Today, November 17, Dubai Harbour (Port Rashid, UAE), the extraordinary seafront district of the port city, welcomed its first cruise ship, AIDAcosma, officially commencing season 2022-2023.
Setting sail from Germany (via Suez Canal) on her maiden voyage from Barcelona, AIDAcosma is an LNG-powered passenger liner with max passenger capacity 6600.
DHCT Management along with public/private sector stakeholders exchanged plaques with the ship's Captain, a maritime tradition, in order to commemorate the maiden call. Throughout the cruise season, 300,000+ passengers are expected to arrive at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, thus marking extraordinary growth for the industry.
Operated by AIDA Cruises, with a total of 20 passenger decks and 2600 staterooms, AIDAcosma is among the largest ships within the fleet. The vessel hosts a range of exciting features including a Fun Park, kids' pool, water slide, and an outdoor sports deck, as well as 23 lounges and 17 restaurants, serving a variety of cuisines from all around the world. As AIDAcosma's homeport, Dubai Harbour is paving the way for green cruising by becoming the first to host a new LNG-powered cruise ship.
The diversified investment company Shamal Holding is behind making Dubai Harbour a unique seafront district. The cruise ship terminals, part of the Dubai Harbour development, showcase the skyline to guests and offer an array of amenities for passengers and crew members – from ample seating areas to currency exchange outlets, ATMs, washrooms, cafes, retail outlets, Emirates Airline Check-in facility, Duty-Free, taxi stands, dedicated parking, and much more. The facilities are wheelchair accessible. Complimentary wifi is enabled for vacationers and crew to stay connected.
The infrastructure at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal comprises 2 terminal buildings that offer a safe and comfortable experience. Designed to process 3,250+ passengers per hour, the highly efficient terminals are located on a pier stretch of 910+ m and can accommodate a complete passenger turnaround of 2 mega ships simultaneously.