Category Archives: Cruises

Dubai Customs announced that its Passenger Operations Department efficiently handled over 1.23 million bags for 281,775 passengers on board 187 cruise ships between January and November 2024, underscoring its commitment to providing world-class customs services at Port Rashid and Dubai Harbour amid the continued growth of Dubai’s maritime tourism sector. Khalid Ahmed, Director of the Passenger Operations Department at Dubai Customs, highlighted the Department’s pivotal role in supporting Dubai’s tourism growth. “We are committed to supporting Dubai’s growing tourism sector through a strategic vision that focuses on delivering efficient, state-of-the-art customs services, ensuring a seamless travel experience for passengers arriving by air or sea. Our efforts support Dubai’s tourism goals and the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33,” he said. “We take pride in being an integral part of Dubai’s global achievements in tourism and travel, through iconic hubs like Dubai International Airport, Port Rashid, and Dubai Harbour.” Ahmed also underscored Dubai Customs’ commitment to fostering the growth of maritime tourism by providing seamless and world-class services to cruise passengers. He noted that close collaboration with strategic partners plays a key role in delivering outstanding services at cruise terminals, attracting more visitors and further establishing Dubai as a global tourism hub. Falah Al Sammak, Senior Manager of Passenger Operations at Al Maktoum International Airport, reiterated Dubai Customs’ ongoing efforts to innovate and enhance its services. “Dubai Customs is continually developing its services to ensure smooth and efficient travel through its customs checkpoints, including Dubai International Airport and the city’s renowned maritime hubs. Dubai’s unique position as a bridge between East and West requires exceptional year-round service standards for travellers and tourists,” Al Sammak said. As the 2024-2025 cruise season kicks …

FITUR Cruises, the space dedicated to the world of cruises at the International Tourism Trade Fair organised by IFEMA MADRID, promises a packed programme of activities and presentations aimed at both professionals and the general public with which to discover the latest news and future trends of the industry. Over the five days of the Fair (22 to 26 January), FITUR Cruises, organised by FITUR in collaboration with Cruceroadicto.com, announces different initiatives aimed at showcasing the essence of cruise tourism. Cruise Campus is an innovative system of mini-courses that, in a practical way and with the help of experts in different areas of marketing, communication and even professional travellers, will be dealing with aspects related to the cruise experience from all perspectives. At the weekend, in addition to the Cruise Campus talks, the popular Cruise Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Intermundial will be taking place, in which teams must solve clues and visit a series of cruise ship stopover destinations throughout the FITUR halls to enter a final draw to win cruises for two, excursion vouchers or travel insurance. Along with this, on Thursday 23 January, FITUR Cruises will hold the third edition of the Cruceroadicto Awards in an event attended by the finalists in each category. These international awards are the only cruise awards voted 100% by the Spanish-speaking travel community. In this regard, to guarantee that it is the traveller who has the last word, these are the first awards in Spain to be certified by the AENOR quality mark ‘commitment to transparency and impartiality’. The awards will be presented in the categories of best ship, cruise line and port of the year 2024. Likewise, this edition has an …

Cruise Saudi announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Prince Mugrin (UPM) in Madinah. The MoU, which was formally signed on 15th December at Cruise Saudi’s office in Jeddah, aims to enhance the development of specialized training programs, curricula and internships aligned with the needs of the rapidly growing cruise industry in Saudi. As part of the agreement, Cruise Saudi will provide vital industry insights and inputs to guide the development of training programs and curricula at the University of Prince Mugrin. This partnership will ensure that these educational initiatives are specifically tailored to meet the evolving demands of the cruise industry. The University of Prince Mugrin will leverage its educational resources and expertise to create high-quality training programs aimed at equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge for a career in cruise tourism. This partnership will also include the creation of internship opportunities for students, providing practical experience and fostering connections between academia and industry, and creating job opportunities. This MoU is the fruit of continuous collaboration between Cruise Saudi and The University of Prince Mugrin. In 2021, the first MoU was signed, with the University playing a key role in the success of Cruise Saudi’s “Ambassadors Program”. 56 Saudi Hospitality and Tourism department students participated in training onboard MSC Cruises, enabling the students to gain practical skills through onboard training from industry experts with decades of experience. Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, commented: “This collaboration with the University of Prince Mugrin is a significant step towards shaping the future workforce for the cruise industry in Saudi. This partnership will help create valuable opportunities for Saudis and contribute to the success of …

Cruise Saudi announced the soft launch of Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya – Cruise Saudi’s newly developed private island for cruising in the heart of the Red Sea. Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya welcomed the first cruise passengers on 21 December 2024 as part of a soft launch that offers guests an exclusive first experience of the private island. The soft launch of Saba Beach marks a significant milestone for Cruise Saudi, and the development of the private island is a natural progression in Cruise Saudi’s mission to position Saudi as a prominent destination for cruising. Just a short sail from Jeddah, roughly 220 Nautical miles, Jabal AlSabaya will be exclusively accessible to all cruise line passengers, offering an unparalleled Red Sea experience that combines luxury, local culture, and the natural beauty of Saudi’s coastline. Upon completion of the first phase, facilities will include a floating park, full-service restaurant, retail shops, a VIP beach and VVIP beachfront villas. Visitors can also treat themselves to a spa experience, a shisha lounge and a range of land and water activities that cater to all kinds of travelers. Guests can relax on beachside cabanas at Saba Beach or explore the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea with a snorkeling excursion. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the natural environment, the island’s development represents the best of Saudi culture, with influences from the Aseer and Hijaz regions, coastal Roshan designs, and patterns inspired by Sadu and AlKhous. The project’s development began in 2024 – from the start the island’s facilities were also built with sustainability at the forefront. Construction was undertaken with minimal impact, using local materials and craftsmanship along with off-site prefabrication, whilst measures …

Celestyal marked its maiden call in Dubai this week entering the emirate’s waters with a dhow escort, the line’s newest ship, Celestyal Journey, hosted a plaque exchange ceremony and a star-studded party to kick off the ship’s first week-long ‘Desert Days’ itinerary, which includes sailing roundtrip from Dubai and calling at Bahrain, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island and Abu Dhabi. The result of a collaboration between Greek company Celestyal and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) that aims to share the region’s extraordinary offerings with the wider world, Celestyal Journey will homeport from the city for the next three years, with passengers already able to book trips. Celestyal’s inaugural Arabian Gulf season sails until March 2025.

A Qatari delegation, led by representatives from Qatar Tourism and the Ministry of Interior, and members of the Permanent Committee for the Management of Sea Ports and Passports, Mwani Qatar and the General Authority of Customs, concluded a visit to Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat recently. These meetings provided a platform to explore ways of collaboration, exchange best practices in logistics and port management, and discuss strategies to enhance the cruise tourism experience. Commenting on the visit, Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said: “Our visit to Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat was an opportunity to network with our Omani counterparts and exchange in-depth knowledge in key operational areas including immigration and customs, terminal logistics and passenger services. By sharing experiences and consolidating best practices, we are committed to improving Qatar’s cruise experience and strengthening regional cooperation to achieve sustainable growth in the cruise tourism sector.” During the discussions, the Qatari delegation addressed key operational areas, including passport and customs procedures, station operations and logistics, and the roles and responsibilities of tour operators and ship agents. The attendees also discussed ways to enhance cooperation, strengthen bilateral relations and develop the cruise sector in both countries. The visit was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, where the delegation held high-level meetings with Omani officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport, the Royal Oman Police and the port operator (Asyad).  Qatar’s cruise sector has become a key focus of Qatar Tourism’s strategy, with consistently strong growth rates in recent years. During the 2024-2025 season alone, Doha Port is expected to welcome …

Cruise Saudi welcomed AROYA Cruises’ inaugural ship, AROYA, to Jeddah after a comprehensive transformation, AROYA is now ready to call Jeddah its homeport. Following months of dry-docking and design innovation in Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, AROYA now offers an exceptional cruising experience featuring a fully reimagined interior, with 95% of the ship’s spaces completely redesigned to reflect Arabian heritage and preferences. The ship is equipped with an array of world-class facilities, such as a souq-inspired shopping district – the largest retail area ever built on a cruise ship – luxury spa facilities, a wellness centre, 29 restaurants, lounges and cafes, 20 entertainment venues, and one of the largest children’s play areas at sea. The occasion was celebrated with a traditional plaque and key ceremony, attended by AROYA’s captain, Jan Gelinder, and Cruise Saudi’s CEO, Lars Clasen, and the President of AROYA Cruises, Dr Jorg Rudolph, and the Chief Destination Experiences Offices, Barbara Buczek. Jeddah Islamic Port offers all services to handle international and local guests, as well as logistics services to cruise vessels. The port has long had great historical significance, with Jeddah being the principal gateway to the Two Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah. Cruise terminal facilities have been upgraded to accommodate the largest cruise ships, and new bollards and fenders have been installed to serve cruise ships Clasen commented: “The arrival of AROYA marks the beginning of a new chapter for Cruise Saudi, and tourism in Saudi overall, in line with Saudi’s Vision 2030. Cruise Saudi was only launched in 2021 and witnessing the arrival of our first owned ship just three years later is a huge milestone. We are so grateful to the whole Cruise Saudi team for their …

Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar participated in the reception of the Celestial Journey as the ship docked on Qatari shores as part of its first tour of the Arabian Gulf region. The arrival of Celestial Journey is one of the highlights of Qatar’s 2024/2025 cruise season, which is set to see 95 cruises, including 33 return flights, 11 flights from Doha and 5 vessels visiting Doha Port for the first time. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, Mr. Abdulrahman Saad Al Baker, Director of Doha Port, along with representatives of local and international media. The ceremony included a review of the ship’s current and future flight schedule, in addition to a review of joint cooperation between strategic partners in Qatar to start the ship’s trips so that Doha Port will be the main station for its trips during the next three seasons. Speaking at the launch of the first cruise ship, Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said: “The arrival of the Celestal Journey to Doha Port marks a significant milestone in our partnership with Celesteal, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a leading tourism destination in the Arabian Gulf region. This collaboration also highlights Qatar’s growing appeal as a destination offering unique cultural and travel experiences, and we are proud to collaborate with Mwani Qatar to deliver seamless operations and an enriching guest experience that reflects the hospitality and diverse tourism offerings Qatar has to offer.” Mr. Abdulrahman Saad Al Baker, Director of Doha Port, expressed his delight at the launch of the inaugural voyage of the Celestial Journey, where Doha Port will be the main port …

Qatar has been emerging as a premier cruise tourism destination, where residents and citizens of the GCC are invited to explore the rich tapestry of the Arabian Peninsula through luxurious cruises departing from Doha. Qatar’s 2024/25 cruise season presents a unique opportunity to experience the region’s most dynamic cities, including Doha, Oman, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, all from the comfort of world-class vessels such as Costa Smeralda and Norwegian Dawn, as well as Celestyal’s maiden voyage which homeports in Doha. These cruises are designed to offer a blend of adventure and relaxation, allowing passengers to experience the unique cultures and landscapes of multiple Arabian cities. Costa Smeralda, with its 20 decks and extensive array of amenities—including 11 restaurants and a family-friendly water park—promises a luxurious journey for all ages. Celestyal Journey provides an intimate setting with wellness facilities and diverse entertainment options, ensuring that every guest feels catered to. Norwegian Dawn returns to the Gulf with an impressive selection of dining venues and activities, perfect for families seeking both comfort and engagement. By booking an Arabian cruise departing from Doha, visitors can elevate their experience by arriving early to explore Qatar’s vibrant tourism landscape, which includes renowned retail, dining, and entertainment options that cater to all ages and interests. The Mina District, where the cruise terminal is located, boasts charming streets, delightful dining options, and various entertainment venues. Its prime location near Doha’s key attractions, including the National Museum of Qatar and Museum of Islamic Art, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of Qatar. Convenient transportation, such as the ‘Hop On Hop Off’ Doha Bus, facilitates easy exploration of iconic landmarks, including Souq Waqif …

With a matter of weeks until its maiden voyage, AROYA, the first ship in the fleet from the first Arabian cruise line AROYA Cruises, has departed Bremerhaven, Germany for its homeport in Jeddah, Saudi. After lengthy dry docking and transformation periods in Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, AROYA is now ready for operation. AROYA has undergone the largest cruise ship refit project in the world, transforming 95% of its interior to create a brand new Remarkably Arabian experience. The vessel features an array of world-leading facilities including a souq-inspired shopping district – the largest retail area on a cruise ship – state-of-the-art spa area, 29 restaurants, lounges and cafes, 20 entertainment venues, and one of the largest kids play areas on a cruise ship. AROYA’s Maiden Voyage, departing on the 16th December, will take passengers on a three-night journey to an exclusive Red Sea private island developed by Cruise Saudi, the Public Investment Fund company which owns AROYA Cruises.