Category Archives: Cruises

Cruise Saudi, the company facilitating the development of the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia, has confirmed that it has become a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Launched in January 2021 at the Future Investment Initiative (FII), Cruise Saudi has made rapid progress in its mission to bring a global cruise industry to Saudi Arabia a new component of the country’s tourism plan outlined in the landmark Vision 2030 program. The company has already worked together with stakeholders such as the Saudi Port Authority MAWANI to guide the construction of a new cruise terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia’s largest port. It has signed agreements with several leading global cruise operators to bring their ships to Saudi waters. MSC Bellissima, owned by MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line, and luxury liner Scenic Eclipse, have both been sailing the Saudi coastline during the summer season. The membership of WTTC, which advocates for the development of the travel and tourism sector as a driver of sustainable economic growth, will further establish the Saudi cruise industry just as international leisure travel begins to resume following the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining the Council will allow Cruise Saudi to better shine a spotlight on the year-round potential of the Saudi market to tour operators, travel agents and cruise lines, in addition to sourcing key data on international travel trends and learning from the best practitioners in the global cruise sector. Saudi Arabia certainly has an enviable and as yet largely undiscovered tourist proposition for international cruise passengers to explore – whether as a stop on a wider regional itinerary or a destination in its own right. The crystalline waters …

In summer 2022, the Disney Wish will sail its inaugural season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from its new home port of Port Canaveral, Florida. Bookings now open. The highly anticipated fifth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will greet its first guests on June 9, 2022, for a special five-night maiden voyage that includes two days at sea and stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay, a private tropical paradise reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests. On June 14, 2022, Disney Vacation Club will host a three-night, members-only cruise to Castaway Cay. These sailings will be followed by alternating three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral — about an hour’s drive from Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida — that will offer families an all-new way to experience the magic of Disney at sea combined with a tropical beach vacation. The Disney Wish will whisk families to the blue skies and sunshine of the Bahamas. In Nassau, cruisers will enjoy breathtaking beaches and activities for everyone in the family as they swim, snorkel, shop and more in this popular vacation destination. At Castaway Cay, guests will explore a pristine island completely outfitted for family fun and relaxation and brimming with special Disney touches. On these truly enchanting vacations, families will find everything they love about a Disney cruise — like dazzling entertainment, world-class dining, unique character encounters and signature Disney service — plus brand-new experiences aboard the Disney Wish, such as: AquaMouse, the first-ever Disney attraction at sea that will immerse families in “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts on a wild water ride with Mickey and Minnie. Arendelle: A Frozen …

Disney Cruise Line will offer families exciting adventures around the world in summer 2022, including voyages to new destinations and favorite ports of call in the Greek Isles, Mediterranean, northern Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean. Plus, first-ever summer departures from Miami will take guests to Disney’s enchanting private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. In summer 2022, a new collection of destinations will be part of the Disney Magic’s grand tour of Europe, which begins with sailings through the Greek Isles and Mediterranean before heading to northern Europe for cruises to the Baltic, the British Isles, Iceland and the Norwegian fjords. Five new ports of call in Europe include Chania, Greece; Porto, Portugal; Riga, Latvia; Maloy, Norway; and Nynashamn, Sweden, near Stockholm. From Rome, eight-, nine- and 12-night cruises to Greece will whisk families to the beautiful landscapes and archeological wonders of destinations like Piraeus, the gateway to Athens, and to the spectacular Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos. One nine-night sailing will mark Disney Cruise Line’s first call to Chania, Greece, on the island of Crete, known for its charming harbor and Venetian and Florentine influences. Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, Spain, will visit a mix of must-see locales including Rome and Naples, plus French Riviera coastal towns like Villefranche and Cannes. During a seven-night cruise from Barcelona to Dover, England, Disney Cruise Line will make its first-ever visit to Porto, Portugal, a coastal city with old-world charm nestled in one of the world’s leading wine regions and made famous for giving Port Wine its name. Additional new ports of call in northern Europe include Riga, the capital of Latvia and the largest metropolis in the Baltics; Nynashamn, Sweden, a beautiful seaside town …

Swan Hellenic announced that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Al Tayer Travel to provide direct representation through its Al Tayer Holidays brand, a division of Al Tayer Travel. Al Tayer Holidays will represent Swan Hellenic in UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Al Tayer Holidays offers the highest standard of service and efficiency with over 40 years’ experience across the travel sector, representing many of the world’s leading brands in the Middle East through its office in the United Arab Emirates. The partnership is a strategic agreement in line with Swan Hellenic’s long-term approach of establishing a direct presence in every market worldwide to offer the close personal service to which it is committed. Manu Mehrotra, General Manager of Al Tayer Travel, remarked: “We are truly honored to represent Swan Hellenic Cruises, a pioneering cultural expedition cruise leader that provides extraordinary experiences in relaxed and elegant comfort. The growing aspirations of adventurous Middle East travelers to visit amazing and relatively unexplored territories can now become a reality.” Swan Hellenic Senior Vice president of Global Sales and Marketing Alfredo Spadon commented: “Al Tayer’s length and depth of experience, dedicated to the highest service standards, make them a perfect match for Swan Hellenic in the exacting Middle East markets they know so well. We look forward to an exciting new chapter in the history of cultural expedition cruising as we offer enriching exploration experiences directly to the curious and adventure-minded in this part of the world.”

Disney Wish – the newest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line family – sets sail in summer 2022. Be among the first to experience the all-new enchantment on board, where fantastical worlds and beloved stories from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar are bought to life like never before. Here’s 20 reasons to stand up and take note! Imaginative dining Dining meets storytelling aboard the Disney Wish. Step into the magical worlds of some of your favourite Disney stories and feast upon delectable, gourmet specialties at 3 all-new upscale family restaurants. Arendelle: A “Frozen” Dining Adventure  – For the First Time in Forever. Be a part of the world’s first Frozen-themed, theatrical dining experience as you’re magically transported to the enchanting Kingdom of Arendelle aboard the Disney Wish. Queen Anna and Kristoff are celebrating their engagement and have invited you, their honoured Guest, to join them. Behold festive musical performances from Elsa and Olaf as you devour hearty Norwegian-inspired cuisine made by Oaken himself. It’s a dinner worth melting for! Worlds of MARVEL Assemble for a heroic dining adventure of epic proportions! Explore state-of-the-art tech at the Avengers Technology Showcase while indulging in flavourful global cuisines—from classic all-American fare to rich African flavours—inspired by some of your favourite heroes. During dinner, leap into your own action-packed Super Hero story, where an Avenger or two might turn to you to help them save the day! Innovative experiences Combining inventive design, cutting-edge technology and classic storytelling, the Disney Wish seamlessly brings Disney magic to life in new and unexpected ways, while creating the next generation in family entertainment. First–ever Disney attraction at sea Join Mickey and Minnie on an exhilarating water …

Saudi Netball, in collaboration with Sports for All and the Saudi Tourism Authority, have announced the first netball tournament in Saudi Arabia’s history. The tournament was held onboard the MSC Bellissima, a 4,500 passenger cruise ship that is currently touring the Red Sea for the first time. Netball is a fast-growing global game played by more than 20 million people in more than 80 countries. The promotion of netball, which is a women-dominated sport, is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing initiative as part of Vision 2030 to increase women’s involvement in sport as part of a healthy and active lifestyle. “Netball is an ideal sport to introduce across schools in the Kingdom,” said HH Princess Ghada bint Abdullah Al-Saud, Chairwoman of Netball Saudi. “As a game, netball is inviting, accessible, encouraging, fun, and inclusive. Its game rules ensure the equal participation of all players on the court. In netball, everyone contributes equally to the success of the team, regardless of the individual role they play. It is the perfect expression of an inclusive society.” Netball Saudi is one of sixteen sports federations and committees announced by the Saudi Olympic Committee in May 2021, as part of the Committee’s effort to widen the range of sports offered and the number of sporting communities in Saudi. The three-round tournament was played by two teams with a total number of sixteen players ranging from thirteen to twenty-three years old, and been practicing Netball in the Riyadh-based Golden Sports Academy. The tournament is a joint sports-tourism initiative showcasing Saudi’s continued progress toward building a vibrant society, a core pillar of the Vision 2030 plan led by the Crown Prince. Sports tourism, which includes traveling …

