Dubai, March 13, 2025 – Emirates has renewed its partnerships with multiple global cruise lines, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading cruise hub. The latest agreements, announced in March 2025, extend collaborations with Costa Cruises and TUI Cruises, following similar renewals with AIDA Cruises and MSC Cruises in 2024. These partnerships aim to enhance seamless connectivity between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the city’s cruise terminals, facilitating smoother travel experiences for international passengers.
Expanding Cruise Partnerships in Dubai
AIDA Cruises
In March 2024, Emirates renewed its long-standing partnership with AIDA Cruises, a German brand under Carnival Corporation, for another two seasons. The collaboration focuses on:
✅ Coordinated flight schedules to ensure smooth passenger transfers
✅ Enhanced transportation between DXB and Dubai Harbor
✅ Dedicated check-in counters at Dubai Harbor for hassle-free departures
AIDA Cruises, which first homeported in Dubai in 2006, has played a key role in expanding the city’s cruise industry. With Emirates’ exclusive check-in services at Dubai Harbor, passengers can explore the city after disembarking without carrying their luggage.
Costa Cruises
In March 2025, Emirates extended its two-decade-long partnership with Costa Cruises through 2027. Costa, also part of Carnival Corporation, will introduce its newest flagship, Costa Toscana, to the Gulf for the 2025/2026 cruise season.
Key highlights of the renewed partnership:
✅ Dedicated “cruise blocks” on flights to accommodate Costa passengers
✅ Streamlined visa processes and enhanced port facilities
✅ Potential expansion of collaboration to South America, the Far East, and Southeast Asia
TUI Cruises
A day before the Costa renewal, Emirates extended its partnership with TUI Cruises, a German cruise operator, to support its growing presence in Dubai. The renewal coincides with TUI’s expansion, adding a second homeported vessel for the 2025/2026 season.
This partnership will:
✅ Optimize flight schedules to match cruise itineraries
✅ Improve passenger transfers between Dubai Airport and the cruise terminal
✅ Potentially expand to TUI’s Far East cruises, covering Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan
MSC Cruises
In May 2024, Emirates renewed its decade-long partnership with MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise company. The Fly&Cruise packages under this collaboration allow passengers to book Emirates flights from 21 cities across Europe and South America, ensuring a seamless transition between air and sea travel.
The MSC Euribia, one of the most advanced cruise ships, has already completed successful winter voyages in the Gulf region and will return for the 2025/2026 season.
Dubai: A Growing Global Cruise Hub
With 166 cruise ships docking in Dubai in 2023, the city is cementing its reputation as a premier cruise destination. Port Rashid and Dubai Harbor now feature 16 and 12 Emirates check-in counters, respectively, enabling passengers to check in their luggage at the port and explore the city before their flight.
Dubai’s Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal at Port Rashid is now the world’s largest covered cruise facility, capable of handling 14,000 passengers per day. In 2023 alone, Emirates transported 400,000 cruise passengers, and with these extended partnerships, the numbers are expected to rise further in the coming years.
Emirates at a Glance
- Main Hub: Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Fleet Size: 252 aircraft
- Largest operator of: Airbus A380 & Boeing 777-300ER
- Global Destinations: 133
- Annual Revenue: $33 billion
By integrating air and sea travel, Emirates is playing a pivotal role in positioning Dubai as a global tourism and cruise powerhouse, offering passengers world-class services and seamless connectivity.
