Overview of Middle East 2025/26 cruise season out of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha

The 2025/26 Middle East cruise season cements the region’s status as a favoured winter cruise hub, with more than 300 sailings from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The 2025/26 Middle East cruise season is expected to be one of the busiest and most diverse to date, with hundreds of cruise ship calls scheduled across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha between November and May. 

Major cruise lines including MSC Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Celestyal, and TUI Cruises, will homeport in the region, while more than a dozen lines, from ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas to premium Oceania are scheduled to sail a range of itineraries spanning the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean.

The region continues to strengthen its appeal as a winter cruise hub, with Dubai continuing to lead as a key homeport. Abu Dhabi and Doha also offer flexible embarkation options, particularly for interpreting itineraries, where passengers can start and end their journey in any of the three cities. 

The Gulf’s favourable weather, modern infrastructure and short distances between ports make it ideal for both short-stay and extended cruise formats.

MSC Euribia will operate a full season of week-long Gulf cruises, with departures available from all three cities through April 2026. Costa Toscana will offer a similar roundtrip schedule, while AIDA Cruises returns with AIDAprima, sailing a dedicated programme of 7- to 14-night itineraries that include Oman and longer repositioning voyages to Africa and Europe.

Celestyal will field two ships in the region for the first time. Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery are offering an intensive series of 3- to 7-night Arabian Gulf cruises out of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, with additional extended itineraries in March to the Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and North Africa.

TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 will operate a full programme of 7-night Gulf sailings out of Dubai and Doha between November and March, with several repositioning cruises to Cape Town and Palma de Mallorca at the end of the season. Luxury operators also feature in the schedule, with Regent Seven Seas and Oceania offering grand voyages from Doha and Dubai to Singapore, Cape Town and the Mediterranean.

By April, several cruise lines will reposition their vessels to Europe for the summer season. These include a series of Grand Voyages aboard MSC Euribia and Costa Toscana to destinations such as Lisbon, Southampton, and Kiel via Cape Town, South Africa, following the ocean liner routes of old. 

The scale and variety of offerings underline the growing importance of the Arabian Gulf as a strategic hub for winter cruising, with regional ports increasingly serving as both origin and destination for international travellers.

From all three cities, there are a range of roundtrip, repositioning, and world cruise and grand voyage itineraries.

Dubai

The 2025/26 cruise season out of Dubai offers 170 itineraries with 9 ships, providing a mix of short Arabian Gulf sailings and extended repositioning voyages to Africa, Europe, and Asia, with flexible embarkation for regional and international travellers.

Roundtrip

Six ships, MSC Euribia, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5, AIDAprima, Celestyal Journey, Celestyal Discovery, and Costa Toscana, will homeport in Dubai for the 2025/26 cruise season between November 2025 and April 2026. Several of these vessels will also offer Abu Dhabi and Doha as interporting turnaround stops.

MSC Euribia – 7 nights – November 8th, 2025 to March 28th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai

MSC Cruises’ newest ship MSC Euribia will sail 21 roundtrip Dubai cruises from November 8th, 2025 to March 28th, 2026, departing on April 4th for her repositioning cruise to Europe via Cape Town.

These 7-night roundtrip Dubai cruises, departing every Saturday, offer a sweeping exploration of the Arabian Gulf, from the iconic skyline and futuristic ambition of Dubai to the cultural contrasts of Doha, the historic souks and modern waterfront of Bahrain, the museums and cultural sophistication of Abu Dhabi, and the serene natural reserve of Sir Bani Yas Island.

• These itineraries are also available with Abu Dhabi and Doha as homeports

Mein Schiff 4 – 7 nights – November 9th, 2025 to March 15th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai

TUI Cruises’ ship Mein Schiff 4 return to the Arabian Gulf in 2025, sailing 19 roundtrip Dubai cruises between November 9th, 2025 and March 15th, 2026, before departing on March 22nd for her repositioning voyage to the Mediterranean via Cape Town, South Africa, and West Africa.

