MSC Cruises provides a glimpse into upcoming Dubai cruise season with new video

Calling the United Arab Emirates ‘one of the most intriguing lands on Earth’, MSC Cruises has released a teaser video for the upcoming Dubai cruise season of new ship MSC Bellissima.

“MSC Cruises will take you to the Emirates, one of the most intriguing lands on Earth. Admiring extraordinary landmarks in India, riding down the desert dunes, discovering the breath-taking panorama from Burj Khalifa will be just the start of an enchanting adventure,” the cruise line promises.

RELATED: Dubai-bound MSC Bellissima departs for sea trials as 2019 delivery date nears

RELATED: MSC Cruises reveals new details about Dubai-bound mega ship MSC Bellissima

MSC Bellissima will be not only the newest cruise ship ever to homeport in the UAE, but also the largest. At 171,598 gross tons and carrying 4,500 passengers, she is a full 30% larger than MSC Splendida, which she replaces in the Dubai market.

The ship is the second in Meravigilia class of cruise ships and brings to the Middle East cruise market some of the most advanced features in cruise ship design, entertainment and amenities.

These include Cirque du Soleil at Sea, a digital cruise assistant called Zoe (MSC’s version of Alexa or Siri), a massive indoor shopping and entertainment promenade similar to Royal Caribbean’s new Quantum class (complete with a digital sky!) and 20 different bars and 10 restaurants.

RELATED: MSC says Dubai has massive cruise appeal as largest ship prepares for first season

RELATED: Cruise Lifestyle: How smart ships are transforming the cruise experience

The LED dome over the 96m Galleria Bellissima central promenade is actually the largest on the seas, with a giant 480 square meter LED screen. It covers the entire ceiling of the inside promenade, transmitting an atmospheric digital sky that animates the whole area from above with inspiring vistas, sunrises, sunsets and starry night skies.

And in that promenade, in addition to dozens of bars and restaurants, there’ll also be the largest array of shopping options on any MSC Cruise ship (more than 8,000 square feet and 200 different brands).

MSC Bellissima will cruise roundtrip from Dubai every week  between November, 2019 and March, 2020, visiting Muscat, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain on alternating itineraries that cover either the western or eastern end of Arabian Gulf weekly.

And while MSC Bellissima may be the largest, most expensive and most advanced cruise ship ever to homeport in Dubai, MSC Cruises has said that her deployment in this region is intended to reflect the growing stature of Dubai as a winter cruise destination.

“Where we take our guests remains the number one driver for the choice of cruise,” said MSC CEO Gianni Oronato when the ship was launched earlier this year.