msc cruise port in dubai

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Dubai (Port Rashid-Dubai Harbour, UAE)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Asia

Local Time 2024-04-04 14:46

Port Dubai cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Dubai, Port Rashid-Dubai Harbour, UAE. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Dubai is a Persian Gulf (Arabian Sea) cruise port, the UAE's largest city (population around 3,4 million) and Emirate of Dubai's capital. Since 2020, the city has two cruise ports with 3 passenger terminals - two Terminals in Port Rashid (Mina Rashid, operational since 1972) and two new (2020-opened) in Dubai Harbour (Palm Island Cruise Terminals).

Dubai is the world's only city with cruise ports and terminals operated by a government (UAE's Department of Tourism). This provides extra attention to every passenger, along with enhanced travel experiences including certified tour guides, a swift entry system (no visa issues), premium transportation.

Approx 35 km (22 mi) to the southwest of Dubai is Mina Jebel Ali - currently ranked the world's 9th-largest by annual cargo volumes (~14 million TEU-containers), as well as the world's largest artificial harbor (1979-opened). Port Jebel Ali (locode AEJEA) is operated by DP World and currently has 67 berths and land area 135 km2 (52 mi2) which includes the Free Zone (Middle East's largest) and the National Industries Park (sized 21 km2 / 8 mi2, houses manufacturing and processing facilities). Jebel Ali is one of the Maritime Silk Road that links China with Europe via India and the Suez Canal . Due to the harbour's depth and facilities' sizes, Jebel Ali is also the most visited by US Navi vessels foreign port, including by aircraft carriers and other large battleships.

Jebel Ali and Dubai's Port Rashid are interlinked via a highway.

PCFC (Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation) is a Dubai Government organisation (2001-established) under which umbrella work several local companies and entities - Dubai Customs, JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone), Dubai Ports Authority, Dubai Development Authority (Licensing & Monitoring), Dubai Maritime City Authority.

DP World (2005-founded) is a holding formed by merging Dubai Ports International and Dubai Ports Authority. DP World (currently ranked the world's largest cargo port operator) specializes in maritime services, supply chain cargo logistics, and management of port terminals and free trade zones.

Dubai cruise port

At Dubai's cruise port Mina Rashid is currently berthed/permanently moored "RMS Queen Elizabeth 2" - the famous Cunard ocean liner (1969-built, IMO 6725418).

• In November 2008 the QM2 boat was retired and sold to Istithmar (subsidiary of Dubai World/investment company) with plans to be converted into a 500-room hotel ship with mooring at Palm Jumeirah.
• The project was postponed and the boat remained docked at Mina Rashid.
• The refurbishment started in March 2017 and was completed in April 2018.
• The QM2 ship was renamed "Float Dubai" (215-room hotel ship) and its grand opening was held on October 14, 2021.

Rashid Port's cruise ship schedule shows vessels with voyages visiting Muscat , Bahrain , Fujairah , Abu Dhabi , ports in India, East Asia and Australia (on relocation voyages). Dubai also amazes tourists with all its almost unlimited city tour possibilities.

Port Mina Rashid's proximity to Dubai Airport and the downtown makes it an ideal choice as cruise ship tourists can get easy access to all the city's attractions. The cruise port has quay wall length 2,3 km (1,43 mi) and berthing capacity to handle 7 mega-cruise liners (max 25,000 passengers) simultaneously in a day.

In 2016, Dubai and other UAE cities introduced a new (multi-entry) visa system allowing cruise passengers to visit various UAE tour destinations with 1 permit. Previously, UAE visas were only for tourists arriving and leaving the country on a cruise ship. The new multiple-entry visas allow tourists to fly to Dubai Airport, embark on cruise vessels (Mina Rashid) and travel to Abu Dhabi and other Persian Gulf ports with a single visa - rather than obtaining 2 or 3 separate visas. The new UAE visas are also cheaper (AUD 59) in comparison to Dubai's 96-hours visa (AUD 44).

In January 2017 was signed an exclusive contract between the city's RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) and DP World (Mina Rashid terminals' owner and operator). By this deal are provided taxi services for passenger transportation between the city and the new terminal Hamdan bin Mohammed at Port Rashid. RTA's services include both taxis and VIP limousines to greet disembarking cruise ship tourists. The taxi corporation has 5000+ cabs. Its 2015 annual report showed 47+ million taxi trips serving ~94 million customers.

In the period 2014-2017, the port handled around 1,9 million cruise tourists via 489 vessels. During Port's first season (2013-14) were handled 93 calls and 320,000 passengers.

During season 2016-2017 (October through July), Port Rashid had scheduled 156 cruise ship visits and handled 625,000 passengers. This was a 15% increase over season 2015-16 (134 ship calls). The number of disembarking passengers was over 625,000 (18% increase over season 2015-16). For comparison, during 2006-2007, the cruise port was visited by around 105,000 passengers. The steady annual growth of 16-18% is supported by an increasing number of visitors from India. Their number grew by 25% (2015-2016) and by 30% (2017-2018). Currently, India is the cruise port's 14th source country (following countries like Germany, Italy, UK, USA).

During season 2017-18, the port had as clients 23 cruise companies , of which 6 used it as homeport (for roundtrips). The number included the newcomers NCL-Norwegian and Thomson-Marella . In 2017-2018, Celestyal Cruises for the first time ever started offering roundtrip 3-night / 4-day Arabian Gulf mini-cruises with the ship Celestyal Nefeli .

To boost berth bookings, for October (2018) and April (2019), DP World reduced cruise port charges by 50%. During season 2018-19, Port Dubai handled ~725,000 cruise ship tourists, and ~825,000 in season 2019-2020.

In 2019, in Dubai Royal Caribbean introduced the world's most expensive cruise shore excursion. Part of RCI's "Cruise Arabia and Africa" program, the new tour is offered on 7-day Arabian Gulf itineraries starting December 2019. The cruise excursion's cost is AED 122,000 (USD 33,000) per person. The cruisetour package is inclusive of a shopping trip (with personal shopper and photo session at Dubai Mall) and a visit to Rose Arbaji Centre (with 3-course meal and 3-hour spa treatments). The exclusive tour was first offered on Jewel of the Seas (homeported in Dubai in 2019-2020).

