Category Archives: Cruises

Qatar Tourism (QT) led a delegation of government and private agencies at the 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s annual cruise industry gathering. In addition to QT, Qatar’s pavilion included Mwani, Doha Bus, Al Tawfeeq Travel, and Qatar International Tours. The 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global took place in Fort Lauderdale from March 27-30, 2023, at the Broward County Convention Center. It gathered more than 70 industry speakers who discussed key industry trends from sustainability to technology, and over 500 exhibitors including ports and destinations, ship equipment and shipbuilding, entertainment, environment and health, hospitality, information technology, and more. During the event, Qatar Tourism participated in a panel discussion where it showcased the unique offerings of Doha as a premier cruise destination, highlighting Qatar’s rich culture and history, modern infrastructure, and family-friendly entertainment. In addition, Qatar Tourism met with several major global cruise lines on the side-lines of the event, including Ponant, Silversea, TUI, Costa, AIDA, Windstar, MSC, Swan Hellenic and NCL. Qatar Tourism also attended the ‘Meet the Itinerary Planners’ event to promote Qatar as a top cruise destination and develop partnerships that will bring more cruise passengers to the country. Maryam Saoud, Head of Tourism Product Support Section at Qatar Tourism, said: “Events of global significance like the Seatrade Cruise Global present a valuable opportunity for tourism stakeholders to engage in meetings and share knowledge with prominent industry influencers and senior cruise executives. Such gatherings also offer an excellent platform to stay informed about the latest developments within the cruise industry and allow major international cruise operators to discover Qatar’s world-class tourism infrastructure and the unique features that make it an appealing addition to their cruise programs.” With a goal …

Seabourn Encore, the ultra-luxury cruise ship, visited  Dubai Harbour, the city’s extraordinary seafront district designed for a maritime lifestyle. Discover the World, the Middle East representative for Seabourn, hosted guests for a ship tour event onboard Seabourn Encore. The stunning Seabourn Encore entered service in January 2017, once again re-defining the industry’s expectations for an ultra-luxury experience. Designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany who intended Seabourn Encore “to feel more like a luxury yacht,” the vessel, together with her sister ship Seabourn Ovation (2018) features modern design elements and innovations in keeping with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance, as well as one additional deck and expanded public areas. Seabourn Encore offers 300 spacious and luxuriously-appointed all-veranda suites and maintains the line’s high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly personalized service. Features include seven lounges and bars, The Spa at Seabourn featuring a variety of wellness and spa treatments, and The Retreat, a sanctuary designed for guests to relax in private cabanas, with a Spa Treatment Cabana for personalised spa services. In addition, guests may enjoy superb cuisine at seven dining venues, including The Grill by Thomas Keller, Earth & Ocean on The Patio, and Sushi. Seabourn Encore will spend summer 2023 in the Mediterranean, with a series of voyages to Greece & Turkey itineraries. The itineraries explore the wonders of the classical world, and select voyages include Seabourn’s iconic ‘Evening at Ephesus,’ a complimentary private event with a classical concert at the ancient site of Ephesus. In November 2023, Seabourn Encore ends its Europe season with an 18-night Holy Land, Egypt & Arabia voyage travelling from Athens to Dubai. From there, the ship heads to Asia, where …

Cruise Saudi Managing Director Fawaz Farooqui shared about Aman at Sea, Cruise Saudi’s joint venture with Aman, which is a new ultra-luxury yacht aimed at Very High Net Worth (VHNW) travellers. “Aman is a truly unique brand, it’s authentic intent is to provide a level of service, which is a home away from home, that is peerless in every way.” The 183-metre superyacht Aman at Sea will have 47 spacious suites along with a full spectrum of luxury amenities including an Aman-style spa with Japanese relaxation garden, several international Michelin-quality restaurants, and an on-board beach club, giving guests access to the water from the stern of the yacht. Aman at Sea is expected to be ready for cruising by 2027. Fawaz revealed the new Aman at Sea ultra-luxury yacht will have a 2:1 crew ratio to guests, placing a priority on the guest space ratio, along with creating the biggest suites in the industry. Speaking about what makes Saudi a premium destination, Fawaz said it was Saudi’s warm hospitality, authenticity, culture, and nature that made it such a valuable proposition. “We are sitting on thousands of years of heritage. Saudi used to be part of the Incense Route and we have a civilisation that goes back four or five thousand years BC,” Fawaz added.

Emirates Airline now ventures on a new voyage with its Emirates Sealine, widely considered the QE2 among airlines and beloved by millions worldwide for its sumptuous services in the air and on land, will now be sailing across the seven seas with its newly-launched maritime arm, Emirates Sealine. Lucky ship-spotters and cruise aficionados witnessed glimpses of the first liner as it majestically sailed round Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah earlier today on its maiden sea trial – click here. Emirates Sealine is promising cruisers top-tier and never-before-imagined experiences as they voyage to rarely-before-seen ports of call. It placed a titanic, multi-billion-dollar order for an initial 10 cruise ships which are currently being fitted with the latest and the best. Having identified significant gaps in the industry’s offering, Emirates Sealine will give a wide berth to convention, offering a cruise calendar outside traditional seasons. The first cruise is scheduled to flag off from Dubai Harbour on 01 April 2024, with Karachi as the maiden port of call – harking back to the airline’s first-ever flight in October 1985. Itineraries and bookings will be open from 31 June. Emirates Sealine’s liners will dock at major cruise ports – charting a course from US to New Zealand – supported by the airline’s colossal network. Captain Jack Shallow, the newly appointed Chief Maritime Officer at the helm of Emirates Sealine said: “Emirates is no stranger to the seas, having been associated with powerboat racing in Dubai to Emirates Team New Zealand and more recently, the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team. While cities worldwide remain moored to challenges, Dubai is sailing smoothly at unimaginable knots and has outstanding cruise and other multi-modal transport infrastructure. “Technology, AI and …

Mashhour Bashan the Executive Director for Travel Experiences, on (designing tours and experiences for cruise passengers) explained that “the cruise sector is a new industry for the Kingdom, it provides specific services, and our role in Cruise Saudi is to develop and enable the private sector. This workshop is one of several workshops on developing the sector to attract 1.3 million passengers by 2035”. Participating in the recent Saudi Tourism Forum 2023, held in Riyadh 100% Public Investment Fund-owned business,  Cruise Saudi shared the latest work hand in hand with ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem with the aim of positioning Saudi as a premier global cruise destination. Throughout the Forum, Cruise Saudi met with a number of public and private sector companies – an opportunity to update key industry contacts with the news and developments since Cruise Saudi launched in 2021. From the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s cruise infrastructure to the two successful completed seasons, Cruise Saudi’s rapid expansion in this vital sector has worked alongside the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 as an engine to drive the development of tourism, and to transform the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its various regions and natural, historic and heritage treasures into a unique and distinctive destination on the global cruise map. Engineer Fawaz Farouqi praised the Forum and the fruitful cooperation of all public and private parties involved in the Tourism System in providing an exceptional experience for tourists visiting the Kingdom, thus reflecting their contribution to achieve Vision 2030 goals and broaden the horizons of the Saudi cruise sector. Cruise Saudi also organised an awareness workshop, delivered by Mashhour Bashan, the Executive Director for Travel …

Al Hamra recently rebranded the Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah in line with its vision of bolstering Ras Al Khaimah’s exclusive tourism and leisure offerings for both tourists and residents.Al Hamra announced the deployment of four new buoys at strategic anchorage locations around Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island, to further elevate the marine and yachting experience for boat owners in the UAE. The new buoys installed around Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island offer an easy-to-use and accessible anchorage location in one of the most sought-after marine destinations in the UAE. With a short journey to the Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah, boat owners can enjoy benefits from the full service marina, including F&B, leisure offerings and maritime services. As part of Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy for strengthening maritime activity, the anchorages will be free to use throughout the year for vessels up to 30 meters in length and up to 150GT. With an unspoiled coastline spanning 64 kilometres, the calm, turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf will enable boat owners and holidaymakers to connect with the Emirate’s rich maritime heritage while benefiting from ease of access to the high-end, unrivalled offerings at the Royal Yacht Club’s state-of-the-art marina. These include access to outstanding leisure, food, and beverage facilities in the area’s leading hotels and leisure destinations. Christopher Hewett, Senior Vice President of Hospitality at Al Hamra, said: “In support of Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy to increase tourism and leisure activities in the Emirate, we are pleased to launch these new anchorages in Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island. The free to use anchorages for recreational boaters are strategically located to ensure safe mooring as …

Now, in its 29th year, Dubai International boat show kicked off once again at the Dubai Harbour, the permanent show ground alongside the cruise terminal in the Dubai Marina. Speaking at the opening Abdulla Binhabtoor, Chief Portfolio Management Officer, Shamal Holding, the owner and curator of Dubai Harbour, “I would like welcome you again to the Dubai harbour, this district was designed and purpose built for the maritime industry in the UAE which has been guiding for thousands of years.” Speaking with tourism breaking news he added the importance of the international boat show and the development plans for the harbour itself. “We believe that with partners like the Dubai international boat show, we support the growth of the industry overall in the region and in Dubai. We believe that the show this year is bigger, we continue to emphasise the permanency of this show, it is on its 29th edition. We offer the largest marina in the region with amazing and extraordinary facilities, we believe that we cannot work in isolation from the industry, the show allows us to interact with the industry and support the industry and it also allows to bring in innovation. In Dubai harbour we have developed two cruise terminals which are the largest in the Eastern hemisphere in a drive to support the city’s ambition to grow in the cruise tourism sector. We can see double the number of cruise passengers from last season, we welcomed more ships, more variety and we continue to provide the best service and best experience. We believe with the current capacity we have with the two terminals we will continue to support the growth of the number of ship …

Gulf Craft is showcasing the new Majesty 111 and Nomad 101 superyachts at the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) 2023, two breathtaking vessels that highlight the celebrated yacht maker’s new vision of the future. Making their global debut at DIBS 2023, the two superyachts epitomise Gulf Craft’s new era of dynamic growth under the strategic theme, ‘Legacy in Motion’, driving the company to push boundaries through four core focus areas:  Technology & Innovation, Path to Sustainability, Global Expansion and Next Generation. Gulf Craft celebrated its 40th anniversary at last year’s Dubai International Boat Show, looking back on four decades of passion, innovation and growth. This year, the boat and yacht manufacturer will build on that rich legacy as it moves towards its future and sets out its commitment and vision for the decades ahead. Meticulous market research and trend forecasting for a broader global market establish the Majesty 111 and Nomad 101 as new leaders in their class. Luxurious interiors and earthy hues set the tone for the onboard experience of the Majesty 111: the cabins flow from one to another, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor transition. Sustainability is also a major theme in the superyacht, with better fuel efficiency,  smart product design and emissions-reducing technologies. Incorporating sustainable materials throughout, the Nomad 101 features powerful engines, which, combined with much better fuel efficiency, unlock more adventurous and far-flung destinations for exploration. A generous amount of glazing maximizes exterior views, while the Portuguese Bridge offers a full walkaround deck. Mohamed Hussein Alshaali, Gulf Craft Chairman, said: “At Gulf Craft, we never shy away from out-of-the-box thinking. This innovative spirit inspired our growth from a builder of small fishing boats to one of …

Dubai International Boat Show is getting ready to welcome more than 30,000 visitors to the seafront district Dubai Harbour, when the region’s largest, and most established marine and lifestyle event in the Middle East will get underway from 1-5 March. More than 175 yachts and watercraft from globally renowned shipyards such as Azimut, Ferretti, Gulf Craft, Princess, San Lorenzo, Sunreef, and Sunseeker Gulf will sail into the shores of Dubai to put on an incredible display over the five days of the show’s 29th edition. “We are looking forward to welcoming marine enthusiasts, maritime investors and those who are interested in all things ocean to DIBS23,” says Riju George, Group Director, Exhibitions, DWTC. “Dubai has a rich maritime heritage and over the years has created an extensive ecosystem and a sophisticated hub to nurture some of the greatest boat designers and manufacturers in the world; that’s why every year we see an influx of international visitors to the show.” With more than 12% of the world’s superyachts in the MENA region, it’s no surprise that Dubai has become one the top-10 nautical hubs of the world within the marine industry – home to several world-class waterfront property developments and many exquisite marinas. Such infrastructure has made DIBS the perfect platform for the more than 1,000 global brands to showcase their wares and launch their latest innovations this year. Alongside over 50 global and regional launches to be announced at the show, DIBS23 will feature a stunning lineup of yachts, with more than 10 new brands on display including Abeking & Rasmussen, Boutique Yachts, Finnmaster, Greenline Yachts, Nordhavn, SAY Carbon Yachts, Sirena Yachts, and Tecnomar. And that’s not all – for …

Dubai Harbour, the city’s extraordinary seafront district, has welcomed the iconic Queen Mary 2, the world’s only ocean liner, on its Centenary World Voyage . Observing the maiden call of this spectacular vessel, Captain Hashmi met with Dubai Harbour officials in an exclusive plaque exchange ceremony, which is a customary maritime tradition. The call is one of a plethora of international cruise liners that have called at Dubai Harbour during the 2022/23 cruise season, with over 300,000 passengers expected before June, exemplifying its position as the region’s most modern cruise infrastructure acting as a perfect gateway attracting tourists and cruise lines from across the globe. Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only ocean liner offering regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton and remains the largest ocean liner ever built. Queen Mary 2 seamlessly combines classic British heritage with Cunard’s hallmarks of nostalgia, opulence, and style, evident in sweeping staircases, a grand ballroom, and a wraparound promenade deck. She is one of the most spacious ships at sea, with 14 decks of lounges and bars, shops, and sports and even a seagoing planetarium! The ship boasts three pools, Mareel Wellness and Beauty, no fewer than 10 dining options, and one of the largest dance floors at sea .As a manifestation of Dubai’s wider planning, coastline development and tourism strategies, as well as its status as the region’s leading cruise hub, Dubai Harbour continues to play a major role in rekindling the city’s connection to the sea. Designed to process over 3,250 passengers per hour, the highly efficient and modern terminals at Dubai Harbour have recorded exponential growth over the past two years. Angus Struthers, Acting Senior Vice President, …