MSC World Europa to offer unique 10-night cruise from Saudi to Barcelona in 2023

The largest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, and the largest to ever homeport in the Middle East for a full cruise season, MSC World Europa, will sail a one-off 10-night cruise from Saudi Arabia this year.

When MSC World Europa wraps up her current 2022/23 winter cruise season in Dubai, she’ll reposition back to the Mediterranean, with Jeddah offered as a turnaround port along the way.

MSC World Europa will sail a 20-night repositioning cruise from Dubai to Barcelona, departing Dubai on March 25th, 2023, but when she calls in Jeddah along the way, she’ll also be offering the port for embarkation.

Although passengers can’t book the Dubai to Jeddah leg, they can book the cruise from Jeddah to Barcelona, which departs April 4th.

Prices start at US$1,059 per person sharing an inside cabin, with the cruise fare including breakfast, lunch and dinner in the ship’s main dining room and buffet restaurant, entertainment and activities each day, as well as access to the kids clubs and activities for babies, toddlers, children and teens.

The 10-day cruise from Jeddah to Barcelona spends a day and two nights at sea cruising for the Suez Canal, which entails an overnight transit and partial day passage. Although passengers don’t get off the ship here, the experience is a memorable one.

The Suez Canal is one of the modern wonders of the world and an unparalleled engineering feat that was centuries in the making. The 120-mile route between the Mediterranean and Red Sea includes a dramatic pass under the El Ferdan Railway Bridge, the world’s largest swing bridge.

MSC World Europa then calls in Naples, Civitavecchia and Genoa in Italy, before spending another day at sea cruising for Barcelona in Spain. Civitavecchia is the gateway to Rome, the ancient capital of Italy and the heart of Western civilization.

At 200,000 gross tons MSC World Europa is the second-largest class of cruise ship in the world and the largest to ever cruise in the Middle East.

She carries 5,400 passengers and offers a range of entertainment features and amenities for the first time for MSC Cruises, such as the longest dry slide on a cruise ship and a split superstructure that creates an indoor-outdoor space in the middle of the vessel.

This 104-meter-long space is called the Promenade. The seven deck-high area opens onto the aft of the ship where the Venon slide is located. In addition to sea views, the space features entertainment, retail and al-fresco dining.

Many of the ship’s 13 restaurants are in this area, although with several dozen bars, cafes and lounges dotted around the vessel passengers will never be far from a dining or refreshment option.

MSC World Europa is essentially a hotel, resort, and mall in one, with six pools, a water park, multiple children’s play areas for babies, toddlers, children, and teens, video game arcades, a theatre, spas, a salon, boutiques, and shops. There are even bumper cars.