Tagged: Dubai – United Arab Emirates – Bahrain – Qatar – Oman – Saudi Arabia

MSC Cruises And Abu Dhabi Ports Sign Long-term Agreement For Preferential Berthing Rights

Sir Bani Yas Island is a popular new cruise destination in the United Arab Emirates (Courtesy Anantara Hotels)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…)

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)



MSC Cruises Signs Long-term Agreement With DP World For Preferential Berthing Rights In Dubai

MSC Cruises (logo)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…)



Inside Dubai’s cruise industry: the latest issue of Future Cruise is out now

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is located at Port RashidFuture 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)



Arabian Gulf targets the landmark one million cruise passengers in 2020

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is located at Port RashidThe 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)

Dubai welcomes ‘Karnika’, India’s first premium cruise ship

Karnika (Jalesh Cruises)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)



Dubai cruise terminal hosts 2.3 million tourists since 2014

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is located at Port RashidThe Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, the biggest cruise terminal in the world in terms of size and handling capacity, has received over 2.3 million tourists since its inauguration in 2014 and up to the end of 2018. The terminal has also recorded a milestone leap with a 172 per cent increase in cruise tourist numbers from 2014, according to a top official. (khaleejtimes.com)



Pullmantur Cruceros Launches Dubai and Legends of Arabia Program

Pullmantur Cruceros has launched its winter program from Dubai, sailing its first cruise aboard the Horizon this week. To mark the occasion, 50 local officials and dignitaries participated in a plaque exchange event with executives from Pullmantur and ship’s officers, including Captain Charilaos Petrides. (cruiseindustrynews.com)

Doha: Boudicca arrival kicks off cruise season

Cruise ship Boudicca docked at Doha Port, Qatar’s gateway to marine tourism, yesterday to signal the start of the 2018-19 cruise season. With a total of 43 cruise ships carrying more than 140,000 visitors expected to dock at Doha Port during the season, which will continue until May 2019, this is set to be the busiest season since the development of the cruise tourism sector in the country, Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) has said in a statement. (gulf-times.com)







Dubai cruise terminal doubles influx of cruise tourists since 2014

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is located at Port RashidDubai’s cruise terminal at Mina Rashid has more than doubled the number of cruise tourists it receives since it opened in four years ago.Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, managed by DP World, welcomed more than 625,000 holiday-makers in 2016-17 season, up from 320,000 cruise tourists that arrived in Dubai in the 2013-14 season. (thenational.ae)

MSC Cruises enhances its range of cruises from the United Arab Emirates with the introduction of a second ship, MSC Lirica

The MSC Lirica (In this image at Rio de Janeiro)MSC Cruises is enhancing its range of cruises from the United Arab Emirates with the introduction of a second ship, MSC Lirica. Featuring new extended cruises of 11 nights and 14 nights, MSC Lirica will be making her debut in the UAE in November 2018, offering longer itineraries, two overnight stays in Dubai, as well as cruises to India for the very first time. (more…)













Plans to include a second cruise terminal to accommodate 1,200,000 passengers annually in Dubai

Meraas has announced that Dubai Harbour will have a second cruise terminal in addition to the one already revealed in January 2017. Dubai Harbour will be the first cruise destination to build two terminals simultaneously which when completed will accommodate 1,200,000 passengers annually. (more…)



New York and Dubai named as the World’s ‘Instagram hotspots’ a research by Cruise Specialists Iglu Cruise reveals

Social butterflies around the world are perfecting the art of the ‘selfie’ and creating ‘celebrity-style’ Instagram feeds by uploading approximately 1-2 pictures per day when away on a holiday, new research has found. (more…)