Long before ending her career on the South African cruise circuit, and the hijacking that made her infamous, Achille Lauro had already survived an extraordinary catalogue of collisions, fires, explosions and misfortune.
Homeporting in the Middle East, sailing roundtrip 7-night itineraries from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, AIDAperla is one of the largest and most advanced cruise ships in the AIDA Cruises fleet.
The ten cruise ships delivered in 2025 (with one bonus mention) indicate the industry’s priorities as it prepares for next phase of evolution.
The failure of SS Leviathan seemed to solidify Europe’s trans-Atlantic passenger dominance in the 1920s, but within a few decades US-based cruise brands redefined the industry.
How modern cruise ships, complete with theatres, neighbourhoods, and pools, manage to float effortlessly across the ocean.
Cruise lines are reshaping the role of casinos at sea, transforming them from tucked-away gaming rooms into design-led entertainment hubs that sit at the heart of the onboard experience.
With a private island development, 19 destinations in the pipeline, and a homegrown cruise line making waves, Saudi Arabia is placing the Red Sea at the centre of its cruise ambitions—and reshaping […]
Middle East cruise industry navigates shifting dynamics as regional tensions raise questions around 2025/26 deployments.
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 […]
Once known primarily as a cruise turnaround port, Dubai is now positioning itself as a destination in its own right—one that aims to turn brief ship calls into lasting visitor engagement.
South Africa is set for a record 2025/26 cruise season, with 22 ships scheduled to make 89 calls as Cape Town cements its role as a key turnaround port for global repositioning […]
Amid temporary rerouting and security concerns, cruise executives remain firm in their view that the Red Sea is still the Middle East’s most compelling cruise destination, offering a rare blend of heritage, […]
President of Explora Journeys Anna Nash on why the Arabian Gulf is ready for ultra-luxury cruising as the line prepares to homeport in Dubai for 2026/27.
The Middle East has emerged as a significant hub for the cruise ship refit and refurbishment industry in the last decade, with Dubai and Saudi Arabia leading the charge.
Cruise industry giants are accelerating the shift to a greener future, with biofuels and LNG leading the charge in the race to net zero emissions by 2050.
Aroya, the first ship in the AROYA Cruises fleet, is unlike any other mainstream cruise ship afloat, offering a distinctively Arabian cruise experience in the Red Sea.
Cape Town is on the brink of a major transformation, evolving from a beloved highlight on global cruise routes to a strategic hub in African tourism.
Drawing on over 100 years of storytelling from Disney, Marvel and Pixar, the first Disney Cruise Line ship for guests in Asia, and the largest in the fleet, will be filled with […]
As the security situation in the Red Sea prompts cruise lines to rethink their routes, Africa is growing in popularity as an emerging cruise destination.
In a sign of the Middle East cruise sector’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this coming cruise season is expected to welcome well north of 1 million cruise tourists to the […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.