British cruise tourists have listed Dubai as their choice for number one luxury holiday destination, ahead of the Maldives and the Seychelles, according to MSC Cruises UK.

The UK office of the Italian cruise line undertook the research into British cruisers’ preferred luxury cruise destinations ahead of MSC’s largest-ever Middle East cruise season.

The cruise line will homeport two ships in Dubai for the first time ever, cruising roundtrip in the Arabian Gulf aboard MSC Splendida, and cruising to India from Dubai aboard MSC Lirica.

MSC Splendida is homeporting in Dubai for the coming cruise season between November, 2019 and March, 2020.

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The cruise line’s research found that a third of Brits experience luxury more when travelling compared to being at home (29%), over half (53%) are experiencing luxury every year or more, and over a third are doing so due to their holidays (34%).

According to the study, the average British cruise passenger goes on holiday outside the UK twice a year, and has visited 11 different destinations.

Two thirds are still looking for more luxurious holidays each year (64%), with women (68%) more likely to be interested in a luxury getaway than men.

The survey reinforces the notion that cruise passengers fly-cruising from a major cruise hub, such as Dubai, will be interested in returning for an extended land-based holiday in the future.

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The top attributes required for a luxurious holiday were listed by cruise passengers as seven-star experiences (37%), service (37%), culture (26%) and landscape (23%).

When asked what they enjoy most about experiencing luxury, the British cruise tourists said that having a treat to themselves (22%), feeling special (18%) and taking the time to relax (8%) mean the most.

While Dubai was listed as the most luxurious cruise destination in the survey, cruise tourists also gave Abu Dhabi high marks, with the city coming in third-place.

MSC Cruises’ two ships Lirica and Splendida will be interporting between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, meaning that fly-cruise passengers can use either city as the roundtrip port on the same itinerary.

“As a relatively new destination and most known for its luxury nature, our winter itineraries in the Emirates allow guests to visit one of the most sought-after destinations in the world whilst travelling in luxury,” said Antonio Paradiso, managing director, MSC Cruises UK.