MSC World Europa hailed as the future of cruising 

The Cruise Division of MSC Group in partnership with Qatar Airways, announced that the naming ceremony for MSC Cruises’ trailblazing new flagship, MSC World Europa, will take place in Doha on 13 November, also the official inauguration of the city’s brand new Grand Cruise Terminal. 

MSC Group Cruise Division Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said they are incredibly proud that they will name their most innovative, futuristic and the world’s largest environmentally-focused cruise passenger ship in Doha.

He said that MSC World Europa represents the future of cruising, a totally new platform that will provide guests with an unforgettable cruise not experienced anywhere before. He added that it is only fitting that this monumental event takes place in one of the seven new Urban Wonders of the World and inaugurate the city’s magnificent new Grand Cruise Terminal.

Qatar will continue to play an important role in our strategy to expand our presence in the broader Gulf region as we see greater demand from our guests to visit this culturally rich and yet fully discovered part of the world. I would like to thank Qatar Airways for its collaborative partnership and strong support in making this event happen.

He said that it is only fitting that this event marks the coming into service of the highly anticipated MSC World Europa, the first in their trailblazing ‘World Class’ ships that introduces a completely new cruising platform that boasts future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies, state-of-the-art environmental technologies as well as ground-breaking and ultramodern design.

According to Vago, the ship will become the biggest and most environmentally high-performing passenger ship to sail out of Doha and across the Middle East and welcome guests from around the world for the winter 2022/2023 season.

Landmark event

The ship naming ceremony is set to be a glamourous and star-studded event and celebrated with an outstanding array of stunning live entertainment and performances as well as the traditional maritime bottle breaking moment, against the backdrop of a firework-lit stunning cityscape skyline of Doha.

More details of the special event will be revealed in due course.

Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker said that Qatar has taken important steps to position itself as a world-class destination for cruise passengers and the naming ceremony of MSC World Europa in Doha is another landmark event to the country’s growing tourism sector.

As Qatar places great importance on sustainability, it is fitting that we host this ceremony for such an environmentally focused cruise ship.

In addition to the naming ceremony is the opening of the new Grand Cruise Terminal, a state-of-the-art facility that firmly puts Qatar on the map for cruise ships and positions Doha as one of the most modern ports in the world.

Our compact country has a lot to offer and we look forward to showcasing it widely as we welcome more cruise visitors in the winter 2022/2023 season than ever before.

The special event will take place at Doha’s brand new Grand Cruise Terminal, a 24,000-sqm facility capable of handling 28,000 passengers per day and to host two mega-cruise ships a day. Cruise passengers are set to enjoy an incredible aquarium in the terminal and a gallery that specialises in Islamic art, among its many features.

Seven-night cruises

For her maiden voyage on 20 December, the ship will offering seven-night cruises to Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island (UAE) plus Dammam in Saudi Arabia. For the upcoming winter season MSC Opera will also offer seven-night itineraries in the Gulf region to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas island plus two destinations in Oman, Muscat and Khasab.

MSC World Europa from March 2023 will then move to the Mediterranean Sea where she will offer seven-night cruises to the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.

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