Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Renewing Dubai’s status as a premier maritime tourism destination, Emirates and AIDA Cruises have extended their partnership for an additional two seasons.
The extension of the partnership was formalized during the opening day of ITB Berlin and aligns with Dubai’s ambitions to significantly expand its cruise capacity. Dubai remains an attractive choice for key industry players due to its comprehensive maritime infrastructure, featuring cutting-edge handling facilities complemented by unparalleled air connectivity.
Under the renewed agreement, Emirates and AIDA Cruises will explore various collaborative opportunities in joint marketing, operational coordination, and strategic scheduling across Emirates’ extensive network. They will also improve transportation options between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal.
The partnership will maintain its focus on sharing valuable data and insights to enhance service quality, providing specialized support teams for cruise passengers, and ensuring a seamless check-in process at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. Emirates will allocate dedicated capacity over the next two seasons to meet the growing demand for cruise packages to Dubai.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline, and Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, signed the memorandum of understanding.
Adnan Kazim commented on the renewed partnership: “We’re proud of AIDA Cruises’ long-standing commitment to Dubai, when they were one of the first cruise liners to home port in 2006. We are readying the business for another robust cruise season in Dubai, and through the support of partners like AIDA Cruises anchoring in our home city and hub, we’ll continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as an attractive gateway for winter cruising.”
“The Arabian Gulf is one of our most popular winter destinations due to its moderate flight times, pleasant summer temperatures and many hours of sunshine. Combined with the new state-of-the-art terminals at Dubai Harbour within easy reach of the city’s attractions and excellent airport connectivity, our cooperation with Emirates will further enhance the attractiveness of this destination for our guests with tailor-made flight options,” said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises.
Since 2021, AIDAprima has been serving Dubai Harbour, offering accommodation for up to 3,200 passengers. This season, travelers departing from Dubai can anticipate diverse itineraries encompassing destinations such as Muscat, Doha, Sir Bani Yas, and Abu Dhabi.
Dubai has pioneered the integration of the entire travel and tourism infrastructure, streamlining entry procedures and visas for cruise passengers, ensuring seamless port handling, including access to Emirates check-in counters at Dubai Harbour, and a range of amenities spanning the entire journey, both in the air and on the ground. Travelers also enjoy the advantage of disembarking in one of the world’s most iconic tourism hubs, replete with attractions to suit every preference, age group, and budget.
Dubai Harbour boasts 12 Emirates check-in counters, allowing cruise passengers to complete check-in up to 4 hours before their flight departure, enabling them to explore Dubai luggage-free before heading directly to the airport and swiftly navigating through most pre-flight formalities.
In the previous year, Emirates facilitated the transportation of approximately 400,000 cruise passengers through Dubai’s cruise terminals. With over 166 ships welcomed during the last cruise season, Dubai emerges as the region’s largest embarkation port and the most sought-after destination for cruise liners. The city anticipates a 23% surge in cruise passenger arrivals for the upcoming season.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
