Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) is welcoming a record number of maiden calls at Zayed Port this cruise season. The number of cruise liners visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time has doubled compared to last season, making it a total of ten scheduled debut visits until April 2014.
Commenting on the growing status of Abu Dhabi as a popular cruise destination and the record number of maiden calls, Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, acting CEO ADPC, said: “The growing number of tour operators who add Abu Dhabi to their itineraries confirms the emirate’s rising status in the cruise tourism market and supports our efforts to establish Zayed Port as a world class port of call.
“The increase in maiden calls is a clear indicator that we are moving in the right direction. And we are honored to welcome the growing number of first-time cruise liners and their passengers to Abu Dhabi and look forward to many more cruise seasons to come.”
One of the debut visitors will be the MS Queen Elizabeth. The signature class cruise ship operated by the Cunard Line follows her sister ship Queen Mary 2 who made her maiden call at Zayed Port earlier this year. Only exceeded by the Queen Mary 2, the MS Queen Elizabeth is the second largest ship to be constructed for Cunard, holding a maximum capacity for 2,547 passengers. [27/12/13]
