São Paulo – Seafront district Dubai Harbour started an inaugural cruise season as it welcomed AIDAbella and Costa Firenze ships from Carnival Corporation with over 2,450 passengers and 1,900 crew members aboard on Thursday and Friday (December 16 and 17). Pictured above, AIDA ship in Dubai.
Arriving at Dubai Harbour, the cruise ships berthed at port’s twin cruise terminals followed by guests disembarking to visit Dubai and its landmark destinations – including the Burj Al Arab, Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Island and Palm Jumeirah.
The new 323-meter-long Costa Firenze – arriving on its maiden voyage to Dubai – has been described as a “floating city” boasting 969 balcony cabins, 13 restaurants, seven lounges, a full-scale waterpark, and a Broadway-style theater. Costa Firenze is inspired by the Italian Florentine Renaissance, with an interior intended to evoke classic Italian streets and town squares.
The 252-meter-long cruise ship AIDAbella – which has returned to Dubai following its maiden call with cruise passengers in November – features Japanese-style spas, a ‘Theatrium,’ golf courses, and running tracks.
The owning-company and curator of Dubai Harbour is the diversified investment firm Shamal Holding. Cruise tourism is a key pillar of Dubai’s travel and tourism industry and the emirate’s popularity as a cruise destination has increased significantly in the last ten years.
Dubai is the gateway to the region and is an ideal base for cruise holidaymakers seeking to explore the United Arab Emirates and the wider region. Dubai’s 2021-2022 season, which commenced in October, is expected to welcome 126 ship calls and over 500,000 cruise visitors, contributing further to the momentum of Dubai’s tourism recovery.
The cruise terminals, which are part of Dubai Harbour development, offer a wide array of amenities and services for passengers and crew – from ample seating areas to washrooms, currency exchange outlets, ATMs, cafes, retail outlets, Duty-Free, dedicated parking, taxi stands and much more. All facilities are wheelchair accessible and complimentary WIFI is enabled for passengers and crew.
The infrastructure at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal comprises two terminal buildings. Designed to process over 3,250 passengers per hour, the highly efficient and modern terminals are located on a pier stretch of over 910 meters and can accommodate a complete passenger turnaround of two cruise ships simultaneously.
Dubai now has the capacity to host nine mega cruise ships at any one time.
*With information from Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