In late-November 2020, DP World's Port Mina Rashid won again the title "World's Leading Cruise Port" at WTA-World Travel Awards 2020. The port has received this prestigious award for 13 successive years - since 2008.

On May 16, 2021, the AIDA ships AIDAprima and AIDAvita became the first vessels to dock at the new DHCT-Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal (located between Bluewaters Island and Palm Jumeirah Island).

Following the COVID crisis, during season 2021-2022, Port Dubai received 98 cruise ship calls and 338697 tourists (passengers plus crew), and expected in season 2022-23 0,9+ million tourists.

On September 18, 2017, DP World Ltd announced that the company entered into agreements to purchase Maritime World LLC (sole owner of Dubai Maritime City) for USD 180 million. DP World also acquired Drydocks World LLC for USD 225M or made a total capital injection into Dubai port of USD 405M.

Dubai Maritime City is a world-class facility and industrial business zone in a prime location (adjacent to the Mina Rashid port). Maritime City's main business is its commercial and industrial park (sized 2,3 km2 / 1 mi2) located on an artificial peninsula. The park provides Economic Zones World additional land as an alternative to the congested Jebel Ali Free Zone (located at the city's far western end).

Drydocks World is a leading company specializing in ship repairs and operating the Middle East's largest shiprepair yard. The shipyard also has capabilities for newbuilds and vessel conversions. Drydocks were integrated into P&O Maritime - DP World's fully-owned maritime services subsidiary company.

In May 2018, Carnival Corporation and Meraas (holding company) signed a partnership deal for "Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal"/DHCT. Starting late 2020, the facility became a homeport and transit destination for Carnival Corporation ships in the region. Carnival offers roundtrips and relocation voyages from Dubai to attract passengers from India and China. Read more in the port's "Terminal" section.

In July 2018, DP World and Zhejiang China Commodities City Group signed an agreement to construct Traders Market (build-up area 3 km2) at Jebel Ali Port Free Zone. The new facility is in Jafza South (adjacent to Dubai Expo 2020) and is divided by trade sectors (including household goods, building materials, foods-beverages, cosmetics-healthcare, energy-power, engineering-technology).

• The partnership deal followed an agreement signed in 2018 between DP World and ZPG (Zhejiang Seaport Investment and Operation Group) for a warehouse in Yiwu (the world's largest wholesale market for small commodities) with cargoes destined for Dubai and the Middle East.
• Both projects will boost the UAE-China trade by offering integrated logistics, warehousing, customs clearance facilities, trade licenses. Jebel Ali Port Free Zone provides access to over 2 billion people regional market and DP World's global network of 80+ cargo terminals, enabling trade in countries with over 50% of the global GDP.

In 2017, China was ranked Dubai's number one trading partner, with total annual trade for FY2017 AED 176,5 billion (USD 48 billion).

Port Rashid (aka Mina Rashid)

Dubai's Mina Rashid port is an artificially made commercial seaport opened in 1972. In 1978, it was expanded to 35 berths (mostly used by container ships). The port is equipped with 9 gantry cranes (cargo capacity 1,500,000 TEUs). Here dock general cargo and RoRo vessels, cruise ships and luxury yachts.

• address: "PO Box 17000. Dubai United Arab Emirates"
• phone number +971 4 301 9300
• UN-LOCODE (United Nations location code) - AEDXB
• developer/ operator - DPWorld
• supported by excellent road, metro rail and air infrastructure
• capability to accommodate 4 cruise ships at a time
• deep water berths (depth 43 ft / 13 m)
• sheltered harbor area
• access unrestricted by tides

The Terminal's area was initially sized 3450 m2 (37130 ft2), increased to 30,000 m2 (323,000 ft2) in 2020-21, when the second terminal (at Dubai Harbour) was completed.

Port Dubai, along with its cruise terminal also has a cargo ship terminal (Dubai Maritime City) and dry dock facilities (Dubai Drydocks) for marine vessel refurbishments and repairs. The cruise port is accessible the whole year round - 24/7, 365 days a year.

In 2019 was inaugurated the Dubai Ferry service linking downtown Al Wajeha Al Maeyah Marine Transport Station (near Dubai Mall / one of the world's largest and most-visited retail shopping destinations) with Dubai Marina Mall (owned by Emaar Malls, subsidiary of Emaar Properties). The ferry crossing time is ~80 min (one-way), with complimentary shuttle service to Dubai Mall and back. Tickets are priced AED 68,25 (USD 18,6) per adult and AED 52,5 (USD 14,3) for kids 5-12 years old.

On December 7, 2019, MSC Cruises signed with DP World a long-term agreement for preferential berthing rights at Mina Rashid Port. The deal was signed on the Dubai-homeported liner MSC Bellissima (2019-built). Currently, MSC is the biggest cruise shipping company operating in the Arabian Gulf.

In 2020 was completed the new Dubai Harbour Cruise Port & Marina project (read more in the Terminal section).

Cruise itineraries to and from Dubai

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Dubai:

• World Cruises - around the world voyages starting in Europe or Australia visit Dubai before or after their Suez Canal transition . Generally are offered smaller world cruise segments with departures from Dubai to ports in Europe (westbound, to Southampton ) or on eastbound routes - in Asia (to Singapore , Hong Kong , Shanghai , Tianjin ) and Australia (to Sydney , Brisbane ). The shortest segments are between Dubai and India, Singapore, Greece, Italy, Turkey.
• 7-day Dubai cruise deals (round-trip departures) are the most common itineraries. They include visiting ports in the UAE ( Abu Dhabi , Khor Fakkan ) also in Oman ( Khasab , Muscat ) and Bahrain ( Mina Salman ).
• Transition itineraries (via Suez Canal/RepositionCruises.com) are with either eastbound routes (from Europe-Mediterranean to Asia) or the reverse/westbound routes (from Asia to Europe /via the Mediterranean Sea).