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and AL Tayer Holidays announced a partnership that will allow Al Tayer to market NCL’s cruises across the Group’s multiple businesses and distribution channels. The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term partnership to grow NCL’s market share in the Middle East while enriching Al Tayer’s travel portfolio with the line’s renowned cruises that sail to more than 300 destinations worldwide, including Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 54-year history of breaking boundaries, and AL Tayer Holidays, a subsidiary of AL Tayer Group, a leader in luxury retail in the Middle East, today announced a partnership that will allow Al Tayer to market NCL’s cruises across the Group’s multiple businesses and distribution channels. Commenting on the agreement, NCL’s Regional Vice President Business Development Middle East & Africa, Nick Wilkinson, said: “We are delighted to partner with a dynamic and distinguished group such as Al Tayer, who share our vision of innovation and putting customer experience first. We are seeing great demand for our cruises from the U.A.E and GCC markets and are striving to further strengthen our position in this high-potential region through strategic partnerships.” Manu Mehrotra, General Manager, Al Tayer Travel commented: “It is an exciting opportunity for us to be partnering with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), an innovator in the cruise industry. NCL has in a short span of time become popular in this part of the world and as is ideally poised to showcase its unique product as the cruise market keeps expanding in our region. The Company’s growth plans …

MSC Cruises, in partnership with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), DP World and Emirates Airline, today announced that the naming ceremony for the line’s newest flagship, MSC Virtuosa, will take place in Dubai on 27 November at Mina Rashid (Port Rashid). The event reflects the growing importance of Dubai as a must-visit destination for global travellers and the cruising’s key contribution to the city’s tourism industry. The newest addition to the MSC Cruises fleet derives her name from the Italian word virtuoso and refers to the master craftsmen who designed and developed this masterpiece, which will be the most technologically and environmentally advanced cruise vessel ever deployed in the UAE. Her naming will be celebrated with a stunning array of live entertainment and performances awaiting the specially invited guests from around the world as well as from across the Gulf region – one of MSC Cruises’ key markets where the company is brand leader. Further details of the line-up of entertainment events will be revealed in due course. The naming ceremony event will take place in compliance with all public health and safety protocols outlined by the Dubai government, as well as with the support of MSC Cruises’ Health and Safety protocol that allowed the line’s ships to restart its operations in this region. The occasion will also be a part of the celebrations surrounding the Golden Jubilee of the UAE and will be staged as Dubai welcomes the world to Expo 2020. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Dubai has charted a strong and steady course to become a global tourism destination and preferred …

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) held a workshop to educate drivers of Abras operating at Sabkha and Baniyas marine stations about the precautionary measures against the Covid-19 and the best marine transport practices in this regard. Drivers were also briefed on offences to which violators are liable. “This field workshop had taken place at Sabkha and Baniyas marine stations which benefitted about 35 Abra drivers by giving them a practical demonstration of the intended practices. The workshop stressed the importance of taking preventive measures against the coronavirus for the safety of both drivers and riders,” said Saeed Al Balushi, Director of Passengers Transport Activities Monitoring, Public Transport Agency, RTA. “Abra drivers had been briefed on violations such as the use of an expired driving permit, disregard to Abra queuing at the station’s platform, reckless driving, lack of cleaning and maintenance of the interior and body of Abra, disregard to the maximum number of riders, collection of excess fare, overnight staying onboard  the Abra, failure to wear the uniform, poor personal hygiene,  and failure to comply with the safety and security measures in place,” added Al Balushi. “The importance of this workshop is highlighted by the increased public use of Abras during these cooler days tempting more riders, especially tourists and residents, to entertain the pleasures of riding traditional Abras. The Passengers Transport Activities Monitoring Department is keen to make these efforts in the context of realising RTA’s vision: The world leader in seamless & sustainable mobility,” he added.

Abu Dhabi Ports has announced a long-term agreement with MSC Cruises, giving them berthing rights at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach. The deal, signed by Director of Cruise Business at Abu Dhabi Ports, Noura Rashid Al Dhaheri and MSC Cruise CEO, Gianni Onorato, at MSC’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a premier destination on the international cruise map. Most importantly, the deal will bring 1.3 million visitors to the capital over the tenure of the agreement. Abu Dhabi’s Cruise Terminal has reported significant growth over the last 12 months, posting a 47 per cent rise in passenger numbers and a 45 per cent rise in vessel calls. The terminal’s bumper year was due in part to MSC Cruises’ commitment earlier this season to include 17 new calls at Zayed Port. Noura Rashid Al Dhaheri, Director – Cruise Business, Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “Our success in substantially boosting passenger volumes year-on-year demonstrates our commitment to develop a world-class cruise destination. With investment in infrastructure, and enhanced operations and services to serve the cruise liners arriving in Abu Dhabi, we have cemented our position as the leading destination in the Gulf region.” Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, added, “Abu Dhabi is a very important embarkation port and popular destination for ashore visits during winter cruises and we are currently serving the city and Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach with both MSC Bellissima, the most modern and one of the most environmentally-advanced cruise ships to sail in the Arabian Gulf, and MSC Lirica.” Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu …