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Brilliance of the seas begins longest season in the Persian Gulf

In:
20 Oct 2011

Thanks to an increased demand in the Persian Gulf region, Royal Caribbean has decided to extend its third consecutive season in the Gulf to six months.  This will run from November 2011 through April 2012 and will be the longest season ever for Royal Caribbean in the region.  

Cruises during this season will be comprised of 18 round trip 7-night sailings and two Dubai and India 12-nights sailings.  Brilliance will starts her 7-night itineraries in Dubai, then sail to Fujairah and dock in Muscat, where guests can enjoy an overnight stay in the port. Brilliance then continues with a sea day, via Abu Dhabi and then back to Dubai.

In addition, Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line in the region that will offer two new 12-night sailings that include stops in India.  Coming from Dubai, Brilliance of the Seas will spend three days at sea before stopping in Goa, New Mangalore and Cochin before docking in Muscat and then sailing back to Dubai.

Dubai becoming a cruise line boom

In:
16 Aug 2011

Dubai has only been a cruise destination since the opening of its cruise terminal in July 2010 but already it's popularity continues to grow.

Royal Caribbean's General Manager for the UK and Ireland, Jo Rzymowska, sees the growth potential for cruises in and out of Dubai, "Dubai is really starting to boom on the cruising map - more than 325,000 people passed through the Cruise Terminal in 2010 and this is set to increase in 2011.”

Royal Caribbean should know exactly how well Dubai has been performing considering it's one of two cruise lines to home-port a ship in the Middle Eastern city.  

Dubai has been popular with Europeans, especially those in the UK, “Brilliance of the Seas is returning to Dubai in November 2011, two months earlier than her season in 2010, due to a really successful response to the Middle East cruises from UK travellers.”

Excitement builds for Royal Caribbean to bring Serenade of the Seas to Dubai

In:
23 Jun 2011

We reported earlier this week that Royal Caribbean will send Serenade of the Seas to replace Brilliance of the Seas for the winter 2012-13 season.  Already people familiar with the Persian Gulf cruise market are excited for the move.

Oman Tourism manager for Australia & New Zealand, Mona Tannous, spoke with e-Travel Blackboard yesterday about the move and shared her excitement.

“I am delighted at this news - cruising in the region is only growing and this is a welcome addition. Cruise passenger arrivals into Oman rose to 231,100 in 2010 which is a 72% increase on 2009 with the Ministry of Tourism expecting visitor arrivals to exceed well above 300,000 by 2015.”

“Muscat Harbour is a visually stunning port to sail into. You have this sense of stepping back in time as you sail past the ancient 16th century twin forts that stand guard over the harbour, as old Muscat is slowly revealed to passengers as they sail into the port - simply breathtaking.”

Senior Manager Trade, Marketing & Strategic Relations DTCM, Veronica Rainbird, thinks the new cruise tour option will be a big hit, “The Arabian Explorer cruise tour itinerary, which combines a four-night escorted land tour with Serenade of the Seas’ seven-night cruise is a wonderful initiative for Dubai, one we look forward to promoting in both the Australian and New Zealand marketplace."

Serenade of the Seas will replace Brilliance of the Seas in Dubai in 2012-2013

In:
21 Jun 2011

We're hearing a report that Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas will replace Brilliance of the Seas in cruises that leave from Dubai in the winter 2012-2013 season.

The new sailings aboard Serenade of the Seas will offer 17 sailings that depart every Monday on seven-night itineraries that include stops in the United Arab Emirates and Oman  from December 2012 through April 2013.

In addition, guests aboard Serenade of the Seas can choose a Royal Caribbean cruisetour, that will allow them  to explore attractions further inland. 

Royal Caribbean will keep Serenade of the Seas in Dubai until a April 15, 2013 sailing that will bring her back to Barcelona.

Royal Caribbean to extend third Middle Eastern season

In:
30 Mar 2011

Demand is so big for Royal Caribbean's cruises in the Middle East that the company has decided to extend its third consecutive season for the 2011/2012 season.

The new cruise season will include 18 round-trip seven night sailings and two Dubai to India 12 night sailings from November 2011 through to April 2012.

Brilliance of the Seas was almost completely booked for Royal Caribbean's second Gulf season from her homeport in Dubai.  Brilliance has been sailing seven night itineraries with stops in the region in places like UAE, Muscat, Fujairah, and Oman.

Thanks to the increased demand, Royal Caribbean has also added two new 12 night itineraries including stops in India for the first time.

Royal Caribbean International’s regional sales director Helen Beck was excited about the demand, "We were in the happy position that the majority of our seven-night sailings were close to being sold out, with some limited availability on the late March and April sailings. We’re equally pleased with the performance of our new 12-night itineraries to India and they are on track to sail at full capacity also.”

UAE possible next hub for Royal Caribbean

In:
06 Oct 2010

Royal Caribbean is considering a new hub in the United Arab Emirates.  Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President Michael Bayley hinted at the possibility of a new hub in the country.

During the maiden docking of Brilliance of the Seas in Dubai, Royal Caribbean revealed plans ready for a Dubai-Mumbai cruise starting in 2011 .  

Hamad Mohamed bin Mejren, Executive Director, Business Tourism at the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said that Brilliance of the Seas' seven night sailings would include Dubai to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.  These stops are among the most popular with tourists.

Royal Caribbean to expand Dubai based season

In:
28 Jun 2010

Royal Caribbean is going to increase the length of its Dubai-based season for Brilliance of the Seas for the winter 2011-2012 season. Brilliance of the Seas began operating from the United Arab Emirates in January 2010 but would split it's time back in Europe.  Now, Brilliance of the Seas will return to Dubai two months early in November 2011 and will offer an increased range of itineraries including longer cruises up to 12- and even 18-nights.

Royal Caribbean's General Manager Jo Rzymowska had an explanation for the change in itinerary, citing high demand for the middle eastern cruise

Dubai is very popular with UK & Irish travellers, and cruises consistently offer significant value for money. We have adjusted the itinerary based on our trade partner feedback and replaced Bahrain with an overnight stay in Muscat. Also included within this cruise itinerary is an overnight stay in the city onboard the ship at the end of the cruise which makes this an affordable way to enjoy this fascinating Emirate. The chance to explore more of the Middle East, Arabian Sea and even India make these additional longer sailings truly exciting options for agents to maximize.

Given the longer six month season that Brilliance of the Seas will now serve, she will visit ports such as Muscat, Oman; Cochin, Goa and Mumbai, India as well as the first time ever visiting the New Mangalore port in Panambur on the west coast of India.  The town is famous for its beautiful beaches on the Arabian Sea, the Nandaneshwara Temple and the Gurupura River.  Brilliance of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship ever to stop at this port.

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