Carnival Corporation celebrates opening of Port of Dubai cruise terminal

The occasion was marked by a guided tour by Abdulla Binhabtoor, Director of Portfolio Management at Shamal outfit, and several executives of Carnival Corporation, including Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation; Michel Thamm, CEO of the Costa group and Carnival Asia; Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises; Mario zanetti, president of Costa Cruises; Michel Nestour, vice president of global port and destination development for the EuroMed and Persian Gulf region at Carnival Corporation; and Torben Seidenschnur, Director of the CEO Office and Strategic Development at Costa Group.

With the arrivals of Costa Firenze and AIDAbella of the company Italy-based on Costa Cruises and GermanyBased at AIDA Cruises, the official opening was also marked by the first visit of two passenger cruise ships to the Dubai Port Cruise Terminal, coinciding with the start of the cruise season and the port seasons. of ships from Dubai. The opening represents an important step in the realization that of Dubai goal of becoming the most visited city in the world, underlined by the launch in October of the very popular Expo 2020 in Dubai. Thanks to Costa Cruises’ partnership as the Gold Sponsor of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, cruise passengers enjoy exciting shore excursion options to explore the World Expo.

As the region’s very first dedicated two-terminal cruise port, the Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal is capable of accommodating two large cruise ships simultaneously. The world-class facility spans over 120,000 square meters (nearly 1.3 million square feet) and includes two specially designed terminals that provide passengers and crew with an embarkation and disembarkation experience safe, comfortable and transparent. State-of-the-art terminals are fitted with four bespoke passenger boarding bridges that can simultaneously support the full turnaround of the industry’s largest class of cruise ships.

“After years of close collaboration with Shamal outfit, we are absolutely delighted to welcome guests from all over the world to the Dubai Port Cruise Terminal, ”Thamm said. “As the world’s largest cruise line, our passion is to provide our customers with extraordinary vacation experiences, and we are confident that our partnership with Shamal outfit will improve the overall experience of our customers. Both terminals pay homage to Dubai and the Arabian Gulf’s remarkable attractiveness as a cruise destination, and we look forward to working with the Port of Dubai Cruise Terminal and its community partners to make the Port of Dubai an operation. very efficient and friendly, while facilitating new tourist opportunities thanks to cruising in the region. “

“We are delighted to see our partnership with Carnival Corporation and its brands take another important milestone, as today we welcomed two extraordinary cruise ships to the Port of Dubai, the largest stand-alone terminal center dedicated to two cruises from the eastern hemisphere. It is fascinating to see. so many thousands of people enter the city through this beautiful waterfront district, the newest entry point to Dubai, which is already considered the ideal gateway to the region for cruise ships from around the world. “

Binhabtoor added regarding alignment with Dubai’s tourism strategy: “The development of the Port of Dubai represents a historic step in that of Dubai role as this region’s premier destination for lifestyle, leisure and luxury – a moment in history that drives the achievement of that of Dubai ambition to become the most visited city in the world. However, it is not only an extraordinary destination for cruise passengers from all corners of the world, but also a natural gateway to the attractions that Dubai has to offer and, due to the city’s strategic location, other international destinations as well. “

Cruise terminals, which are part of the Port of Dubai development, offer a wide range of facilities and services for passengers and crew – from large seating areas to washrooms, currency exchange offices, ATMs, cafes, points of sale, tax-free and dedicated parking lots, taxi ranks and more. The facilities are designed to be fully accessible to all visitors and free Wi-Fi is enabled to keep guests and crew connected.

Located in the heart of modernity Dubai, the new dual terminal facility is ideally located for international visitors traveling in and out of Dubai. Dubai’s spectacular backdrop, iconic view, and accessible location are combined with a wide range of living, retail and hospitality choices, along with comprehensive docking facilities, to make up the The region’s most unique lifestyle offerings – including experiences such as the Dubai Harbor Yacht Club, Dubai Harbor Pier Club, Dubai Harbor Marinas, Skydive Dubai and Zero Gravity.

As a gateway to Persian Gulf cruise destinations such as Oman and Abu Dhabi, Dubai has been a very popular destination for the company’s Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises brands, which started operating from Dubai in 2006. At the end of November, AIDAbella arrived Dubai at the Port of Dubai Cruise Terminal for the first time, marking the first regular cruise line operation for the new terminals and the start of the ship’s winter season. In addition, the arrival of Costa Firenze in Dubai to December 16 marked the start of the ship’s season Dubai, where it makes its home port for the first time, thanks to March 2022.

Together, six Carnival Corporation brands – AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises and Seabourn – will visit the Dubai Port Cruise Terminal by 2023 and in total the six brands are expected to visit the Port of Dubai Cruise Terminal. by then make 90 stopovers to the new two-terminal cruise port.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world’s largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world’s largest cruise lines sailing to seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

Further information is available on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnaval.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.

About the Port of Dubai
The Port of Dubai is an extraordinary waterfront district, inspired by our connection to the sea, designed for a maritime lifestyle. The neighborhood’s unique backdrop, iconic view and accessible location are combined with a wide range of living, retail and hospitality choices, as well as comprehensive docking facilities, making it the region’s most unique lifestyle offering. The Port of Dubai is just over 30 km from both Dubai The International Airport (DXB) and Dubai Central International Airport (DWC) and are easily accessible from the city’s world-famous attractions such as the Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Port of Dubai is home to some of the most iconic destinations in Dubai, including the Port of Dubai Cruise Terminal, a world-class facility comprising two purpose-built terminals, and the marinas at Port of Dubai, the largest marina in the region. In addition, Emaar Beachfront, a waterfront community offering residents privileged beach access and a luxury seaside lifestyle, and Skydive Dubai, the world-class skydiving company, are also located in the heart of the piece.

As a one-of-a-kind destination, the Port of Dubai is expected to attract a wide range of locally and internationally renowned events throughout the year, such as the #NOFILTERDXB, Motor Show Redefined and Dubai International Boat Show. . The events will play a key role in reestablishing the city’s connection to the sea, providing people with additional ways to experience their own maritime journey.

As a company owner and curator, Shamal outfit invests its resources to drive the transformation of the Port of Dubai into an exceptional waterfront district.

For more information, please visit: https://www.dubaiharbour.com/en/

SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc