Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Welcomed MSC World Europa, the Largest LNG Powered Cruise Ship, to Doha

‎ 15 November 2022

Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani officially named the ship MSC World Europa in grand ceremony accompanied by live performances and events on the Doha Grand Terminal Port, where air and sea transport come together

Qatar continues to be a top destination for tourists with one of the world’s most modern ports

Doha, Qatar – Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism welcomed MSC Cruises’ largest ever cruise ship, the MSC World Europa, which was officially named today in Doha, Qatar. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, officially cut the ribbon and named the ship, MSC World Europa, in the presence His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo, His Excellency Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Chief of the Amiri Diwan of the State of Qatar, His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Faleh Bin Nasser Bin Ahmad Al Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, His Excellency Ahmad Al-Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Free Zones Authority. This prestigious event took place at the Grand Cruise Terminal where a spectacular array of shows accompanied the naming ceremony. The ceremony included drone shows, fireworks and live performances by stars such as Matteo Bocelli.

At 215,863 gross tons, MSC World Europa is the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel in MSC’s fleet and the most environmentally advanced to date, striving to meet the Swiss-based company’s goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions for its operations by 2050. This aligns with Qatar Airways’ ambition to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In addition, the opening of the Doha Grand Cruise Terminal puts Qatar on the map for cruise ships and positions Doha as one of the most modern ports in the world.

The Naming Ceremony began with speeches from Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, and Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, Mr. Pierfrancesco Vago who highlighted the significance of the event.

In his speech addressing Their Excellencies and distinguished guests, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said: “The Arabian Gulf is an important gateway for the state of Qatar and the country has taken important steps to position itself as a world class destination for cruise passengers. Today’s naming ceremony of MSC World Europa in Doha is another landmark event as we grow this important tourism sector.”

MSC Cruises’ commitment with Qatar Airways fortifies the importance of travel and tourism in the Middle East. Qatar continues to be an international hub, connecting travellers to a multitude of destinations worldwide. MSC Cruises’ builds on Qatar’s mission to be a top destination for tourists looking to experience an authentic and rich Middle Eastern culture, and also supports Qatar’s Vision 2030 to triple the number of international tourists by that year.

The special occasion took place at Doha’s new Grand Cruise Terminal, a state-of-the-art 24,000 square metres facility that will handle up to 28,000 passengers a day and has the capacity to host two mega-cruise ships daily. Qatar has recently announced that a third ship will now be docked during the FIFA World Cup. MSC World Europa’s naming event will further support Qatar’s Vision 2030 pledge to triple the number of international tourists visiting the country by 2030.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is one of the two brands that sit within the Cruise Division of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises – the contemporary brand - has a modern fleet of 20 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025, with options for six more vessel orders in place through 2030.