Photo: Emirates Airline Emirates and MSC Cruises have announced an extension of their long-standing strategic partnership, focused on enhancing the integrated air-sea travel experience, supporting Dubai’s positioning as a major global cruise hub, and exploring future joint growth opportunities across Emirates’ global network.
The announcement was made during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management, and Eudes-Philippe Le Guelinel, Head of Fly & Cruise at MSC Cruises.
“Our cornerstone partnership with MSC Cruises is a powerful example of how two global brands can collaborate to strengthen Dubai’s cruise tourism ecosystem while offering seamless, world-class experiences for travelers,” said Nabil Sultan. “We’re witnessing significant growth in the cruise segment, and through joint marketing and product innovation, we aim to grow awareness around Fly&Cruise offerings and Emirates’ expansive destination network.”
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, added:
“This partnership is rooted in our mutual commitment to delivering unforgettable guest experiences. By combining Emirates’ renowned flight service with our premium cruise offering, we are creating a product that’s greater than the sum of its parts. We’re pleased to extend this successful collaboration.”
As part of the partnership, Emirates and MSC Cruises will focus on delivering an enhanced Fly&Cruise experience, with offerings such as dedicated transfers from the airport to the cruise terminal, baggage drop-off at the ship, and seamless coordination between flight and cruise schedules to minimize layovers.
The collaboration will also extend to MSC’s luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys, to offer elevated experiences for discerning travelers, and include joint marketing campaigns to drive demand in key source markets.
Emirates will further explore opportunities to support MSC’s deployment beyond Dubai, while both brands plan to share operational data, explore inventory allocation for cruise blocks, and strengthen check-in coordination at Port Rashid, where Emirates operates 16 dedicated counters allowing passengers to check in up to four hours before departure.
By leveraging each other’s strengths, Emirates and MSC Cruises are working to deliver a seamless and premium end-to-end journey — by air and by sea — reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global gateway for cruise tourism.