Among the cruise lines operating from Dubai are AIDA , Costa , MSC , Royal Caribbean , TUI , Marella UK , Seabourn . The list of other UAE cruise ports also includes the Sir Bani Yas Island (private resort destination for MSC and Costa ship tourists). Costa and AIDA were the first to start homeporting in Dubai (since 2006).

"Project Orient Limited" (POL) planned to build two ocean cruise liners for a regular passenger shipping service between Europe-UK and Australia (Southampton - Sydney). The scheduled itinerary is 26 days in one direction (Southampton to Sydney, and the reverse Sydney to Southampton). The included call ports are Fremantle (at the 20-day mark), also Dubai, Mumbai India and Singapore . Each of the STX France-built vessels will be 200,000 GT tons and with capacity 1600 pax. The expected cruise pricing starts from ~GBP 2900 per person (one-way fares with double occupancy).

Dubai cruise terminal

SInce 2020, Dubai City has two cruise ports and all 4 cruise terminals. The Port is located approx 15 km / 9 mi (north, 25-min drive distance) from Dubai Airport (DXB) and approx 37 km / 23 mi (south, 30-min drive distance) from Al Maktoum Airport (in Jebel Ali). It is easy to use a taxi transfer between the Port and downtown.

On May 16, 2021, the ships AIDAprima and AIDAvita became the first to dock at Dubai Harbour's new Palm Island Cruise Terminal.

Dubai Harbour is owned and operated by Shamal Holding (investment firm), which also manages Jumeirah Zabeel Saray (beach resort), Skydive Dubai and Deep-dive Dubai, Kite Beach Dubai, XDubai (adventure and extreme sports), Dubai Film (movie production and rental house), and other entertainment attractions.

(NEW) Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminals and Marina

Opened in October 2020, Dubai Harbour's two new passenger terminals (aka Palm Island Cruise Terminals) have combined floor area 27,870 m2 (300,000 ft2/two equally-sized buildings), total Quay Wall length 910 m (2950 ft), total Pier length 910 m (2985 ft, which allows 2 largest ships to be berthed simultaneously), Pier width 28 m (92 ft), Shipping Channel depth 12,5 m (43 ft), Shipping Channel width 300 m (984 ft), Turning Basin diameter 540 m (1770 ft), Bollards (Tee Head type, capacity 200 tons each), four Passenger Boarding Bridges.

Both Terminals are complete with entertainment venues, leisure spaces, premium retail shopping areas. The new cruise ship terminals in Dubai Harbour are approx 30 km (20 mi) from two international airports (Dubai International, and Al Maktoum/aka Dubai World Central) or just 30-min drive distance from the cruise docks.

Dubai Harbour's two terminals are with berthing capacity 3 mid-sized ships (simultaneously) and 13,200 passengers (at a time). The project was via partnership with Shamal Holding LLC (2016-founded, Dubai-based Investment company with 8 subsidiaries).

Dubai Harbour is linked with the city's transport network (directly connected with its road grid and monorail system).

The new facility was officially inaugurated on December 17, 2021, following the arrival of its first cruise ships - Costa Firenze and AIDAbella . The special ceremony was attended by Abdulla Binhabtoor (Shamal Holding's CPO) and Carnival Corporation top-rank executives, including Giora Israel (SVP Global Ports & Destinations Development), Torben Seidenschnur (Costa Group's Director CEO Office & Strategic Development), Michael Thamm (Costa Group's and Carnival Asia's CEO), Felix Eichhorn (AIDA's President), Mario Zanetti (Costa's President).

(NEW) Dubai Harbour Marina

Smaller ships and superyachts may alternatively dock at Dubai Harbour Marina - the largest and most advanced leisure boating facility in the region of Middle East-North Africa. The marina has total capacity 1100 (boat slots/berths) and can accommodate smaller-sized ships and mega-yachts with max LOA length 160 m (525 ft).

The new Marina is divided into three areas - Harbour Marina, Bay Marina, and Palm View Marina.

• At Harbour Marina are the Harbor Master Building, Yacht Club, a promenade/esplanade (lined up with restaurants, cafes, retail shops), Helipad (helicopter-landing platform), Crew Facility. Harbour Marina's capacity is 566 slots/berths (for yachts with max LOA length 40 m / 131 ft), including 487x slots (for 12-22-meter boats) and 79 slots (for 22-40-meter boats).
• Palm View Marina is surrounded by high residence buildings, hotels, beaches. Palm View Marina's capacity is 37 slots/berths (for superyachts with max LOA length 80 m / 263 ft), including 15 slots (for 12-22-m boats), 6 slots (22-40-m boats) and 19 slots (40-80-m boats).
• Bay Marina is Dubai’s first dedicated to large yachts facility, with a separate Helipad. Bay Marina's capacity is 180 slots/berths (for superyachts with max LOA length 160 m / 525 ft), including 72 slots (for 12-22-m boats), 73 slots (22-40-m boats), 33 slots (40-80-m yachts) and 14 slots (80-160-m superyachts).

All marinas are fitted with wastewater and power connections, fueling stations, storage facilities, waste disposal, food and beverage outlets, buggy service.

Inaugurated in 2018 (November 13th), Dubai Harbour Marina is managed by D-Marin Dubai LLC (part of D-Marin / Istanbul Turkey -based global marina service company that currently operates 14 yacht marinas in 5 countries - Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, UAE). Dubai Marina, like the cruise terminals, is one of the city's architectural landmarks, with contemporary-designed facilities housing brokerage and maritime insurance companies, crews, ship chandlers, premium retail shops, food and beverage outlets.

(NEW) Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal

Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal has 7 berths, which means it can handle 7 large-sized vessels (total passenger capacity 25,000) simultaneously. The terminal was renovated in 2010 and all cargo vessels were moved to the Jebel Ali Port. Port Rashid remained only a terminal for cruise ships. It can handle simultaneously up to 4 vessels. Cruise Terminal 3 is the largest facility (sized 125,000 m2), with capacity 14,000 passengers.

The building is in old Arabic style. Dubai Cruise Port terminal offers facilities like ATM machines, a post office, duty-free, an information center, souvenir shops, internet access, currency exchange, business center, coffee shop. Each hour, tourists can use City Center and Mercato Mall free shuttles.

Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal (Port Rashid)

Dubai's new cruise ship terminal Hamdan bin Mohammed is located at Port Rashid (passenger and cargo port). The complex is considered one of the world's top 5 luxury cruise ports to dock at.

The new terminal was inaugurated in 2015. It is the world’s largest covered cruise facility with a daily passenger capacity of 14,000. For the period 2015-2020, the Hamdan bin Mohammed terminal's business grew 55%. Top daily performances were reported in 2015 (4 liners with ~20,000 passengers+crew), 2017 (5 liners with ~24,000 passengers+crew), 2019 (6 liners with ~35,000 passengers+crew).

Annually, 0,5+ million cruise ship tourists visit Dubai City via Port Rashid's terminals. The complex has as facilities coffee bar lounge, mini-mart, deli (lunch restaurant), premium shops (souvenirs, watches, jewellery, electronics), post office, business center, currency exchange office, ATMs, concierge tour services (to assist day tours in Dubai City). Among the services offered at the terminal are free Internet (and Wi-Fi) and 2 free of charge shopping shuttle buses (1 to Mercato Mall, 1 to City Center Drive) leaving from the terminal's station each hour.

(NEWEST/Carnival) Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal

DHCT-Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal is a new port development project which started in January 2017 and was completed in 2021. Among the attractions that the new complex features are a new building (total area 150,000 ft2 / 13,935 m2, max passenger capacity 6000) and Dubai Lighthouse (height 4380 ft / 135 m) housing a luxury hotel and featuring an observation deck.

This is Dubai's newest (second) cruise terminal facility for which construction was contracted Meraas (holding company, subsidiary of Dubai Holding/owned by the country's ruler/Sheikh). This way, the port became the world's first ever to build 2 new terminals simultaneously, with combined annual capacity 1,2 million passengers. As a location, Dubai Harbour connects some of the city's most famous neighborhoods.

Dubai Harbour is on King Salman Str, between JBR Walk (shopping / dining promenade) and Palm Jumeirah (the famous man-made archipelago). The new complex covers a total area of ~1,9 km2 (0,72 mi2). The project included the cruise port terminal, a large shopping mall (0,33 km2 / 0,13 mi2), a yacht marina (capacity 1400 berths), 3x helipads, an events arena, as well as residential and office buildings, hotels and shops.

Dubai Lighthouse's facade is used as a screen for HD video projections and light shows. The residential complex includes both high and low buildings, as well as waterfront houses and villas, numerous retail shops, cafes and restaurants.

Construction works started in May 2018 after Meraas and Carnival Corporation signed an agreement for partnership, including port development and terminal management. The 186-hectares (1,9 km2 / 0,7 mi2) land development project was officially approved in January 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Ruler of Dubai).

In July 2019 was contracted ASGC Group (UAE-based and Dubai's largest construction company) to build the new Dubai Cruise Terminal (Meraas's real estate complex) located between Bluewaters and Palm Jumeirah (Dubai Harbour). ASGC will conduct all construction works (for both main terminal buildings), the 1-km long quay (docking area), also will implement all associated fit-out and external works and will install buildings' fixtures, fittings and equipment. Upon completion, the new terminal will have total floor area 2,7 hectares and daily passenger capacity of 15000.

Dubai Ferry Terminal

All sea connections between the city and the other UAE port cities are served by Mina Rashid Ferry Terminal. It is adjacent to the cruise ship terminal. Ferries dock in the Coastal Berth area. Dubai's Ferry Terminal (like all cruise terminals) is owned by DP World. Among the modern facilities are luggage belts, separate arrival/departure gates, security (police), UAE Customs office. The Ferry Terminal handles around 20,000 passengers per year.

Adjacent to Port Rashid are Dubai Drydocks and Dubai Maritime City. However, there's a plan all cargoship operations to be moved to Jebel Ali Port (by March 2018) leaving Port Rashid as a dedicated cruiseship terminal. The plan also included part of the port to be reclaimed by Nakheel (Dubai real-estate developer) to create an urban waterfront complex housing over 200,000 residents.

In 2019 was inaugurated the Dubai Ferry service linking downtown's Al Wajeha Al Maeyah Marine Transport Station near Dubai Mall (one of the world's largest and most-visited retail shopping destinations) with Dubai Marina Mall (owned by Emaar Malls, subsidiary of Emaar Properties). The ferry crossing time is ~80 min (one-way), with complimentary shuttle service provided to Dubai Mall and back. Tickets are priced AED 68,25 (USD 18,6) per adult and AED 52,5 (USD 14,3) for kids 5-12 years old.

• Dubai Creek and Creekside Park: this saltwater water way is 24-hour crowded with boats sailing to and from India, Arabia and East Africa. Take a water taxi, visit Creek and its Creekside Park with cafes, mini-golf, gardens and fishing quays.
• Gold Souk: located on the north side of Dubai Creek, find the lowest prices in the world of dimanods, gold, silver, platinum and precious germs.
• Spice Souk: right next to Gold Souk. A spice market. Smell the aromatic atmosphere of flower petals, incense, medicinal herbs, spices and aromatic oils.
• Dubai Museum: located in the Al Fahidi Fort, on the Dubai Creek south coatsline. The place where you will find the history, traditions and Dubai culture and you will reveal the life in the desert.
• Mall of the Emirates: enormous shopping center with over 400 shops, one of the worlds biggest. Find almost all world brands, restaurants, galleries, a ski slope, two mosques and a cinema.
• Bastakia Quarter: located on Dubai Creek north coastline. Ancient area good for a walk.
• Burj Al Arab hotel: the only seven-star hotel, fabulous and spectacular Burj Al Arab soars the sky. If you don’t want to book a room, try the restaurants or take a look at it from the Majlis Al Bahar beach.
• Burj Khalifa: the tallest building in the world, 2,625 ft.
• Al Mamzar Beach: beautiful park with gardens, beaches, play area, picnic tables, showers, cafes and lifeguard. Special day is Wednesday – Al Mamzar Beach is reserved only for women and children.
• Jumeirah Beach Park: only a mile away from the Dubai cruise port terminal, direction South
• The Desert: 4x4 tour in the desert to visit a native village, taste a local meal and all that combined with amazing belly dance.

