AIDAprima returning to Dubai for 2025/26 Arabian Gulf cruise season

AIDA Cruises has released its 2025/26 winter cruise itineraries with AIDAprima selected to return to the Middle East to sail a full season of roundtrip Dubai cruises in the Arabian Gulf.

Ports of call on these week-long Dubai to Dubai itineraries will include Bahrain, Doha in Qatar, Muscat in Oman, and the ports of Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE.

AIDA Cruises traditionally interports between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and sometimes Doha, but it is not clear at the time of writing whether this practise will be continued for 2025/26 season, which runs from November to March.

Interporting allows passengers to select either port as the start and end point for the cruise, giving passenger more flexibility in terms of flights, as AIDA primarily caters to the German fly-cruise market.

AIDAprima is very familiar with Dubai, the ship has spent several cruise seasons in the region since she entered service in 2016, and even spent much of the pandemic in lay-up in Port Zayed in Dubai.  

The ship offers AIDA’s ‘resort-style’ cruising concept, with one of the largest Beach Clubs ever aboard a German cruise liner, complete with waterslides, a lazy river, a rock climbing wall and a huge LED wall designed for watching sports.

There are also 13 restaurants and 14 cabin categories, including 32 suites. 

Abu Dhabi is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an architectural wonder of 82 domes, 24-carat gold-gilded chandeliers, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, as well as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with its spectacular sun-dappled dome that weighs more than the Eiffel Tower.

From Abu Dhabi, because the ship stays overnight in port, guests can also undertake desert safaris to the edge of the imposing Empty Quarter, a 650,000sqkm desert shared between the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

In Doha, guests can explore priceless Islamic art spanning 1,400 years and three continents at the Museum of Islamic Art, or discover inventive cuisine at Alain Ducasse’s IDAM restaurant, before making their way to Souq Waqif, the Arabic market quarter.

The maze-like corridors of this quarter were recently renovated, but the timeless aroma of spices, and the sights of colorful textiles and gold jewelry remain.

On itineraries that feature Sir Bani Yas, guests can choose between a relaxing beach day in the sun, or stand up paddleboarding, kayaking and a game safari Jeep drive or mountain bike excursion.

On itineraries that feature Muscat instead, the ancient capital of Oman offers shopping at Muttrah Souq, the city’s oldest market, or a taste of culture and history at the colorful Sultan’s palace and the Jelali and Merani forts, or adventure in the desert and mountains with their oases and wadis, and the medieval Nakhl Fort.