UK agents were among global guests invited to attend the naming of new ship MSC World Europa in Qatar.
The ceremony for 2,626-cabin MSC Cruises vessel took place in Doha in Sunday ahead of the World Cup.
The line’s first ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) “paves the way towards the uptake of carbon-neutral synthetic and other alternative fuels as soon as they are available at scale”.
MSC Cruises UK and Ireland managing director Antonio Paradiso said: “The naming ceremony of MSC World Europa has been a brilliant event celebrated with our UK and Ireland trade partners.
“MSC World Europa is our most innovative, environmentally advanced and exciting ship to date.
“We’re already seeing a surge in bookings on board MSC World Europa and it is proving to be the most popular ship for UK guests following MSC Virtuosa which is based in Southampton year-round.
“Winter cruises in the Middle East have always been a success with our UK guests and in recent years we have expanded our offering in this popular region.
“We have developed new itineraries that include Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as, of course, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and we have also increased the number of ports of embarkation.”
The ship enters service on December 20 after being deployed as a floating hotel during the football tournament with a special four-night Christmas sailing to Dubai. It will then run seven-night sailings in the Gulf region before repositioning on March 25, 2023 to the Mediterranean to operate week-long cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta, Barcelona and Marseille.
Pic credit Ivan Sarfatti