Cruise Master, a leading cruise agency in the Middle East, has concluded its participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, held from September 14-17, at Dubai World Trade Centre, marking the company’s 19th year in the region.
The company hosted a dedicated Cruise Platform featuring seven global cruise line partners: Princess Cruises, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, HX Expeditions and Swan Hellenic.
The platform brought together cruise
offerings across contemporary, premium, luxury and expedition segments.
This year marked the first time ATM was held in September instead of its traditional May slot.
While
May has typically supported the summer booking period in the Middle East,
Cruise Master said the geopolitical situation that emerged in February affected
leisure travel demand during the year.
Despite the challenges, the company reported a promising overall year and said early signs of pent-up demand are emerging for 2027.
Cruise Master expects travellers in
the region to begin booking summer 2027 holidays earlier, with the September
edition of ATM providing an opportunity to start capturing this demand.
The company also noted that the ATM exhibition floor was more curated this year, with key regional industry players strongly represented.
Travel agency partners made up much of
the visitor base, with Cruise Master reporting strong-quality attendance and relevant
business discussions throughout the four-day event.
The Cruise Master
stand attracted travel agents interested in discovering new cruise products and
destinations, while visitors could also access exclusive discount coupons for
bookings made during or following the show.
Following ATM 2026, Cruise Master will shift its focus towards 2027 summer travel, building on the relationships and conversations generated during the event as it prepares for an anticipated earlier booking season.
Ashok Kumar - Founder & Managing Director, Cruise Master Middle East, said: "This year marks 19 years since we founded Cruise Master, and none of that would have been possible without the trust of our partners and the travel trade community across the region. ATM 2026 reaffirmed exactly what we set out to do from the start: make the best of the cruise industry more accessible to this market. With pent-up demand already building, our focus now shifts to 2027, and we are excited about what the next chapter holds for cruising in the Middle East." -TradeArabia News Service