2 1 2 MSC Bellissima has homeported at the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia throughout her deployment in the Red Sea RED SEA: INTERV IEW A pioneering voyage Elisabetta De Nardo of MSC Cruises talks to Alex Smith about the success of the cruise line’s first deployment in the Red Sea and what makes the region such a special place to cruise Last July, MSC Cruises made the bold choice to position one if its newest ships, MSC Bellissima, in the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia. The decision to move the ship out of the traditional regions for cruising and become one of the first major cruise lines to homeport in Saudi Arabia foresaw that guests would embrace the chance for a fresh new experience, and the ship’s voyages in the region were hailed a success as the vessel cruised continuously from summer and then throughout the 2021-2022 winter season. The unique prospect of a Red Sea cruise was a significant factor in appealing to returning guests who may have already sailed onboard cruises in those more traditional regions, says Elisabetta de Nardo, vice president of port development. “The Red Sea cruises from Jeddah are new to us and the industry,” says De Nardo. “That word ‘new’ is very attractive for experienced holidaymakers and the itinerary itself is incredible. Regions or countries that open their borders to tourism for the first time are an excellent marketing tool themselves and a cruise is a great way to visit and see this remarkable country. These are early days for Red Sea cruises from Jeddah and we’re delighted to be pioneers as the first major cruise line to base a ship there.” De Nardo says the region has proved attractive to cruise passengers. “Our guests can discover the untouched beauty of this region to its fullest and go ashore and explore plenty of undiscovered destinations,” she explains. “There’s “ Our guests can discover the untouched beauty of this region to its fullest” Photo: VisitSaudi
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