Abu Dhabi International Airport’s city check-in service, which operates the airline check-in desk at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, has reduced the cost of the service for the 2022/23 cruise season.

Starting Wednesday, an adult passenger’s check-in will cost AED35 instead of AED45, while check-in costs for children will be AED25, and an infant’s check-in will cost AED15.

“We would be offering discounted pricing in view of the holiday season,” said Morafiq Aviation Services in a statement. “We would like to share in your happiness by offering a holiday discount on the city check-in prices.”

Abu Dhabi is used as a homeport by three cruise lines for the current season

Morafiq, a joint initiative by Abu Dhabi Airports, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Capital Travel, Etihad Airport Services, OACIS Middle East and Tourism 365, opened the city check-in services at Terminal 1 of Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal in Port Zayed.

The service enables passengers to check-in to their flight home directly after disembarking a cruise, easing congestion at the airport, and providing cruise passengers with greater flexibility.

Because luggage is also handed over at the time of check-in, passengers with a late departure from the city are then able to explore the city without having to worry about storing their bags.

The service is similar to that provided by Emirates Airline at the Dubai Cruise Terminal, but Morafiq enables passengers to check-in for flights by three different airlines (Etihad Airways, Wizz Air and Egypt Air), while there are plans to add six more, including three Indian airlines.

Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal

The check-in facility at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal operates from 9am to 9pm, and offers check-in and luggage drop up to 24 hours in advance and as soon as 4 hours before their flight departure time.

Just like at the airport, passengers can avail ancillary services such as buying excess baggage allowance, preferred seat purchases or flight upgrades. For further details, passengers can call the toll-free numbers 800-6672347 or 02-5833345.

Although Dubai is the primary cruise port in the Middle East, taking the lion’s share of turnaround calls by cruise ships either homeporting in the Arabian Gulf, or cruising one-off voyages from the UAE, Abu Dhabi has fast emerged as a popular homeport in its own right.

Three of the cruise lines homeporting in Dubai (AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises), offer either Dubai or Abu Dhabi as a homeport for their Arabian Gulf itineraries, a practise known as inter-porting.