Abu Dhabi has reached a new milestone in its cruise tourism development with the arrival at Mina Zayed’s new temporary cruise terminal of the luxury MSC Lirica cruise ship – the first to home port in the UAE capital.
The 59,000 ton MSC Lirica arrived from Genoa, Italy. The liner, her passengers and crew, were given a warm welcome with a spectacular fireworks display before disembarking to the cruise terminal where displays of henna design, falconry and calligraphy as well as traditional Yolla and Ayallah dancing awaited.
MSC Lirica set sail on the first of 19, eight day/seven night itineraries for the 2011/2012 season cruising around Abu Dhabi and the Emirates and calling at Muscat, Al Fujairah, Khasab in Oman and Dubai with 95 calls and rotations. Onboard for her maiden Gulf sailing, passengers will be staying in the liner’s 780 cabins.
A special ceremony was held at the cruise terminal to officially welcome MSC Lirica ‘home.’ The ceremony was attended by HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA, Pierfrancesco Vago, Chief Executive Officer, MSC Cruises, with world championship star and former Captain of the Italy National Football team Fabio Cannavaro attending as MSC Cruises’ guest of honour.
The home porting of MSC Lirica follows the signing, a year ago, of a landmark agreement between ADTA and MSC Cruises, one of the world’s fastest-growing cruise operators and a market leader in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil, to deploy one of its top vessels on a home port basis in Abu Dhabi. Since then the two partners have jointly participated in trade exhibitions, marketing and advertising campaigns globally and brought their combined influence, channels and brands to bear in promoting the emirate.
ADTA has estimated the MSC’s decision to home port the ship in Abu Dhabi will generate up to US $ 22 million per season in direct economic impact on the tourism, airline, accommodation, retail, transport, food and beverage and attractions sectors.
Cruise tourism has been prioritized as a core pillar in Abu Dhabi’s tourism targets which aim to achieve 2.3 million hotel guests by the end of next year. Abu Dhabi anticipates receiving around 170,000 cruise visitors before the 2011/2012 season ends next April.
The new temporary cruise terminal at Mina Zayed is capable of simultaneously accommodating 1,300 passengers and has been designed to cater for the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 cruise seasons.
The terminal spans some 2,000 square metres and comprises two dedicated halls – one a luggage-handling facility, the other a passenger centre complete with a waiting lounge, security section, prayer rooms, offices, visitor information centre, currency exchange as well as customs and immigration facilities.
Hamilton Travel of 4, St.Publius Street, Floriana (Tel: 21241292, website www.hamiltontravel.com.mt) are the exclusive General Sales Agents of MSC Cruises in the Maltese Islands.