By
Alex Smith |
MSC Cruises will hold the naming ceremony for its new flagship MSC Virtuosa at Port Rashid in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 27 November.
The event will take place in partnership with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, DP World and Emirates Airline, and will be part of the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of the UAE.
“Dubai has charted a strong and steady course to become a global tourism destination and preferred regional cruising gateway,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group. “The milestone naming ceremony and maiden voyage of MSC Virtuosa from Dubai underscores the trust and confidence that the city has earned as a great partner for the cruise industry.”
Following the naming ceremony, MSC Virtuosa will depart for her maiden Gulf voyage on 28 November with guests onboard from Dubai, the first in a series of seven-night cruises. She will call at destinations including Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Doha in Qatar.
“We are incredibly proud and honoured to hold the naming ceremony for our cherished flagship and masterpiece MSC Virtuosa in one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations – Dubai,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises. “This event assumes more significance due to the fact that it is part of the line-up of glorious events and activities taking place for the ‘Year of the 50th’ and coincides with the region’s first World Expo, as well as truly celebrating Dubai as one of the favoured destinations for travellers from all over the world.”
MSC Virtuosa was delivered in February and is the latest in the cruise line’s Meraviglia class. She is currently sailing cruises around the British Isles, after becoming the first ship to resume operations in the UK on 20 May.