Dubai new hub for cruise tourism

The burgeoning reputation of Dubai as an international hub for cruise tourism is set to be bolstered by an eventful 2013-14 season, with more than 20 leading global cruise lines anticipated to bring in as many as 300,000 tourists to the Emirate, according to Dubai Cruise Tourism (DCT), an entity of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

From tours of the Arabian Gulf taking in the region’s most majestic cities to longer voyages to the Far East, India and the Mediterranean, cruises from Dubai will continue to offer a diverse selection of destinations for holidaymakers seeking adventure and relaxation over the coming season.

By selecting the Emirate as a home port, tourists will be able to take advantage of its spectacular attractions, from world-renowned skyscrapers and shopping malls to beaches and leisure venues, at both the beginning and end of their expedition.

Among the upcoming cruises with Dubai as its home port are cruise ships Costa Fortuna and Costa NeoRiviera travelling to two of Oman’s major cities, Muscat and Khasab, as well as Abu Dhabi.

Others include the Aida Diva, which visits Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, and the MSC Lirica – stopping at Abu Dhabi, Khor Fakkan, Muscat and Khasab.

To celebrate the success of the 2012-2013 season, DCT held an appreciation ceremony on October 28 to thank its partners and stakeholders for their crucial role in Dubai’s emergence as one of the world’s most attractive cruise destinations.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said, "The 2012-13 cruise season reached new heights. We are proud to announce 93 confirmed ship calls this season, and we are also delighted to welcome seven maiden ship calls, a reflection of Dubai’s burgeoning appeal as a cruise hub."

More than twenty of the world’s leading cruise lines have Dubai as a port of call in their itineraries.

This is testament to the initiatives and tireless efforts of DTCM and its partners, as well as continued investment in Dubai Cruise Terminal’s state-of-the-art facilities and services, including the largest cruise facility in the Middle East, 20,000 square meters, on a 1,900 meter pier stretch.

A planned expansion, which will endow Dubai Cruise Terminals with an additional facility spanning over 27,000 square meters to cater to cruise lines and visitors from 2014, is currently underway. Consequently, Dubai Cruise Terminals will be able to comfortably handle complete passenger turnaround of five cruise ships simultaneously.

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