Emirates and Tui Cruises strengthen partnership

Emirates and TUI Cruises strengthen their strategic collaboration, further cementing Dubai as a global hub for cruise tourism. The renewal of the agreement coincides with TUI Cruises' expansion in the region, which will see the positioning of a second ship based in Dubai for the 2025/2026 season.

 

The agreement was formalised during ITB Berlin by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, and Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. The agreement underlines Emirates' commitment to ensuring integrated travel experiences, creating a seamless connection between air and cruise travel.

The alliance provides strategic coordination between Emirates flights and TUI Cruises' itineraries, optimising connections between air and sea segments to provide passengers with a seamless experience. In addition, the two companies will work together to secure dedicated capacity in the form of 'cruise blocks', intended to meet demand from key markets in the Emirates network.

 

In addition to improving connectivity, Emirates will work with local authorities to optimise transfers between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Port Rashid Cruise Terminal. The agreement also aims to expand the partnership beyond Dubai, with a focus on cruise itineraries in the Far East. TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 6 ship, with a capacity of more than 2,500 passengers, will offer a 14-day cruise with stops in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Japan, before returning to Singapore.

 

The collaboration between Emirates and TUI Cruises also includes the use of analytics to improve the passenger experience and the use of specialised staff to facilitate check-in procedures at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal in Port Rashid, the world's largest covered cruise facility, accommodating up to 14,000 passengers per day.

Dubai continues to drive the growth of the cruise industry thanks to a seamless synergy between tourism and aviation, including simplified immigration procedures, duty free services, free shuttle tours and Emirates' dedicated remote check-in at Port Rashid. Cruise passengers can check in their luggage and get their boarding pass up to four hours before departure, allowing them to explore Dubai without constraints before heading to the airport.

 

For the upcoming season, TUI Cruises will deploy two ships to Port Rashid, each with a capacity of more than 2,500 passengers. The itineraries will include embarkation and disembarkation in Dubai, with stops in Abu Dhabi, Oman and Qatar, offering travelers a wide choice of experiences between culture, sea and luxury.

 

---