MSC Cruises celebrated the naming of the MSC Virtuosa in Port Rashid, Dubai, in a ceremony where Sophia Loren inaugurated the seventeenth ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, of which she is the godmother. MSC Cruises chose Dubai for the ceremony as a demonstration of its long-term commitment to the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, where the company is a leader.
Equipped with some of the latest marine technologies available, MSC Virtuosa is one of the most environmentally advanced cruise ships in the world. MSC Cruises shares the UAE's ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and MSC Virtuosa represents another milestone on the path to achieving this goal.
The new ship can carry up to 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew members, and is scheduled to operate in the Arabian Sea until March 2022 from its home port of Dubai. Spanish passengers will be able to begin their journey from Madrid and Barcelona thanks to the company's partnership with Emirates, and embark from Dubai and Doha, Qatar.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: 'We are proud to host this ceremony in the UAE and, with it, mark our long-term commitment to this region. The MSC Virtuosa, one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced ships in our fleet, will be based in the country as part of our deployment in the Gulf region. Cruises are an integral part of the UAE's tourism industry, and we will continue to promote the country and the Middle East globally as an attractive holiday destination to support further growth in the tourism industry locally.'.
The ceremony was hosted by well-known UAE television presenter Omar Butti. The evening culminated in a spectacular fireworks display over Dubai's stunning skyline, followed by a gourmet dinner at one of the ship's elegant restaurants.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of the DP World Group, stated: “Hosting the naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa in Mina Rashid is a source of pride for us. Mina Rashid has reaffirmed its status as a leading destination, both regionally and globally. We continue working to ensure the Emirate remains recognized worldwide as a world-class cruise destination. We anticipate a total of 126 ship calls and welcome more than 500,000 cruise visitors for the 2021/22 cruise season.”
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “Dubai continues to chart a course forward as one of the world’s premier tourist destinations and the cruise capital of the Middle East, as we strive to achieve our goals and make Dubai the preferred destination to visit and return to.”
The MSC Virtuosa boasts 10 restaurants, 21 bars and lounges, and five swimming pools. The innovative ship has 19 decks and is ready to welcome passengers this winter on week-long cruises from Dubai, offering the finest international cuisine, top-notch entertainment, relaxing bars, and lounges.
Following the inauguration ceremony, MSC Virtuosa set sail from Dubai for its maiden voyage through the Gulf with stops in Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Doha.
