Cruise ship brings over 2,500 tourists to Salalah, Oman
As Many as 2,550 tourists aboard the ‘Norwegian Jade’ cruise ship visited Salalah Port on Sunday, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism ( MHT) said. (more…)
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AIDAcosma warmly welcomed in Dubai for her maiden call. Start of the debut Orient season with many highlights
On November 17, 2022, the cruise ship AIDAcosma called at the new Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal for the first time. To mark the occasion, numerous official representatives from Dubai Port Authorities, Inchcape Shipping and Dubai Cruise Terminal came on board for the official plaque ceremony. (more…)
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‘Opera’ arrives, all three ‘floating hotels’ fully booked for first week of World Cup: MSC
The MSC Opera, the third cruise ship to serve as a “floating hotel” during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, has arrived at Doha Port. (more…)
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MSC Foundation: Plans For National Program To Conserve Qatar’s Coastal Ecosystems Announced
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Qatar University’s Environmental Science Center, and Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future have signaled their intent to collaborate on a national program to conserve and restore Qatar’s coastal ecosystems. (more…)
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MSC Cruises’ “World Europa” now en-route to Doha, Qatar ready for her Naming Ceremony on 13 November
Following the delivery of MSC World Europa earlier this week, MSC Cruises’ most innovative, most environmentally advanced and most exciting ship to-date, is now en-route to Doha, Qatar ready for her Naming Ceremony on 13 November. (more…)
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Dubai’s Cruise Tourism Strong Rebound Post-Pandemic
More than 900,000 cruise passengers are anticipated to visit Dubai during the peak winter season, marking a definitive return for the city’s cruise tourism industry. (more…)
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AIDAcosma: Unique kick-off event for the Orient season with DJ ALLE FARBEN. On the 7-day premiere cruise on board AIDAcosma from/to Dubai starting 18 November 2022, guests can expect a special program from 1001 nights
After a successful Mediterranean season, AIDAcosma will set sail for the Orient for the first time from Mallorca on 29 October 2022. (more…)
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Costa Cruises Launches New Costa Toscana Winter 2022-23 Itinerary, With Long Calls In The Arab Emirates And Oman
The Italian company’s flagship offers week-long cruises, including flights, with two-day and one-night calls in Dubai, Muscat and Abu Dhabi. Updated health protocols will also allow guests who are not vaccinated to go on vacation. (more…)
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Costa Cruises launching a new itinerary related to winter 2022-23. Flagship Costa Toscana offers week-long cruises, including flights, with two-day and one-night calls in Dubai, Muscat and Abu Dhabi
Costa Cruises presents a new feature related to winter 2022-23, perfect for enjoying a warm weather vacation with just a few hours’ flight from Europe. (more…)
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Qatar hires 3rd cruise ship as floating hotel for World Cup
A third cruise ship was hired by World Cup organizers in Qatar on Monday to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port to add much-needed rooms for the tournament. (more…)
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MSC Opera To Offer Accomodation As A Cruise Ship Hotel For Football Fans In Doha, Qatar. Ship to offer 1,075 passenger cabins for visitors to Doha from 19 November to 19 December
MSC Cruises announced today that MSC Opera will become a cruise ship hotel in Doha working in cooperation with Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. (more…)
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Dubai’s 2022-2023 cruise season to kick off on 29 October
Dubai’s 2022-2023 cruise season will kick off on 29 October when the leading luxury cruise Mein Schiff 6 is set to arrive at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, Mina Rashid. (more…)
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Qatar Set to Welcome 120 Cruise Ships And Up to 200,000 Passengers Next Season
Qatar is expecting 120 cruise ship calls and up to 200,000 visitors in the 2023/24 season. (more…)
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Doha, Qatar To Host Naming Ceremony Of MSC World Europa. Official naming event of MSC Group’ newest MSC Cruises flagship to take place on 13 November 2022
The Cruise Division of MSC Group in partnership with Qatar Airways today announced that the naming ceremony for MSC Cruises’ trailblazing new flagship, MSC World Europa, will take place on 13 November in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where she will officially inaugurate the city’s brand new Grand Cruise Terminal. (more…)
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Windstar Cruises Adds Arabia to 2023/2024 Sailing Schedule. New brochure just released with details on Arabia – Red Sea and Persian Gulf explorations
