SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES (SAUDIA) PARTNERS WITH MSC CRUISES TO FLY NEARLY 20,000 INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR RED SEA WINTER VACATIONS
• Relationship contributes to and supports Saudi Arabia’s vision to welcome international visitors to the Kingdom
• Convenient international flight times link with the line’s MSC Bellissima weekly sailings from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Cruise passengers will be able to visit and experience many of the Kingdom’s cultural and heritage landmarks
• Partnership welcomed by Cruise Saudi as a vital step toward a flourishing Saudi cruise industry
Pictured: Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General, Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation (SAUDIA) shakes hands with Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, during the signing agreement held today at Saudi Airlines’ headquarters in Jeddah.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - November 9, 2021 - MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based global cruise brand, and SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, today confirmed the details of an agreement for 36,800 seats from Europe and North America to support MSC Cruises’ brand-new winter sailing program in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. This will bring nearly 20,000 new vacationers this winter to Saudi Arabia, in line with the Kingdom’s vision to welcome international visitors.
MSC Cruises’ guests can book a seamless vacation experience with a ‘Fly & Cruise’ package from a wide range of major international airports to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where the cruise line’s guests will join the modern and innovativeMSC Bellissima for 7-night sailings from November 2021 through March 2022.
MSC Cruises began sailing in July from Jeddah following the signing with Cruise Saudi of a five-year preferential berthing deal at the city’s port. Following the success of the line’s initial summer season, the winter program started in November.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ CEO, said, “We are proud to partner with SAUDIA, the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, and work towards the same common objectives in support of the further development of tourism in Saudi Arabia by bringing many thousands of international guests to discover this remarkable country, with more to come in future sailing seasons. Through this extensive flight program, we are able to make our new cruise offering even more accessible to vacationers from Europe and North America and deliver best-in-class experiences. Additionally, data demonstrates that a large percentage of tourists who visit a country for the first time while on a cruise often return for a longer land stay with their families to further explore that country’s culture and other attractions.”
Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, added, “SAUDIA’s global route network is complementary to the flourishing Saudi cruise industry. The airline looks forward to this collaboration with MSC Cruises to showcase the breadth of leisure offerings available in Saudi Arabia.”
Fawaz Farooqui, Managing Director of Cruise Saudi, said, “We are delighted to see SAUDIA and MSC Cruises partnering to serve 20,000 ‘Fly & Cruise’ guests to Saudi Arabia for the winter season. This close cooperation between our national carrier and the world’s third largest cruise line is exactly the kind of partnership which will help Saudi Arabia to become a world-class cruise destination, which is what Cruise Saudi is working to create in line with Vision 2030.”
The agreement was ratified in person today at the Saudi Airlines headquarters in Jeddah by Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises and Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General, Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation along with Fawaz Farooqui Managing Director, Cruise Saudi.
MSC Cruises’ main source markets for its European guests to sail from Saudi Arabia during the winter season are Italy, Germany, France and Spain.
The 7-night cruises depart the port of Jeddah at 11 pm every Saturday night and SAUDIA has adjusted its flight schedule for Friday night flights from Milan, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris and Madrid with Saturday morning arrivals in the Saudi Arabian city to provide opportunities to enjoy the city or transfer from the airport to the seaport.
The airline has also adjusted its flight schedule to make it easier for guests from the USA, the UK, Switzerland and Austria to join the ship with ease.
A similar range of conveniently timed return flights are available for Saturday morning journeys home to offer guests the maximum comfort and peace of mind to enjoy their vacation to the fullest.
MSC Bellissima’s 7-night Saudi Arabia and Red Sea cruises for winter 2021/22 start from her homeport of Jeddah. The ship departs for King Abdullah Economic City, then on to Yanbu for an overnight stay to allow guests to visit AlUla, a day at sea before arriving at Aqaba in Jordan for trips to Petra and then a further day at sea before returning to Jeddah.
MSC Bellissima is one of the most innovative ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet and is fitted with a wide range of cutting-edge environmental features and innovative technology to reduce her environmental footprint. She also spearheaded the ultra-modern Meraviglia-Plus class of ships in the MSC Cruises fleet when she launched in 2019. The 1,034.45-foot-long vessel has 2,244 cabins and a maximum capacity for 5,714 passengers and 1,536 crew.
