Bolstering its position as a premier international cruise destination, Dubai concluded its 2018/2019 cruise season with a record increase of over 51 per cent in cruise tourist footfall and a 38 per cent increase in cruise ship calls season-on-season.
Dubai welcomed through Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal, 846,176 cruise visitors via 152 ship calls during the season, compared to 558,781 visitors onboard 110 ships in 2017/2018. An additional 211 ship calls are now confirmed for the upcoming 2019/2020 season.
The 2018/2019 season witnessed 14 maiden calls and welcomed leading international cruise liners such as TUI Cruises, AIDA Cruises, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, P&O Cruises and Royal Carribean cruise line to the homeport in Dubai, all expected to return in the upcoming season. The season concluded with the departure of the Karnika, India’s first premium cruise ship from Jalesh Cruises which has recently homeported in Dubai.
Developing Dubai's cruise industry to its maximum potential falls in line with the Dubai Silk Road strategy prepared by the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) in collaboration with key government entities.
The Dubai cruise season 2019/2020 is set to commence this month on October 19 with Mein Schiff, homeporting cruise liner carrying over 6,000 passengers.