Windy start to official opening of Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach

The official opening coincided with the arrival of MSC Fantasia, homeporting in Abu Dhabi this winter and making its second call out of 17 planned for the season.

The MSC Cruises vessel arrived in the early morning and positioned 0.9 nautical miles offshore at the anchor point, ready to carry passengers on ship’s tenders to the beachside tender pontoon.

The call had to be canceled as a strong easterly wind made tendering operations impossible.

‘Following a very successful first call on December 5, where passengers gave excellent feedback on the beach resort facilities and shore excursion offering, we are unable to bring passengers onto the island today due to the uncommon wind direction,’ Angelo Capurro, commercial executive director, MSC Cruises, told Seatrade Cruise News during a visit to the resort.

‘However, we are looking forward to returning on a weekly basis throughout the season and are talking to the port authority concerning a Plan B anchor option in case of the strong easterly wind reoccurring,’ he added.

Abu Dhabi Ports’ Al Shamisi said: ‘We are excited about the official opening of Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach as part of our developments in the Western Region which reiterates our commitment to enriching the cruise experiences we offer.

‘Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach was developed with the needs of cruise lines and passengers in mind, beginning with tailor-made operational solutions and ending with incorporating unique beach and wildlife activities. We are confident that this project will position Abu Dhabi competitively on the international cruise destinations map,’ he added.

The island was established as a nature reserve by the late ruler and founder of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Over the last two decades, Sir Bani Yas has been transformed into a vibrant wildlife sanctuary with three million individually irrigated trees and species of animals including giraffe, cheetah, hyena, oryx and ostrich.

Sir Bani Yas Cruise extends over 1.3km of land, with the capacity to double in size and scale to meet future demands of the market, offerig an extensive range of facilities and excursions that use the island’s wildlife and nature reserve, including ecotourism wildlife tours.

The beach resort features more than 2,000 sun loungers, private cabanas, spa tents and opportunities for safari, trekking and bike riding excursions plus non-motorised water sports activities.

Special attention has been placed on safety, with lifeguards on the beach, shaded areas for kids, an aqua park, fresh water showers and several dining places. There are three pre-built buffet areas with grilling and kitchen facilities as well as refrigerated food stores, allowing ship’s staff to provide food and beverage services directly. A catering service can also be provided by arrangement.

Referring to MSC Fantasia’s first visit to Sir Bani Yas and the ship’s debut in the Gulf, Gianni Onorato, ceo of MSC Cruises, called it 'a milestone for us as we continue to develop our offering in the Middle East, bringing our guests to new, exciting ports of call, exotic destinations and luxury shore excursions during the winter season. The beautiful turquoise seas and busy, cosmopolitan ports in the region offer winter cruisers the perfect blend of culture, sightseeing, leisure activities and relaxation, all whilst enjoying a distinctive MSC Cruises experience.’

Hala Abu Dhabi, destination management company of Etihad Aviation Group, is the exclusive shore excursions and activities provider for Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach during the 2016/2017 season.