On the opening day of ITB Berlin, Emirates and TUI Cruises renewed their cooperation for another two seasons, in accordance with Dubai’s aim to increase cruise capacity. Emirates will collaborate with TUI Cruises to provide flight alternatives that are compatible with prospective cruise schedules.
“The airline will also explore enhanced transportation solutions between Dubai International (DXB) and Port Rashid, leverage insights to improve services on the ground, and provide dedicated support teams for cruise passengers. Currently, the port’s Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, the world’s largest single covered cruise terminal facility, is capable of handling 14,000 passengers a day,” according to a joint statement from the corporations.
In addition to coordinating operations and pursuing marketing synergies, the cooperation will concentrate on creating exceptional luxury packages and experiences that highlight the best of Dubai and the region’s TUI Cruise programs. Adnan Kazim, Emirates Airline’s Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Wybcke Meier, TUI Cruises’ CEO, signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates Airline, stated, “Our agreement with TUI Cruises aims to continue our efforts to boost cruise passenger arrivals from all over our network, so they can experience the best in sea travel aboard TUI’s magnificent ships.”
Wybcke Meier, CEO of Tui Cruises, stated: “For more than ten years, we have been calling at Dubai with the Mein Schiff fleet to give our guests the opportunity to discover the world of the Orient with us. With Emirates, we are working successfully with an airline that gives our guests this vacation feeling right from the start.”
Last year, Emirates brought about 400,000 cruise guests to Dubai. During the previous cruise season, the city welcomed over 166 ships, making it the region’s largest port of embarkation and most popular destination for cruise liners. The city expects a 23 percent increase in cruise passengers for the forthcoming season.
The increase in cruise liner arrivals in Dubai reflects the collaborative efforts of partners from the travel and aviation ecosystems working together to provide a smooth experience. This comprises hassle-free customs and entrance processes, as well as seamless visa facilities for cruise ship passengers, duty-free outlets and stores, tour operator desks, and complimentary shuttle bus services to the city, in addition to Emirates’ own remote check-in counters at Port Rashid.
The 16 Emirates check-in counters allow passengers disembarking from cruise ships to check in their luggage and receive their boarding passes up to 4 hours before flight departure, allowing them to explore Dubai without their bags before heading directly to the airport for their flight.
For the forthcoming season, TUI Cruises will send two ships to Port Rashid. Each ship can carry over 2,500 passengers. Customers can choose between two itineraries, one having embarkation and disembarkation in Dubai and covering GCC locations such as Abu Dhabi, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The alternate itinerary covers Asian destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong.