Windstar Cruises’ small ships are known for sailing to luxurious and off-the-beaten-path ports around the world. The full breadth of sailings is highlighted best in their new brochure, available to order or access online today, including the line’s newest offering: cruises to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf – a first for the luxury cruise line. (more…)
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PIF-owned JCDC, Cruise Saudi to design luxury cruise terminal at Jeddah Central Project
Jeddah Central Development Co., wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, has signed an initial agreement with PIF-owned Cruise Saudi to design Jeddah Central Project International Luxury Cruise Terminal. (more…)
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MSC Cruises To Base Its Newest Ship, “MSC World Europa”, Next Winter In The UAE. MSC Opera – also to homeport in the UAE as part of strategy to expand business within the Gulf region
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be the base next winter for the biggest and most environmentally high-performing passenger ship to sail in the Middle East, “MSC World Europa”. (more…)
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MSC Cruises Extends Highly Successful Season In The Arabian Gulf Through To End Of June 2022
MSC Cruises announced today that the current season in the Arabian Gulf will be extended with “MSC Bellissima” offering additional 7-night cruises calling Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas in the United Arab Emirates and Doha in Qatar, from 2 April through to 25 June. (more…)
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Costa Firenze Debuts in Dubai with Double Event: Inauguration of New Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal and Start of Tours to Discover Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Costa Cruises today strengthened its presence in Dubai with the departure of Costa Firenze’s first cruise, following the official opening of the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. (more…)
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Carnival Corporation Celebrates Opening of Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal
Carnival Corporation & plc today celebrated the official opening of Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal with Shamal Holding following their strategic partnership signed in 2018 to develop the new cruise port as the main hub for cruise tourism in Dubai. (more…)
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MSC Cruises Names “MSC Virtuosa” Cruise Ship in Dubai
MSC Virtuosa
MSC Cruises officially named “MSC Virtuosa” in a glittering ceremony including music from Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, in Dubai over the weekend. Hollywood icon Sophia Loren is the godmother to “MSC Virtuosa” — her 17th MSC Cruises’ ship — and cut the ribbon that broke the bottle on the ship’s hull on Saturday. (cruisecritic.co.uk)
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Abu Dhabi’s Opening to Vaccinated Travelers Spurs Cruise Tourism
After a challenging year, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is open for cruising. All fully vaccinated travelers from every country are now able to enter the country including sailing in/out via cruise ship. (travelagentcentral.com)
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AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation Sign Agreement for Tourism and Maritime Enhancement Projects in Aqaba – Jordan
AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of trade and logistics, has signed a Heads of Terms agreement with the Aqaba Development Corporation that will see AD Ports Group take on the establishment of a state-of-the-art cruise terminal at Marsa Zayed in Aqaba. (more…)
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Qatar Tourism and CLIA establish partnership (UK)
Qatar Tourism and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland have announced a partnership that will enhance Qatar’s brand awareness across the region and with CLIA’s wider community of cruise lines, travel agents and stakeholders. (more…)
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Naming ceremony for MSC Virtuosa to take place in Dubai in November
MSC Cruises in partnership with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), DP World and Emirates Airline, today announced that the naming ceremony for the line’s newest flagship, MSC Virtuosa, will take place in Dubai on 27 November at Mina Rashid (Port Rashid). (more…)
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Costa Cruises Sponsors The Italy Pavilion At Expo 2020 Dubai
The Italy Pavilion is heading to EXPO 2020 Dubai on board Costa Cruises ships. Next winter, a Costa ship will offer cruises from Dubai, allowing Italian and international guests to visit the Italy Pavilion (more…)
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Qatar Becomes Homeport for Domestic Cruise Program
Qatar is poised to become the next country to permit the resumption of cruising on a limited basis. Following a similar model as other countries that permitted cruises for citizens and residents, Qatar will host a short program of cruises in March 2021. (maritime-executive.com)
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Saudi cruise spotlights pristine sites, economic ambitions
