MSC Cruises has announced it will not be
homeporting ships in Abu Dhabi, saying its
decision was based on commercial, as well as
infrastructure issues.
“There is no doubt that MSC Cruises’ guests
enjoyed the destination,” MSC Cruises said.
“However, for the long-term success of
cruising in the region, new ports of call need to
be developed, terminal facilities must be
upgraded and there must be increased focus
on sourcing from local and regional markets,”
the cruise line added.
The decision to withdraw Abu Dhabi as an
MSC homeport comes less than a year after
the cruise line started cruising from the port,
with MSC Lirica having been Abu Dhabi’s first
homeported vessel.
MSC had planned to base MSC Opera out of
Abu Dhabi during 2012/13, but has decided to
base the vessel in South Africa instead (CW 13
March).
