Pullmantur Cruises will bring its cruise liner Horizon to Dubai in the coming 2018/19 Middle East cruise season. The cruise line will homeport in the Arabian Gulf for the first time ever as the Dubai cruise sector continues its record growth.

Horizon, a smaller cruise ship compared to the MSC, Costa, TUI and AIDA giants cruising from Dubai, will sail 13 7-day roundtrip Dubai cruises, visiting Abu Dhabi, Khasab, Muscat and Fujairah, with a tw-night stay in port at the beginning of the cruise.

Horizon is smaller cruise ship by Dubai standards, offering a traditional ‘relaxed’ on-board atmosphere.

Horizon will sail her first Dubai cruise on December 8, 2018, and will leave the Middle East cruise market on March 3, 2019. According to Richard J. Vogel, president & CEO of Pullmantur Cruises, this maiden Arabian Gulf cruise season represents the line stepping ‘out of its comfort zone’.

Standard balcony and royal suite aboard Horizon

“We are not only coming out of our comfort area to start sailing in a geographical area for the first time in our history, but we are also enriching our offer to include a range of options for our guests,” he says.

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The ‘Dubai and Legends of Arabia’ cruise season is part of Pullmantur’s ‘Exclusive Destinations. Dreams,’ sub-brand focussing on land and sea holidays, with the option of excursions and on-board themed activities related to the deployment region.

Pullmantur’s Horizon most recently cruised as Island Star for the UK-based Island Cruises. Prior to that, the 46,811-ton, 1,875-passenger ship sailed for Celebrity Cruises as Celebrity Horizon.

Horizon caters to a Spanish-speaking clientele and cruises the Mediterranean, Canaries and Caribbean (in addition to Dubai now).

Horizon is a classis smaller-sized cruise ship by modern standards. Built in 1990 and most recently refit in 2009, she features multiple bars and lounges (including a cigar bar), a delightful kids’ club and a Broadway-style show lounge.

Dining options aboard include a casual buffet with adjacent outdoor grill and the main dining room, which serves set-time, set-table meals in the evening. There is a large pool deck up top, with two pools, as well as a top-ship fitness facility and a spa.