The German cruise line Phoenix Reisen is returning to the Middle East next year for a cruise from Dubai to Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The 16-night voyage departs Dubai on January 4th, 2023, but passengers will board on January 3rd, as the ship spends the first night of the cruise in port in Dubai, giving passengers more time to explore the city.

In fact, Artania will spend a night in port in both Dubai and Colombo, at the end of the cruise, and the entire itinerary features 11 ports of call.

Artania will spend the first night of the cruise overnight in Dubai

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“This cruise on Artania is all about Arabian impressions. Let yourself be enchanted by scents such as frankincense, myrrh and cardamom and experience the beauty of magnificent ancient and modern Middle Eastern architecture, culture and tradition,” says Phoenix Reisen.

“Experience the Gulf States of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as the Sultanate of Oman and India’s top destinations of Mumbai and Kochi,” it adds.

This itinerary is indeed unique in that it features Kuwait City in Kuwait as a port of call. Artania is the only cruise ship scheduled to call in Kuwait between now and 2024. The small oil-rich state sits at the very top of the Arabian Gulf and is most famous for its association with the First Gulf War in 1991.

Phoenix Reisen is the only cruise line calling in Kuwait during the 2023 season

It’s tourism industry is underdeveloped, making it a great off the beaten track destination, and Artania will be one of the few ways to visit the country in the coming year as its borders are currently still closed to foreign tourists due to COVID-19 concerns.

In addition to Kuwait, Artania will also visit Doha in Qatar, Sir Bani Yas Island and its exclusive cruise beach off the coast of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi itself, Bahrain, Khasab and Muscat in Oman, as well as Mumbai and Cochin in India, before arriving in Colombo, the port capital of Sri Lanka, on January 18th, 2023.

Sir Bani Yas Island

There are a variety of shore excursions on offer for this itinerary, from city tours visiting various landmarks such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi in the UAE’s capital, or the Museum of the Future, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall in Dubai, to more unique experiences tailored to each port.

These include dune safaris to Al Ain Oasis in Abu Dhabi, a dhow cruise on the Dubai Creek, a dolphin watching cruise in Khasab, or a mountain safari in Muscat, Oman. In Mumbai passengers will have the option to travel overnight to Jaipur to see the Taj Mahal, or explore the Elephant Caves within the city.