These 7-night itineraries highlight the diversity of the region, with departures from Dubai’s iconic cityscape, followed by the fjord-like scenery of Khasab, the cultural and architectural richness of Muscat, and the cultural grandeur of Abu Dhabi, before returning to Dubai. The ship departs every Sunday and Monday, with the only difference being whether you stay overnight in Dubai on the first or last night of cruise.

Mein Schiff 5 – 7 nights – December 18th, 2025 to March 5th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai

Arriving in the region in December to join her fleetmate, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5 will sail 11 roundtrip cruises from Dubai through to March 2026. These 7-night itineraries offer two distinct flavours of Arabian Gulf exploration—one tracing the golden shores of Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas, and the other venturing east to the spice-scented souks of Muscat. With overnight stays in Doha and vibrant days at sea, each sailing blends culture, comfort, and coastlines into a memorable Middle East escape.

• Select itineraries are also available with Doha as a homeport

AIDAprima – 7/14 nights – November 23rd, 2025 to February 15th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai 

AIDAprima of the German line AIDA Cruises will offer a full season of 25 cruises roundtrip from Dubai between November 21st, 2025 and February 13th, 2026, before repositioning to Europe later in the month.

The 7-night to two-week itineraries, focusing on either the eastern or western Arabian Gulf, blend modernity and heritage, with the eastern itineraries sailing from futuristic Dubai to the cultural capital Abu Dhabi, the artfully planned skyline of Doha, and the old-world charm of Muscat. The western itinerary visits Abu Dhabi as well as the game reserve and beach destination of Sir Bani Yas Island, and the unpretentious maritime heritage of the island nation of Bahrain, offering a richly layered experience of the region. These two itineraries can also be booked as one grand two-week roundtrip exploration of the region.

• These itineraries are also available with Abu Dhabi in the UAE as a homeport

Celestyal Journey – 7 nights – December 8th, 2025 to March 9th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai

Celestyal Journey of Celestyal Cruises returns to the region for the 2025/26 season, sailing 14 roundtrip itineraries from Dubai that offer a thoughtfully curated exploration of the Gulf. Ports of call include the nature reserve and beaches of Sir Bani Yas, the cultural institutions and modern skyline of Abu Dhabi, the historic maritime character of Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain, and the museums, markets, and seafront promenade of Doha, before returning to Dubai’s iconic urban waterfront.

• These cruises are also available with Doha, Qatar as a homeport, while select voyages also offer Abu Dhabi, UAE

Celestyal Discovery – 7 nights – December 13th, 2025 to February 28th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai

Joining her fleetmate Celestyal Journey in the region, Celestyal Discovery will also sail roundtrip from Dubai during the 2025/26 season between December and February. Each of these 12 roundtrip cruises will follow a 7-night itinerary that calls at Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Ras Al Khaimah, and Khasab, before returning via an overnight stop in Abu Dhabi and concluding in Dubai. The itinerary blends cultural landmarks with scenic coastal experiences across the UAE, Qatar, and Oman.

• These cruises are also available with Abu Dhabi, UAE as a homeport

Costa Toscana – 7 nights – December 20th, 2025 to February 28th, 2026 – Dubai to Dubai

Starting her Middle East season slightly later than usual this year, Costa Toscana returns to the Arabian Gulf for winter 2025/26, offering 11 roundtrip cruises from Dubai between December and March.

Each 7-night itinerary features a call in Muscat, where dramatic mountains meet whitewashed forts and traditional souks; Doha, with its striking skyline, cultural institutions and waterfront Corniche; and Abu Dhabi, where modern architecture, heritage attractions and entertainment districts offer a wide range of experiences — before concluding each voyage back in Dubai. These itineraries each feature two overnight calls in Dubai.

• These cruises are also available with Abu Dhabi in the UAE, or Doha in Qatar, as a homeport

Repositioning

At the close of the 2025/26 cruise season between February and April, 2026, MSC Euribia, Mein Schiff 4, AIDAprima, Celestyal Journey, Celestyal Discovery, and Costa Toscana will all reposition to new summer cruise destinations, but due to the ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea, not all cruise lines are offering these voyages as passenger cruises.