Dubai tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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Dubai - user reviews and comments

Where Does MSC Dock in Dubai?

By Michael Ferguson

Are you planning a trip to Dubai and wondering where MSC cruises dock in this bustling city? Look no further, as we provide you with all the information you need to know.

Dubai is a popular cruise destination, and MSC cruises are no exception. With their luxurious ships and exciting itineraries, MSC cruises offer an unforgettable experience for travelers.

Port Rashid

The main port in Dubai where MSC cruises dock is Port Rashid. Located on the western side of the city, Port Rashid is a modern and well-equipped cruise terminal. It has state-of-the-art facilities to cater to the needs of both passengers and crew members.

Facilities at Port Rashid:

• Terminal Building: The terminal building at Port Rashid is spacious and designed to handle large numbers of passengers efficiently. It provides a comfortable waiting area with seating arrangements and amenities such as restrooms, shops, and restaurants.
• Luggage Handling: Upon arrival, dedicated staff members are available to assist passengers with their luggage, ensuring a smooth transition from ship to shore.
• Transportation: Port Rashid offers excellent connectivity to various parts of Dubai. Taxis, buses, and car rental services are easily accessible from the cruise terminal.

Dubai Cruise Terminal

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is another popular docking point for MSC cruises. Located near Port Rashid, this terminal offers a convenient gateway for exploring Dubai’s attractions.

Features of the Dubai Cruise Terminal:

• Futuristic Design: The architecture of the Dubai Cruise Terminal is impressive with its sleek lines and modern aesthetic.
• Passenger Services: The terminal provides a range of passenger services, including immigration and customs facilities, duty-free shops, cafes, and currency exchange counters.
• Transportation: Similar to Port Rashid, the Dubai Cruise Terminal offers various transportation options for passengers to explore the city easily.

Other Ports in Dubai

In addition to Port Rashid and the Dubai Cruise Terminal, MSC cruises may also dock at other ports in Dubai depending on the itinerary. These ports include Jebel Ali Port and Dubai Marina Yacht Club. Each port has its own unique features and attractions nearby.

Jebel Ali Port:

Jebel Ali Port is one of the largest man-made harbors in the world. It offers a range of facilities including shopping centers, restaurants, and recreational areas. If your MSC cruise docks at Jebel Ali Port, you’ll have easy access to popular attractions such as Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Dubai Marina Yacht Club:

Dubai Marina Yacht Club is an exclusive waterfront destination known for its luxury yachts. If your MSC cruise docks here, you can enjoy stunning views of the marina and explore nearby attractions such as The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence.

In Conclusion

MSC cruises dock at various ports in Dubai, with Port Rashid being the main terminal. The modern facilities at Port Rashid ensure a seamless embarkation and disembarkation process for passengers.

The nearby Dubai Cruise Terminal offers another convenient option for exploring the city. Additionally, Jebel Ali Port and Dubai Marina Yacht Club provide unique experiences depending on your itinerary.

When planning your MSC cruise to Dubai, be sure to check the specific port information provided by the cruise line. This way, you can make the most of your time in this vibrant city and enjoy all that Dubai has to offer.

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Dubai Cruise Terminal

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is located at Port Rashid. It is considered one of the top 5 luxurious ports to dock at. Over 500,000 people yearly dock at Dubai Cruise Terminal.  The Port of Dubai facility offers a coffee bar, a deli/lunch operation, and free Internet on five terminals in its business center. There’s a currency exchange office, an ATM and a concierge who can set you up with day tours. The port terminal offers two free shopping shuttles, one each to Mercato Mall and City Center Drive. Departures leave on the hour.  Below is a list of other services and facilities that they provide.

DUBAI CRUISE TERMINAL’S FACILITIES AND SERVICES:  

• Help desk manned round the clock to cater to the passenger needs, inquiries and distribute city maps, brochures on tourist attractions, heritage sites etc.at free of cost.
• Money exchange
• Post Office
• Shops selling souvenir, gifts, electronics, jewelry
• Café and  a mini mart
• Aerial and coach tour operators outlets
• Free Wi-Fi and business center –
• Ample seating
• Easy access for physically challenged
• Dedicated taxi rank, monitored by RTA
• Help desks of major shopping malls offering complimentary shuttle bus services
• Terminal houses offices for other Government Departments as well to ensure easy access and swift services for passengers.
• Dubai’s cruise port is about 25 minutes away from the Dubai’s airport.

Address: PO Box 17000. Dubai United Arab Emirates. Phone: +971 4 8811110

Address to type in Google Maps or MapQuest?

Dubai Cruise Terminal on Google Maps and Port Rashid on MapQuest.   Google Map gives more detailed and accurate information in my opinion.  It also displays the hotels that are nearby.

How far is Dubai’s airport to Dubai’s cruise port?

It takes about 25 minutes to get from the airport to the port on a good day without much traffic going on.  It is a distance of about 14.9 km.  You can easily take a taxi to Dubai’s cruise port.

How much will it cost to take a taxi to get to Dubai’s cruise port from Dubai’s airport?

Keep in mind that a 20dh surcharge will be added to your fare when you are picked up from Dubai’s airport or Dubai’s cruise port.  It would cost approximately 50dh to 60dh one way.  As of today’s money exchange rate, that would be about 15 to 20 dollars in US currency.  All taxis are metered and prices are not negotiated.

An Introduction About Dubai

Dubai is a member of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The city is situated on the north shore of the Arabia. As recently as the 1950s Dubai was a small-time trading and fishing town. Now  a soaring conurbation has appeared. All around is taller, bigger, and more spectacular. Glass towers emerge out of the bleak desert sands and dream world islands have been constructed offshore, formed like palm trees or unbelievably a map of the globe. The city is today an extensive free trade area and has become a key business center in the region. Dubai has the nickname the ‘City of Merchants’, thanks to the vast volume of business, or alternatively ‘City of Gold’, because of its vast  Gold shops. Dubai’s most characteristic aspect is its fabulously appointed hotels and its massive shopping malls, guaranteed to wow every holidaymaker. Weather conditions in Dubai are very hot to the extent that all indoor areas are air-conditioned. In wintertime, Dubai is just right, warm and balmy, wonderful for sitting on the beach. From spring temperatures can hit over 100°F and it can be oppressively muggy.

