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 […]
AROYA Cruises, the first homegrown cruise line in the Arab world, has departed Jeddah on its inaugural repositioning voyage to Istanbul, where its sole vessel Aroya will be based for the summer.
As the Mediterranean yachting season begins, luxury charters are seeing renewed demand from high-net-worth travellers — including a growing clientele from the Gulf as experienced cruise passengers seek more exclusive options. Increasing […]
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, […]
The Arabian Gulf cruise sector is gaining momentum, but industry leaders say a regional cruise visa could be the missing link to unlocking seamless itineraries, longer deployments, and broader international appeal.
Frank Del Rio, the former President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has joined the board of […]
The all-new class of cruise ships being developed for AIDA Cruises by Italian shipyard Fincantieri could be shared with other cruise lines in the Carnival Corporation group, according to Felix Eichhorn, CEO […]
South African travellers are no longer choosing between local and international cruises—they’re increasingly doing both, according to Antoinette Turner, General Manager at Flight Centre South Africa.
Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar have hosted a closing ceremony marking the end of the 2024/2025 cruise season at Old Doha Port.
The inaugural Cruise Egypt Forum will take place in Cairo on June 1st and 2nd, 2025, as the country looks to leverage robust growth in the regional cruise sector and drive a new […]
CruiseXplore has been named the exclusive Middle East representative for Norway-based expedition cruise line Hurtigruten, marking a significant development for the regional cruise sector.
Several major international cruise lines are preparing to conclude their 2024/25 sailings from Cape Town, with a series of repositioning voyages scheduled through May and early June.
MSC Cruises is adapting its regional product in terms of food, entertainment, and language, but a fully halal kitchen remains a challenge.
Jacobs Media will launch Connections Cruise Arabia, a dedicated B2B cruise summit for the Arabian Gulf, amid rampant growth in the local cruise industry.
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.
Cruise tourism in the Middle East is undergoing a quiet transformation. Once treated as a seasonal stopover for repositioning voyages, the Arabian Gulf is now steadily becoming a destination in its own […]
Costa Cruises is nearing the end of a sweeping fleet transformation plan that includes ship modernisation, new itineraries, and fleet optimisation, with the upcoming refit and refurbusgment of Costa Serena, while its […]
The former Celestyal Crystal is sailing towards Oman following nearly two years laid up in the Eastern Mediterranean, with her future uncertain. The vessel, recently renamed Sun Bright, was removed from the Celestyal Cruises fleet […]
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