AIDAprima – 35-nights – February 21^st, 2026 – Dubai to Gran Canaria

AIDAprima will depart Dubai bound for Europe on February 21^st, 2026, but this repositioning voyage is offered in a range of formats encompassing direct passage to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands over the full 35-night cruise, or a shorter 18-night option that ends in Cape Town, South Africa. Passengers can also opt to book the repositioning as a combination itinerary that includes a week-long roundtrip Arabian Gulf cruise from Dubai prior to the repositioning.

The full 35-night Dubai to Gran Canaria voyage features a diverse itinerary across the Indian Ocean and Atlantic, beginning with an overnight call in Abu Dhabi, followed by visits to Mauritius, an overnight stay in Port Elizabeth, and another overnight in Cape Town. The cruise then continues to Walvis Bay in Namibia, Praia in Cape Verde, and three ports across the Canary Islands—Tenerife, Puerto del Rosario, and Arrecife—before concluding in Gran Canaria.

Costa Toscana – 29 to 40 nights – March 7th, 2026 – Dubai to multiple European ports

Costa Toscana will depart Dubai on March 7th, 2026, offering a flexible series of repositioning voyages to Europe. Passengers can choose from multiple durations and endpoints, including a 15-night cruise ending in Cape Town, or extended sailings of up to 40 nights that conclude in ports such as Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, or Civitavecchia (Rome).

Each itinerary begins with an early morning departure from Dubai and features calls in Port Louis, Mauritius; Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in South Africa; and an overnight in Walvis Bay, Namibia. The transcontinental voyage continues into the Atlantic with visits to Arrecife and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, before progressing through major Mediterranean ports including Cádiz, Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples, and others depending on the itinerary, offering guests a wide-ranging and immersive cruise experience bridging the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Mein Schiff 5 – 17 to 36 nights – March 12th, 2026 – Dubai to Cape Town or Palma de Mallorca

Mein Schiff 5 will depart Dubai on March 12th, 2026, offering two repositioning options: a 17-night itinerary to Cape Town, and a longer 36-night voyage concluding in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Both cruises begin with evening departure from Dubai and include calls in Khasab and Muscat, Oman, before crossing the Indian Ocean to South Africa. The 17-night itinerary concludes after port calls in Durban and Port Elizabeth, arriving in Cape Town with an overnight stay. The full 36-night voyage continues from Cape Town with a second overnight in Walvis Bay, followed by a transatlantic leg to Praia in Cape Verde, and calls in Tenerife, Gibraltar, and finally Palma de Mallorca. This extended itinerary blends Arabian Gulf exploration with African and Atlantic coastlines, concluding in the western Mediterranean.

Mein Schiff 4 – 20 to 40 nights – March 22nd, 2026 – Dubai to Cape Town or Palma de Mallorca

Mein Schiff 4 departs Dubai on March 22nd, 2026, offering an Indian Ocean crossing with two itinerary options: a 20-night sailing ending in Cape Town, and a full 40-night voyage that concludes in Palma de Mallorca.

Both itineraries include a two-night stay in Dubai prior to departure, followed by calls in Muscat, Mahe in the Seychelles, Port Louis in Mauritius, and Saint-Denis on Réunion Island. The shorter cruise concludes with visits to Port Elizabeth and an overnight in Cape Town. The 40-night option continues with a call in Walvis Bay, Namibia, then sails north to Praia in Cape Verde, Gran Canaria, Arrecife, and Tangier. It concludes with Mediterranean ports including Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, offering an extended transcontinental journey across the Indian Ocean, Atlantic, and western Mediterranean.

MSC Euribia – 18 to 29 nights – April 4th, 2026 – Dubai to multiple European ports

MSC Euribia departs Dubai on April 4th, 2026, offering a wide selection of repositioning itineraries to Europe, ranging from 18 to 29 nights, and is the only homeporting cruise ship in the region to offer a Suez Canal transit. Guests can disembark in cities such as Lisbon, Southampton, Kiel, or Copenhagen, with all itineraries passing through the Suez Canal and including rich port calls along the way, such as Aqaba in Jordan for the Lost City of Petra.