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Cruise ships dock at Port Rashid .

Since 2021 the new Dubai Harbour Cruise terminal is also in use, It is placed between the Palm View Marina, part of Dubai Marina, and Dubai Lighthouse. The project has two terminals, which can, at the same time, manage two turnarounds of the ships with 5000+ passengers.

Three large modern cruise terminals next to each other offer their services. Taxis are plentiful. The drive to Dubai Mall is about 10 minutes. Around 10 Euro. Return rate slightly less. If you take a taxi anywhere in the UAE, ask for the meter to be switched on even if you make a tour by taxi.

Hop on/off buses will be at each terminal, transporting you to a point where the red and blue lines meet. (Wafi Mall) Here you can take an hop on/off bus . This bus will also take you back to the port. It is recommended to buy the 48-hour ticket if you want to see most of the sights.

As the whole terminal area is fenced off, walking is not an option here and there is nothing to see anyway within walking distance.

Some shopping malls also offer free shuttles, they have a desk in the terminal. (Marcato Mall, Al Ghurair City, Dubai Outlet Mall and Burjaman, the latter closest to a Metro station.)

From the cruise terminal to Dubai airport is about a 15-minute drive. About $15 per taxi.

Hotels in Dubai.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Map of Dubai.

Check here for festivals and events in Dubai when you are in port.

Watch a destination video .

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers

Port Rashid on Google Maps

Dubai Harbour on Google Maps

Monthly Climate Averages for Dubai United Arab Emirates

Sightseeing:

Known as the City of Merchants, Dubai is the second largest of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In the entire Gulf, there is no place quite like Dubai. Its history began in the 1830s when the city broke away from Abu Dhabi and became a center of commerce and trading in its own right. In fact, Dubai's wealth is founded on trade, not oil. When oil was discovered in 1966, it merely contributed to the city's prosperity and sped up modernization.

Modern development began at the turn of the last century with heavy import-export trading, mainly in gold. What opium was to the growth of Hong Kong, gold was to Dubai.

As the leading center for business and tourism in the Middle East, Dubai offers a fascinating kaleidoscope of contrasts in a distinctive blend of modern city and timeless desert, east and west, old and new. As an exotic destination with a cosmopolitan lifestyle, Dubai combines the comfort and conveniences of the Western world with the unique charm of Arabia. Even with a high degree of tolerance for different lifestyles, Dubai remains close to its heritage. Dubai's souqs and huge shopping malls are crammed with goods, at some of the world's best prices.

But there is more to the city than shopping. Visitors find an outstanding museum and superb recreational facilities, ranging from golf and water sports to desert safaris and dhow cruises.

As the sports capital of the Middle East, Dubai boasts four championship golf courses; it is a regular fixture on the European and Asian PGA circuits and hosts the Dubai World Cup - known as the world's richest horse race. An endless array of restaurants and nightspots offers a wide choice of cuisine and entertainment. Dubai is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinct blend of modern city, timeless deserts, rugged mountains, and miles of sandy beaches. The streets are clean and safe. With so many attractive attributes, it is not surprising that Dubai rates highly with world-class travelers, businessmen and the international jet set.

Dubai Museum This excellent museum features a great collection of interesting artifacts from Dubai's pre-oil days when the city was known as an important pearl diving and trading center. The museum is air-conditioned and exhibits are labeled in both Arabic and English. Since its renovation, the museum has become one of Dubai's main attractions. On Fridays, the museum is closed in the morning.

"Old Dubai" is best viewed at the Creek . Around bus stop 10 (red route) one will still see ships completely loaded by hand. A huge contrast in this city of glamor, but surely a photo opportunity.

Tours Excursions Transportation:

The best way to see Dubai is by Hop on/off bus , see above. If there on a Friday take the Blue Line first and then the Red Line, as most of the downtown is "closed" in the morning.

Travel on foot is not recommended: too hot and the sights are too spread out. Taxis are very cheap!

The big thing to do in Dubai is to go to "At The Top", the viewing platform of the Burj Khalifa , the world’s tallest building. Don’t do this on a shore excursion – it’s too rushed. Instead, on the night you’re in port in Dubai , go it alone. It’s easy. Tickets are time-controlled so book online a long way ahead and time your visit for sunset. Take a cab from the port. Wander round the shops and market, watch the spectacular musical fountains and then head for At The Top to watch the sunset.

While you are there visit the Dubai Fountain , the world's largest dancing fountain and one with a very enticing display - a definite must see. The show takes place at the Burj Dubai Lake. An easy way to approach it is via the Dubai Mall. Daily 1 pm and 1.30 pm (on Friday 1.30 pm and 2.00 PM) and from 6 pm to 11 pm every half an hour.

It pays to compare your cruise line tours here .

Nearby Places:

Shopping and food.

Dubai is a shopper's paradise due to its free port status, low import duties and no taxation. Modern, air-conditioned shopping malls are found throughout the city. The more traditional souqs can be a place for bargains, ambiance, and entertainment. Interesting buys include everything from gold jewelry to designer creations, cameras, electronics and oriental rugs. Shops at the malls are open from 10 am till late at night.

The Mall of the Emirates even offers the largest indoor ski slope in the world. You have to see it to believe it!

Dubai Mall boasts over 1200 stores and eateries, a walk through the huge aquarium, huge waterfalls, an ice skating rink and the magic fountains in front of the Burj Khalifa. See above. For automobile aficionados: just watch the world's most beautiful cars being parked around the entrances of the mall.

The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED, local abbreviation dhs). The Dirham is pegged to the USD, so rate variations with this currency are unlikely.

Currency Converter

Communication:

Free Wifi facilities in the terminal. When the crew members are using the facilities in great numbers, speeds are very slow to no connection at all. Wait till the crew has to be onboard (a half before guests boarding time) and you will find that the connections are improving. Some Hop on/off buses now also offer free WiFi.

