MSC Cruises has officially named MSC Virtuosa during a ceremony in Dubai.

The event, held at Port Rashid in partnership with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and DP World, was attended by godmother and Hollywood actor Sophia Loren, ship captain Francesco Veniero and other local dignitaries.

The line said it chose to host Virtuosa’s naming in Dubai in recognition of its “long-term commitment to the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East market”.

The 6,334-passenger ship will operate in the Arabian Sea until March 2022 from its base in Dubai.

MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “We are honoured to host this time-honoured maritime tradition ceremony in the United Arab Emirates during its Golden Jubilee year and with it, to mark our longstanding and long-term commitment to this region.

“This is also why this winter MSC Virtuosa, a new and one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced ships in our fleet, will homeport in the country as part of our deployment in the Gulf region.

“Cruising is an integral part of the UAE’s dynamic tourism industry, and thanks to our uniquely global distribution network we will continue to promote the country and the Middle East all around the world as an attractive holiday option to support the further growth of the tourism industry locally.”

DP World group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem added: “It is a proud moment for us to host the MSC Virtuosa naming ceremony at Mina Rashid that has consistently reaffirmed its status as a leading destination, regionally and globally.

“We are also expecting a total of 126 ship calls and over 500,000 cruise visitors for the upcoming 2021/22 cruise season. This will further bolster Dubai’s tourism figures and drive our progress.”

MSC Virtuosa departed Dubai on 28 November for its maiden Gulf voyage, with visits to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Doha.

Image credit: Anthony Devlin, Getty Images