The rise of Abu Dhabi as a major cruise ship port for the Arabian Peninsula reached a milestone this month (November) when the MSC Lirica set up “home” at the city’s Mina Zayed terminal for a series of week-long cruises.

The 59,000-tonne MSC Lirica and its passengers and crew were given a warm Abu Dhabi welcome with a spectacular fireworks display, the terminal decorated with displays of henna design, falconry and calligraphy.

Traditional Yolla and Ayallah dancing also greeted the ship on its initial arrival from Genoa.

MSC Lirica set sail on its first of 19 itineraries for the 2011-2012 season cruising around Abu Dhabi and the Emirates, calling at Muscat, Al Fujairah, Khasab in Oman and Dubai.

Seven-night cruises from Abu Dhabi are priced from A$849 per person, twin share.

The welcome 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.

In speaking to the guests Sheikh Sultan said MSC Lirica would be remembered for breaking new ground in Abu Dhabi.

“We hope she has set a course that many others will follow,” he said. “Many of the guests MSC Lirica has brought here – and many more she will in the future – will see the UAE capital for the first time.

“We hope it will not be their last.”

Pierfrancesco Vago, chief executive officer of MSC Cruises said: “I am proud of what we’ve achieved so far and confident that this is just the beginning of a great new era for cruise tourism in the United Arab Emirates.
“I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship between us, the port and tourism authorities and one that will ensure visitors from around the world an exciting new dimension to travel in the region. It is a future we can all look forward to.”

In signalling his cruise line’s faith in Abu Dhabi as “an innovative and highly desirable new holiday destination” he said the plan was to bring a further ultra-modern ship – MSC Opera – to Abu Dhabi in 2012/2013.

“This ship, which has a larger capacity than MSC Lirica with 867 cabins, will sail 25 cruises with 125 calls and bring a further 54,000 passengers per year to the area,” he said.

It is estimated that MSC Cruises’ decision to home port the ship in Abu Dhabi would generate up to $22 million per season in direct economic impact on the tourism, airline, accommodation, retail, transport, food and beverage and attractions sectors.

Details: MSC Cruises, phone 1300 028502 or www.msccruises.com.au