MSC Euribia arrives in Dubai to commence first-ever Arabian Gulf cruise season

MSC Euribia has arrived in the United Arab Emirates to commence her first ever winter season in the Middle East, sailing roundtrip from Dubai, but also offering Abu Dhabi and Doha as embarkation ports.

MSC Euribia will sail seven-night roundtrip itineraries visiting destinations in Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sir Bani Yas Island, as well as Doha in Qatar and Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain.

MSC Euribia will sail these itineraries from November, 2024 to March, 2025, when she will return to Northern Europe with no guests onboard, sailing via South Africa, just as she did on her way out to the Middle East.

MSC Euribia deadheaded to the Middle East in early November due to security concerns in the Red Sea, which forced the cancellation of her repositioning voyages through the Suez Canal. 

Due to the last minute nature of the itinerary change, and the lack of suitable infrastructure for the ship along much of the African coast, it was decided that she’d made the trip without passengers.

The ship made a technical visit to MSC’s Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban, South Africa, becoming the largest cruise ship ever to visit South Africa, just days after Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas established the record with her technical call in Cape Town.

Built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, MSC Euribia entered service for MSC Cruises in June 2023 and is one of the newest and most advanced cruise ships ever to homeport in the region.

The vessel is the fifth in a series of ships that started with the MSC Meraviglia in 2017. At 177,100 gross tons, the ship can carry more than 4,800 guests and offers 10 restaurants, 19 cafes and bars, three pool areas, a waterpark, gym, spa and sports complex, as well as a full-size theatre, casino, games arcade, bowling alley and more.

Upon completing its 2025 summer season in Europe, MSC Euribia is scheduled to return to the Middle East in 2025/26, sailing roundtrip from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha again, between early November 2025 and early April 2026.