MSC Cruises announced the United Arab Emirates as a new destination for its 2011-12 winter collection.
The elegant MSC Lirica will be based in Abu Dhabi as her homeport for her busy 2011-2012 winter season. The itinerary includes a full schedule of 19 eight-day seven-night cruises from Abu Dhabi, with departures every Sunday from October 30 through to March 4, 2012 and alternatively from Dubai, with departures every Friday, from October 28 to March 9, 2012.
MSC Lirica will call at the port of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman, Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the island Kingdom of Bahrain and include two unforgettable and unprecedented nights in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The luxurious 59,000-ton MSC Lirica, which has capacity for a total of 2,069 guests in 780 cabins, features a sophisticated and elegant decor, superb attention to details in all areas, the finest Italian and international cuisine and a dazzling array of entertainment and activities.
The luxury cruise ship boasts shops, a casino, a card room and the 713-seat Broadway theatre. Guests can choose between four different restaurants to dine in, or they can soak up the atmosphere of the Lord Nelson Pub, chill to a range of music in The Beverly Hills bar or dance their hearts out in the Blue Club Discotheque.
On October 14, 2011, MSC Lirica will depart from Genoa, Italy, for a 17 day -16-night maiden cruise to Abu Dhabi, to start her first ever cruise season in the United Arab Emirates.
Her southbound course will take her from the Mediterranean Sea with calls in Naples, Italy, and Port Said, Egypt, through the Suez Canal to Aqaba in Jordan, Salalah and Muscat in Oman and finally to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Arabia will say farewell to MSC Lirica five months later, on March 11, 2012, when she starts her 18 day-17 night northbound return cruise from Abu Dhabi to Genoa in Italy. Scheduled stops are Al Fujayarah in the United Arab Emirates, Muscat and Salalah in Oman, Safaga in Egypt, Aqaba in Jordan, Port Sokhna in Egypt, through the Suez Canal to Port Said and finally to Naples and Genoa.
Ports of call during the Arabian itinerary include: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Al Fujairah and Muscat.