's port. Following the success of the company's first summer season, the next winter program begins in November.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “We are proud to partner with SAUDIA, the Kingdom’s flag carrier, and to work towards the same common goals in support of tourism development in Saudi Arabia, bringing thousands of international passengers to discover this extraordinary country, and even more so in future sailing seasons. Thanks to this extensive flight schedule, we can make our new cruise offering even more accessible to tourists from Europe and North America and deliver the best possible experiences. Furthermore, data shows that a large percentage of tourists who visit a country for the first time on a cruise holiday often return for a longer stay ashore with their families to further explore the culture and other attractions of that country.”
Ibrahim Al-Omar, CEO of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, added: “SAUDIA’s global route network is complementary to Saudi Arabia’s thriving cruise industry. The airline looked forward to this collaboration with MSC Cruises to showcase the wide range of leisure offerings available in the country.”
Fawaz Farooqui, CEO of Cruise Saudi, stated: “We are delighted that Saudi Arabia and MSC Cruises are partnering to serve 20,000Cruise & Flightin Saudi Arabia during the winter season. This close cooperation between our national airline and the world’s third-largest cruise line is exactly the kind of partnership that will help Saudi Arabia become a world-class cruise destination, which is what Cruise Saudi is working to create in line with Vision 2030.”
Today's agreement was ratified in person at Saudi Airlines headquarters in Jeddah by Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, Ibrahim Al-Omar, CEO of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation and Fawaz Farooqui, Managing Director of Cruise Saudi.
The main source markets for European MSC Cruises passengers sailing from Saudi Arabia next winter are Italy, Germany, France and Spain.
The seven-night cruises will depart from the port of Jeddah at 11 p.m. every Saturday. Saudia has adjusted its Friday night flight schedules from Madrid, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris, with Saturday morning arrivals in the Saudi Arabian city, to give travelers the opportunity to enjoy the city or be transferred from the airport to the port. The airline has also adjusted its flight schedule to make it easier for passengers from the US, UK, Switzerland, and Austria to board the ship.
A similar range of conveniently scheduled return flights will be available on Saturday mornings to offer passengers maximum comfort and peace of mind to enjoy their holidays to the fullest.
MSC Bellissima's seven-night Saudi Arabia and Red Sea cruises for winter 2021/2022 will depart from their home port of Jeddah towards King Abdullah Economic City, Yanbu, where the ship will spend the night in port to allow travelers to visit the spectacular AlUla region before continuing with a day of sailing, before arriving in Aqaba – in Jordan – to visit Petra and then another day of sailing, before returning to Jeddah.
MSC Bellissima is one of the most innovative ships in the MSC Cruises fleet and is equipped with a wide range of environmental features and cutting-edge technology to reduce its environmental footprint. Since its launch in 2019, it has been the first Meraviglia-Plus class ship in the MSC Cruises fleet. The 315.3-meter-long ship has 2,244 cabins and a maximum capacity for 5,714 passengers and 1,536 crew members.