Opening Hours and Holidays:

Shopping hours Daily 0900-1300 and 1600-2100, but many and all mall shops are open all day. Shops sometimes close for prayers Fri 1130-1330.

Holidays in the United Arab Emirates

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Jump into the future with an Emirates cruise and discover the contemporary metropolis of Abu Dhabi   and  Dubai with their spectacular cityscapes, towering skyscrapers, and beautiful beaches that will leave you in awe. Explore the vibrant tapestry of Dubai's lifestyle and indulge in a world of luxury as you uncover the city's opulent malls. Enjoy a perfect fusion of international brands and local treasures, creating a truly unforgettable shopping spree. Savor the romance of a memorable dinner amidst the dunes after our exhilarating Desert Dune Adventure: a roller coaster ride over golden sands and an unforgettable sunset view from the highest dune. With MSC’s cuises to Dubai, you’ll soak in the city's vibrant nightlife scene and treat yourself to exquisite fine dining in one of Dubai's beautiful restaurants for a lavish experience. In Abu Dhabi, the fun takes on a new dimension at the Ferrari World Theme Park, offering thrilling adventures. Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Louvre offers an unparalleled artistic journey. Spanning 12 galleries, this world-class collection maps humanity's artistic triumphs from the Neolithic era to the present day, all while defying conventional museum exhibition practices. Emirates cruises also bring you to the stunning Sir Bani Yas island  that will enchant you with a dream beach experience or a safari like no other between the mangroves, the desert and the protected bay areas. Embark on the journey of a lifetime as you discover the unique allure of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Ban Yas with MSC’s Emirates cruise.

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With MSC's cruises from Dubai, your journey begins in the mesmerizing blend of beautiful beaches, record-breaking attractions, and unique experiences of this extraordinary city. Your cruise holiday will continue in Abu Dhabi that will surprise you with its daring, futuristic architecture. While in Sir Bani Yas Island, beautiful beaches beckon, and a wealth of water games awaits, including paddleboarding, kayaking, the swan pedalo experience, and many other. Dubai is the perfect start for your Emirates cruise!

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Embarking on an MSC cruise from Abu Dhabi, you'll be immersed in the captivating fusion of stunning coastlines, extraordinary landmarks, and unparalleled fun. Continuing your cruise holiday, you'll explore the avant-garde wonders of Dubai, where you'll be 'blinded by the lights' of stunning architecture, towering skyscrapers, and dazzling fountain water shows that will leave you in awe. While on Sir Bani Yas Island, unwind on the sandy beaches, embark on an island horseback ride, or experience a unique safari, spotting rare animals in the vast nature reserve. An MSC Cruise is the perfect gateway for your Emirates discovery!

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MSC Euribia to homeport in Dubai for 2024/25 Middle East cruise season

MSC Cruises will be sending its new Meraviglia-Plus class ship MSC Euribia to the Arabian Gulf for the 2024/25 Middle East cruise season, sailing 7-night roundtrip cruises out of Dubai .

MSC Euribia will homeport in Dubai between November, 2024 and March, 2025, offering weeklong cruises visiting Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE, Doha in Qatar, and Manama in Bahrain .

This will be MSC Euribia’s first time sailing in the Middle East and will mark the third time MSC Cruises has deployed a brand-new cruise ship to the region after MSC Virtuosa for the 2021/22 season, and MSC World Europa for 2022/23.

MSC Euribia

MSC Euribia will offer both Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE as a homeport during the season, along with Doha in Qatar. The practise, known as inter-porting, allows passengers to use any of the ports as the embarkation and disembarkation port.

When sailing from Dubai, MSC Euribia will sail overnight to Doha in Qatar, then to Bahrain the following day, before spending a day at sea and calling in Abu Dhabi the next day. From Abu Dhabi the ship then sails overnight to Sir Bani Yas, before ending the cruise in Dubai the day after.

In Dubai the ship will spend a night in port, giving passengers two days in port to explore and experience various shore excursions.

Coral Reef Aquapark

At 183,500 gross tons and carrying more than 6,000 passengers, MSC Euribia is one of the largest cruise ships ever to homeport in Dubai, although she is slightly smaller than MSC World Europa which homeported in the Arabian Gulf for the 2022/23 cruise season.

The ship features 10 restaurants and 21 bars and cafes, along with 5 unique pools and one of the largest waterparks at sea. Her combined pool areas can accommodate around 1,000 passengers at any given time, making sun lounging and swimming a less torturous affair than on some large cruise ships.

Like other Meraviglia-Plus class cruise ships in the MSC fleet, MSC Euribia also features a huge indoor shopping, dining and entertainment promenade called Euribia Galleria, with an LED domed ceiling that is one of the longest at sea.

For younger passengers, MSC Euribia has seven separate entertainment spaces for babies, toddlers, kids, tweens, early teens, and late teens. There are more than 100 hours of entertainment programming per cruise for kids and teenagers organized in MSC Cruises’ clubs.

The ship is also home to the MSC Aurea Spa with a Thermal Area with sauna, steam bath and whirlpool, a professional Hair and Nail Salon and a Barber Shop. There’s also a Balinese Spa offering authentic massages and beauty treatments.

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Categories: Middle East Cruise News , News

Tagged as: Arabian Gulf , Dubai , Middle East , MSC Cruises , MSC Euribia

Published by Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com. View all posts by Shaun Ebelthite

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Port schedule.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates cruise ship port calendar shows all scheduled arrival and departure dates in a timetable format. The cruise calendar displays the ship’s estimated time of arrival including related information such as how crowded is the port, as well as the ship’s next port-of-call.

The following timetable provides valuable information and keeps track of the future cruise ship arrivals from all major cruise lines. In order to find out more about the cruise ship itineraries such as ports, dates, and arrival/departure times just follow the ship’s link.

