ROYAL Caribbean Cruises’ Middle East representative announced a significant increase in bookings from the region for its three global brands - Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. From January through October 2011, the guest volume from the Middle East has increased more than 30 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The majority of guests – around 60 per cent – sailed seven nights whereas the interest in longer sailings is increasing with many guests choosing two consecutive sailings e.g. seven-night Eastern and seven-night Western Caribbean sailings, to extend their cruise holiday. As in previous years, Europe was the most popular cruise destination for travellers from the Middle East. According to Royal Caribbean Cruises, approximately 70 per cent of all bookings from the region were made for European cruises. The second most popular destination for cruise travellers from the Middle East was the Caribbean.
“We are very pleased to see that the interest in cruising in the Middle East is growing year on year,” said Lakshmi Durai, executive director Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises Middle East.
“Being able to show case our ship ‘Brilliance of the Seas’ - which is sailing in the Gulf now for the third season - to travel agents, media and corporates had a great impact on bookings and further strengthened the positioning of cruising as a holiday option for Middle Eastern guests,” she adds.
Brilliance of the Seas returns to her homeport Dubai, extending her third consecutive season in the Gulf region to six months – which runs from November 2011 through to April 2012. The longest season to date will comprise of 18 roundtrip seven-night sailings and two Dubai and India 12-night sailings. To further enhance cruising as a holiday option, Royal Caribbean Arabia recently re-launched their website.