The full 29-night itinerary calls in Doha, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Aqaba (with access to Petra), and features a Suez Canal transit. Further highlights include Alexandria, Rome, Barcelona, Cadiz, Lisbon, Le Havre (for Paris), and Southampton, before continuing to Kiel and concluding in Copenhagen. Shorter versions of the voyage conclude in key European cities, allowing guests to tailor the length and endpoints of their journey across the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, and Mediterranean.

Grand voyage and world cruise segments

Dubai has traditionally been a popular turnaround port for World Cruise segments and grand voyages, but the ongoing security uncertainty in the Red Sea has hit this segment of the cruise sector hard, with just one grand voyage scheduled from Dubai for the 2025/26 season.

Oceania Vista – 20 nights – May 13th, 2026 – Dubai to Barcelona

Oceania Vista will sail a 20-night repositioning cruise from Dubai to Barcelona, departing May 13th, 2026. The itinerary combines Arabian heritage, Red Sea exploration, and Mediterranean elegance, with a focus on smaller, culturally rich ports. The voyage features calls in Muscat and Jeddah before an overnight stay in Safaga, gateway to Luxor. A full transit of the Suez Canal leads into the eastern Mediterranean, with stops in Santorini and Sicily, followed by visits to Sorrento, Porto Cervo in Sardinia, and Port Mahon in Minorca, before concluding in Barcelona.

Abu Dhabi

The 2025/26 cruise season out of Abu Dhabi offers 120 itineraries with 8 ships, providing a broad range of Arabian Gulf sailings and long-haul repositioning voyages to the Mediterranean, Africa, and beyond, reaffirming the city as a leading winter cruise hub.

Roundtrip

AIDAprima, Celestyal Discovery, Costa Toscana, and MSC Euribia will all homeport in Abu Dhabi as well as Dubai and Doha, sailing identical itineraries as those in the Dubai section above.

Repositioning

Celestyal Discovery – 14 nights – March 6th, 2026 – Abu Dhabi to Athens
Celestyal Discovery will sail a 14-night voyage from Abu Dhabi to Lavrion (Athens), departing March 6th, 2026. This itinerary blends Arabian Gulf ports with Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean highlights, combining cultural exploration with relaxed cruising. After overnight departure calls in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the itinerary continues to Muscat before crossing the Arabian Sea to Sharm El Sheikh and Port Sokhna, providing access to Egypt’s iconic ancient sites. The final segment includes a call in Kusadasi, gateway to Ephesus, before concluding in Lavrion, Greece.

Doha

The 2025/26 cruise season out of Doha offers 70 itineraries with 7 ships, providing a mix of week-long Gulf cruises, short regional sailings, and long-distance repositioning voyages to Europe, Asia, and Africa, reinforcing the Qatari capital’s growing role in the regional cruise sector.

Roundtrip

AIDAprima, Celestyal Discovery, Costa Toscana, and MSC Euribia will all homeport in Doha as well as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, sailing identical itineraries as those in the Dubai section above.

Grand voyage

Seven Seas Navigator – 20 nights – May 22nd, 2026 – Doha to Cape Town
Seven Seas Navigator will depart Doha on May 22nd, 2026, for a 20-night voyage to Cape Town, blending Arabian cities, Indian Ocean islands, and southern African coastlines in a single, luxurious itinerary.

After a full-day call in Dubai, the itinerary sails to Mahe in the Seychelles, then continues to Nosy Be, Madagascar and Mayotte in the Comoros. The African segment includes calls in Durban and an overnight stay in Port Elizabeth, before concluding in Cape Town. This sailing offers an immersive journey through some of the most remote and exotic ports between the Gulf and southern Africa.

Seven Seas Navigator – 22 nights – December 14th, 2025 – Doha to Singapore
Seven Seas Navigator departs Doha on December 14th, 2025, for a 22-night voyage to Singapore, marking the New Year with an immersive sailing across the Arabian Sea, Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

Following a Gulf segment including Abu Dhabi and Khasab, the itinerary explores western and southern India with port calls in Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, and Cochin. The voyage continues with three stops in Sri Lanka—Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota—before crossing to Southeast Asia, including an overnight in Phuket. Guests will then visit Langkawi, Penang, Klang (with overnight), and Malacca, before concluding in Singapore.