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29 March 2024

Cruise ship 'Queen Elizabeth' to make debut call at Abu Dhabi

The ‘Queen Elizabeth’ will make her maiden Abu Dhabi call at Zayed Port cruise terminal next week.

Published
By Wam

The ‘Queen Elizabeth’, the newest ocean liner of luxury cruise line Cunard, will make her maiden Abu Dhabi call at the UAE capital’s Zayed Port cruise terminal next week.
 
The Dh2billion ($560million) ‘Queen Elizabeth’ – the latest Cunard liner to carry the name of the current British monarch - will spend the day in Zayed Port as part of her 2014 World Cruise, and will return next April joining the line’s flagship ‘Queen Mary 2’ as one of two scheduled ports-of-call for Cunard’s 2015 world cruise programmes celebrating the company’s 175th anniversary.
 
Welcoming the liner’s arrival, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) said, "We are delighted to welcome the Queen Elizabeth to the UAE capital as part of its 2014 World Voyage. Cunard’s return and future commitment to Zayed Port is an indication of the growing confidence the world’s leading lines have in Abu Dhabi, and an endorsement of the quality improvements being implemented through our port investment strategy."
 
The liner will arrive in Abu Dhabi on April 17 carrying 2,200 passengers, with officials hailing the second debut in consecutive years of a ship from one of the world’s most prestigious lines as a milestone in the emirate’s cruise ambitions.
 
Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director of Tourism at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority said, "Queen Elizabeth is considered the most high-profile arrival of what is set to be our busiest cruise season, and a sign that our promotion of Abu Dhabi in recent years as a highly credible winter cruise destination is bearing fruit."

"Long term support from leading cruise lines such as Cunard raises the emirate’s credibility within the cruise sector and allows us to demonstrate our extensive range of high-end differentiated passenger experiences. Developing awareness of Arabian Gulf cruising in partnership with other regional cruise destinations remains a priority.  Abu Dhabi’s expanding cultural, historic and singular experiences are a core component of our plans to enhance the emirate’s reputation and ability to deliver a high quality world-class, shore excursion experience," Al Dhaheri said.
 
The 2013/14 cruise season is on course to be Abu Dhabi’s busiest since cruise ships first arrived in the UAE capital, with Zayed Port due to welcome almost 190,000 passengers from 75 calls generated by 14 ships in all.
 
Cunard’s return to Abu Dhabi signifies growing passenger interest in the diversity of the emirate’s attractions and experiences according to its shore excursion agent for UAE.
 
"Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 met with resounding success during her maiden call to Abu Dhabi last January and if advance sales are any measure, its sister ship Queen Elizabeth will duplicate that success during her maiden call this April," said R. Gori, Senior General Manager of Orient Tours.