• AIDAprima 3.400 passengers 04 Apr 2024 - 14:00
• AIDAcosma 6.600 passengers 04 Apr 2024 - 14:00
• ms Zuiderdam 2.364 passengers 05 Apr 2024 - 07:00
• Queen Mary 2 3.271 passengers 06 Apr 2024 - 00:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 06 Apr 2024 - 09:00
• Seven Seas Mariner 779 passengers 07 Apr 2024 - 12:00
• AIDAcosma 6.600 passengers 11 Apr 2024 - 14:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 13 Apr 2024 - 09:00
• AIDAbella 2.500 passengers 15 Apr 2024 - 08:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 20 Apr 2024 - 09:00
• Artania 1.260 passengers 20 Apr 2024 - 12:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 23 Apr 2024 - 06:00
• Resilient Lady 2.860 passengers 24 Apr 2024 - 08:00
• Seven Seas Navigator 557 passengers 24 Apr 2024 - 10:00
• Azamara Onward 781 passengers 25 Apr 2024 - 08:00
• Serenade Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 09 May 2024 - 06:00
• Oceania Insignia 803 passengers 12 May 2024 - 08:00
• Artania 1.260 passengers 12 May 2024 - 08:00
• Oceania Riviera 1.447 passengers 14 May 2024 - 06:00
• Oceania Riviera 1.447 passengers 14 May 2024 - 08:00
• ms Zuiderdam 2.364 passengers 05 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• AIDAprima 3.400 passengers 06 Apr 2024 - 13:00
• AIDAcosma 6.600 passengers 06 Apr 2024 - 13:00
• Queen Mary 2 3.271 passengers 07 Apr 2024 - 00:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 07 Apr 2024 - 21:00
• Seven Seas Mariner 779 passengers 07 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• AIDAcosma 6.600 passengers 13 Apr 2024 - 13:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 14 Apr 2024 - 21:00
• AIDAbella 2.500 passengers 17 Apr 2024 - 18:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 22 Apr 2024 - 21:00
• Artania 1.260 passengers 22 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Seven Seas Navigator 557 passengers 24 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Azamara Onward 781 passengers 26 Apr 2024 - 18:00
• Resilient Lady 2.860 passengers 26 Apr 2024 - 18:00
• Serenade Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 09 May 2024 - 17:00
• Oceania Insignia 803 passengers 13 May 2024 - 19:00
• Artania 1.260 passengers 13 May 2024 - 23:00
• Oceania Riviera 1.447 passengers 14 May 2024 - 17:00
• Mein Schiff 5 2.700 passengers 24 May 2024 - 13:00
• Mein Schiff 4 2.700 passengers 27 Oct 2024 - 23:59

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7 Night Middle East Cruise

Contemporary and family-friendly cruising with distinct Mediterranean influences on everything from the line’s style and décor to cuisine and onboard entertainment

Fresh spices to collect and sweet relaxation on the beaches of the gulf—this and much more when you cruise to the United Arab Emirates.

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Dubai early disembarkation question

By compman9 , December 13, 2022 in MSC Cruises

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Appreciate some help with this, not getting anywhere with MSC.

Our cruise ends with two days in Dubai, and our airline's ticketing options only have availability on a half past ten at night flight. This would mean a full day with suitcases after disembarkation.

Can we leave the day before at around 7pm?

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With MSC not in the US you can stay longer on the ship. Sometimes we stay until 5 pm on the ship and disembark at 5.30 pm. You have to look with quest service/YC Concierge what's possible on your ship.

The UAE cruises have some different T&C's applied to them. You can disembark from the time the ship docks till next day way up on the day, or way early if your flight demands. You'll need to empty your cabin but you'll be given plenty of time to leave the ship. Either way the Dubai authorities don't want people wandering inside either way port buildings or the airport. Please contact guest services during the cruise and they'll guide you. They'll have a pretty much permanent buffet set up from the time the ship docks to next sailing's sail away time.

This year we had Fri/Sat on the ship in Dubai before flying back with Emirates.  On the Friday we were able to check in our baggage at the cruise terminal.  

CruisingFox27

On 12/13/2022 at 1:28 PM, compman9 said: Appreciate some help with this, not getting anywhere with MSC.   Our cruise ends with two days in Dubai, and our airline's ticketing options only have availability on a half past ten at night flight. This would mean a full day with suitcases after disembarkation.   Can we leave the day before at around 7pm?   Thanks

It's entirely possible to leave the ship earlier than your scheduled time. You need to complete paperwork onboard to do so and ensure your account is fully paid. 

Have you considered luggage storage options. We've been to a couple of cities with similar a similar scenario and have placed our luggage in a storage space for the day. Lots of hotels etc offer the service. Store my bag dot com or something like that. 

On 12/13/2022 at 4:27 PM, Nunagoras said: The UAE cruises have some different T&C's applied to them. You can disembark from the time the ship docks till next day way up on the day, or way early if your flight demands. You'll need to empty your cabin but you'll be given plenty of time to leave the ship. Either way the Dubai authorities don't want people wandering inside either way port buildings or the airport. Please contact guest services during the cruise and they'll guide you. They'll have a pretty much permanent buffet set up from the time the ship docks to next sailing's sail away time.

Thank you for the advice.

The problem is, I cannot leave this until I get on the ship. If they refuse my request to leave on arrival day, I won't be able to change flights to accommodate this.

I have spoken to MSC, and they have said in a very hard to understand accent, "it might be possible."

3 hours ago, compman9 said:   Thank you for the advice.   The problem is, I cannot leave this until I get on the ship. If they refuse my request to leave on arrival day, I won't be able to change flights to accommodate this.   I have spoken to MSC, and they have said in a very hard to understand accent, "it might be possible."

Ah, on arrival day? I was thinking you're talking the 2nd day, excuse me! As I said; you can exit from the time the ship docks. My group had a 9:00AM flight on the last day that meant we needed to go out of the ship by 5:00AM. We asked our cabin steward to not open the 3rd bed in cabin nor service the cabin by the evening once we had that moment to rest a little bit before the long night; went to the buffet at 4:00AM, then out of ship on our bus to the airport as appropriate. Exit at 3:00PM for a 7:00PM flight, no worries. They do it pretty much everyday on those sailings; you just need to inform GS of your needs!

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