UAE airline, Emirates, has extended its long-term partnership with MSC Cruises.
This was aimed at enhancing the air/sea traveller experience, supporting Dubai’s cruise ambitions to become a major cruise hub, and exploring future opportunities for joint growth across the airline’s extensive network.
Announced at the recent Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, the partnership builds on a decade long year relationship and will leverage the strengths of the airline and MSC Cruises to enhance the guest experience and support the growth of Dubai’s cruise tourism eco-system.
The partnership MoU was signed by Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management and Eudes-Philippe Le Guelinel, Head of Fly & Cruise for MSC Cruises.
Sultan said: “Our cornerstone partnership with MSC Cruises stands as a testament of how two brands can work together to support Dubai’s cruise tourism ecosystem while enhancing the customer experience.
“The cruise traveller segment is experiencing robust growth, and we will work closely with MSC Cruises on co-marketing initiatives to communicate the diversity of destinations in our network combined with an attractive air-sea proposition,” he said.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises CEO, added: “Our partnership with Emirates is founded on a shared dedication to offering guests unforgettable experiences and high-quality service, with both Emirates and MSC Cruises recognised as leaders in their fields.
“We are pleased to be extending this successful partnership and continuing to offer Emirates’ world renowned flight service alongside the memorable experience waiting for guests on board our ship through our Fly & Cruise packages,” he said.
Benefits of fly/cruise packages include being met at arrivals with a dedicated bus transfer to the ship. On return, guests can drop their bags in the cruise terminal and collect them directly once they arrive at their destination.
This partnership will also focus on collaboration across the cruise line’s fleet, as well as its luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys.
Emirates and MSC Cruises will also explore growth strategies that will help expand cruise traffic movements beyond Dubai and joint promotional strategies and marketing campaigns to drive awareness of key markets to boost Dubai’s appeal as a cruise destination and drive interest and bookings for Explora Journeys, plus close co-ordination of flight and cruise schedules to optimise passenger itineraries and reduce transit times.
Emirates will also identify initiatives across its network to support MSC Cruises deployments beyond the UAE.
Both travel brands will seek to share relevant operational data and insights to improve service delivery, explore cruise blocks inventory allocation, in addition to co-ordination on flight and cruise schedules and facilitating a smooth check-in process at Dubai’s Port Rashid Cruise Terminal.
The 16 dedicated Emirates check-in counters at Port Rashid enable disembarking cruise passengers to process their luggage and secure boarding passes up to four hours prior to departure, allowing them to bypass the usual formalities at the airport and proceed directly to their departure gates.
