The world’s largest privately-owned cruise company - MSC and Cruise Saudi (fully-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund) announced the launch of Red Sea cruises in winter 2021-2022.
Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC's Executive Chairman) and Fawaz Farooqui (Cruise Saudi's Managing Director) signed a framework agreement in Riyadh to mark the beginning of the partnership.
Under the agreement's terms, the ship MSC Magnifica will be homeported in Jeddah - the country's commercial hub and one of the biggest cities, as well as the Middle East's 2nd-largest port.
Operating 7-day Red Sea voyages (November 2021 through March 2022), the Magnifica ship will visit 3 Saudi ports - including weekly calls to Al Wajh port (gateway to the UNESCO site Hegra in AlUla).
As the country prepares to inaugurate on December 5th the "Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021" in Jeddah, the MSC liner Magnifica offers its passengers the unique opportunity to follow the global sports event during their voyage.
In addition to Magnifica's Red Sea sailings, MSC Virtuosa has scheduled a 2021 winter season in the Arabian Gulf with visits to port Dammam and Al-Ahsa oasis. Virtuosa will visit the new destination every week from December 2021 through March 2022.
MSC and Cruise Saudi expect ~170,000 tourists onboard the two MSC boats during the upcoming winter 2021-2022 season.