The Cruise Division of MSC Group in partnership with Qatar Airways today announced that the naming ceremony for MSC Cruises’ trailblazing new flagship, MSC World Europa, will take place on 13 November in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where she will officially inaugurate the city’s brand new Grand Cruise Terminal.

This latest announcement is part of MSC’s overall commitment to Qatar and the continued importance of the Middle East, where MSC Cruises is brand leader, and also supports Qatar’s Vision 2030 pledge to triple the number of international tourists visiting the country by that year

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, said, “We are incredibly proud that in November we will name our most innovative, futuristic and the world’s largest environmentally-focused cruise passenger ship in Doha.

MSC World Europa represents the future of cruising, a totally new platform that will provide our guests with an unforgettable cruise not experienced anywhere before, so it is fitting that this monumental event will take place in one of the seven new Urban Wonders of the World and inaugurate the city’s magnificent new Grand Cruise Terminal.”

“Qatar will continue to play an important role in our strategy to expand our presence in the broader Gulf region as we see greater demand from our guests to visit this culturally rich and yet fully discovered part of the world. I would like to thank Qatar Airways for its collaborative partnership and strong support in making this event happen.”

“And it is only fitting that this event marks the coming into service of the highly anticipated MSC World Europa, the first in our trailblazing ‘World Class’ of ships that introduces a completely new cruising platform that boasts future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies, state-of-the-art environmental technologies as well as ground-breaking and ultramodern design.

The ship will become the biggest and most environmentally high-performing passenger ship to sail out of Doha and across the Middle East and welcome guests from around the world for the winter 2022/2023 season.”

The ship naming ceremony is set to be a glamourous and star-studded event and celebrated with an outstanding array of stunning live entertainment and performances as well as the traditional maritime bottle breaking moment to name a new ship against the backdrop of a firework-lit stunning cityscape skyline of Doha. Further details of the special event will be revealed in due course.

His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, commented: “Qatar has taken important steps to position itself as a world class destination for cruise passengers and the naming ceremony of MSC World Europa in Doha is another landmark event as we grow this important tourism sector.

As Qatar places great importance on sustainability, it is fitting that we host this ceremony for such an environmentally focused cruise ship.

In addition, the opening of the new Grand Cruise Terminal is a state-of-the-art facility that firmly puts Qatar on the map for cruise ships and positions Doha as one of the most modern ports in the world.”

The special occasion will take place at Doha’s brand new Grand Cruise Terminal, a state-of-the-art 24,000 square metres facility that will handle up to 28,000 passengers a day and has the capacity to host two mega-cruise ships a day.  Cruise passengers are set to enjoy an incredible aquarium in the terminal and a gallery that specialises in Islamic art, among its many features. 

The ship will make for her maiden voyage on December 20, offering 7-night cruises to Doha, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates, plus Dammam, Saudi Arabia. For the upcoming winter season MSC Opera will also offer 7-night itineraries in the Gulf region to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas island plus two destinations in Oman – Muscat and Khasab.

MSC World Europa from March 2023 will then move to the Mediterranean Sea where she will offer 7-night cruises to the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.

About MSC World Europa

– Spanning 22 decks, with 215,863 GT’s, 47 metres wide, 40,000 m2 of public space and 2,626 cabins, MSC World Europa is the eagerly anticipated new flagship that will join the MSC Cruises’ fleet.
 
– This ultramodern urban metropolis at sea has been designed to offer a veritable choice of different experiences for holiday makers.

– MSC World Europa will be the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet and the most environmentally advanced to date.

– The fuel she will run on, LNG, is one of the world’s cleanest marine fuels available at scale and is set to play a key role in the decarbonisation of international shipping.

– It virtually eliminates local air pollutant emissions like sulphur oxides and reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85 per cent.

– LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation as it reduces CO2 emissions by 25 per cent and is paving the way for the uptake of sustainable non-fossil fuels including green hydrogen. A demonstration fuel cell onboard will test the efficiency of this technology as a means to produce heat and electricity about 30 per cent more efficiently.

MSC World Europa will also feature selective catalytic reduction systems, shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port, advanced wastewater treatment systems designed in line with the United Nations’ shipping body the International Maritime Organization, food and waste recycling, underwater radiated noise management system to help protect marine life and a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use and further reduce emissions.
 
The Swiss-based line has a long-term goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions for its operations by 2050. This will be achieved by investing and supporting the accelerated development and implementation of innovative, cutting-edge technologies to be deployed across the Company’s fleet of ships.