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MSC adds two ports, has 80K air seats for Middle East this winter

PHOTO: ASHARAT/PIXABAY CRUISE_Bahrain_musicians.jpg
Traditional music in Manama, Bahrain, a new destination for MSC Virtuosa this winter
MSC Cruises added Manama, Bahrain and Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to select itineraries and lined up 80,000 return air seats for its winter 2023/24 Middle East program.

MSC Virtuosa will sail 17 new seven-night voyages in the Arabian Gulf round-trip from Dubai to its new port of Manama, Doha in Qatar and Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE. International travelers may embark at Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi.

MSC Virtuosa will also serve as floating hotel for the Formual 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Nov. 24-26.

MSC Opera

MSC Opera returns to the region after its 2022/23 season with 22 weeklong cruises round-trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, either Khasab in Oman or Fujairah in the UAE and Muscat, Oman.

MSC Cruises’ 'Fly&Cruise' program for winter 2023/24 has more than 60,000 return seats available from Europe, South America and Canada to the Gulf region with nonstop flights to Dubai on Emirates and Doha on Qatar Airways.

MSC Orchestra

MSC Orchestra will operate a new itinerary round-trip from Safaga in Egypt with 20 seven-night sailings to the new port of Sharm El-Sheik, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Aqaba in Jordan and Sokhna Port (for Cairo). International passengers can embark at Safaga, Jeddah, Sharm El-Sheikh or Sokhna.

The ‘Fly&Cruise’ program for MSC Orchestra’s Red Sea sailings will provide more than 20,000 return air seats and is available from most major European countries with flights to Hurghada in Egypt for those embarking at Safaga, plus service to Sharm El-Sheikh. Travelers from Brazil will fly to Cairo to embark at Sokhna Port.