In August, the cruise liner Silver Spirit began offering tours along the unspoilt Red Sea coastline which the petro-state aspires to turn into a global tourism and investment hotspot as part of a plan to reduce reliance on oil revenue. (au.finance.yahoo.com)
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Saudi Arabia launches first luxury leisure cruises along Red Sea coast
Saudi Arabian residents will soon be able to enjoy luxury leisure cruises on the Red Sea for the first time. The cruises have been launched as part of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s Break Free campaign, which aims to highlight the kingdom’s cultural gems and promote domestic tourism. (thenational.ae)
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MSC Cruises And Abu Dhabi Ports Sign Long-term Agreement For Preferential Berthing Rights
MSC Cruises has signed a long-term agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports for preferential berthing rights at both the Zayed Port and Sir Bani Yas Island. Port Zayed is the main cruise passenger gateway to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, and Sir Bani Yas is a beach oasis located 170 kilometres/110 miles off the UAE coast. (more…)
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Cruise Lines Issue Travel Advice to Passengers Cruising to the Middle East
Following ever-growing tension in the Middle East, cruise lines have issued travel advice to those set to cruise the region in the near future. The statements came after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office renewed an alert regarding travel to the Middle East, revealing that the security situation for Britons travelling there could worsen “with little warning”. (worldofcruising.co.uk)
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GAC welcomes ultra-luxury liner for first cruise call at new Ras AL Khaimah terminal
When the boutique cruise ship MV “Seabourn Oviation” was the first liner to dock at the new Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Cruise Terminal, GAC was portside to ensure that its call went as smooth as silk. (more…)
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MSC Cruises becomes official Authorised Ticket Reseller for Expo 2020 Dubai
The next World Expo will be held in Dubai next winter and guests on board MSC Cruises’ two ships deployed in the Gulf, MSC Lirica and MSC Seaview, will be able to discover The World’s Greatest Show. (more…)
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MSC Cruises Signs Long-term Agreement With DP World For Preferential Berthing Rights In Dubai
MSC Cruises has announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with DP World for preferential berthing rights at Mina Rashid Port in Dubai. Thanks to the additional volumes, the Geneva, Switzerland-based cruise line will further consolidate its position as the largest passenger cruise operator in the Gulf region. (more…)
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Inside Dubai’s cruise industry: the latest issue of Future Cruise is out now
Future Cruise is back for another issue packed with technology news and industry analysis. In this issue, we ask what challenges Dubai’s cruise sector could face in the future, find out if rapid industry-wide expansion could create recruitment problems, and take a closer look at Costa Smeralda – the first LNG-powered vessel in Costa Cruises’ roster. (ship-technology.com)
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Qatar Charters Two MSC Cruises Ships to accommodate fans during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has signed an agreement with MSC Cruises to charter two cruise liners to accommodate fans during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (more…)
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Arabian Gulf targets the landmark one million cruise passengers in 2020
The drive to grow cruise tourism in the Arabian Gulf has never relented in recent years. Once again, a large contingent of representatives from the region’s ports and tourism authorities are showcasing their facilities, hospitality, and attractions at Seatrade Europe 2019 Cruise & River Cruise Convention in Hamburg. (cruisebusiness.com)
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P&O Cruises Cancels Dubai Program
P&O Cruises UK has cancelled its winter program aboard the 2,016-guest Oceana in the Middle East, citing the detention of a British-flagged tanker by Iranian authorities. Guests will be issued a full refund, the company said. (cruiseindustrynews.com)
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Doha Port Expands Berthing Space, Completes Dredging
Doha Port has completed another step as part of its redevelopment project that would allow the port to welcome bigger ships. According to Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC), the latest phase included dredging of up to 3.5 million cubic meters of material in the approach channel. (worldmaritimenews.com)
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Dubai welcomes ‘Karnika’, India’s first premium cruise ship
Dubai has welcomed India’s first premium cruise liner, ‘Karnika’ by Jalesh Cruises, to Mina Rashid as its home port for the season. Karnika is Jalesh Cruises’s first liner to homeport in the region, marking a significant milestone for both the Indian domestic and international cruise industry. (gulfnews.com)
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