For many people, the UAE is synonymous with Dubai. This sci-fi-esque city with its palm-shaped islands is a popular tourist destination. What’s more, it’s a great launch pad for luxury cruises around the Middle East. From Qatar’s bustling Souq Waqif to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, a cruise is an excellent way to explore this region.

November to March is the ideal season for a cruise in the Middle Eastern waters. If you want to balance sightseeing with shopping, don’t forget, the Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 13th Dec 2024 till 19th Jan 2025. Even if they don’t start from here, most cruise itineraries will include an overnight halt in Dubai. So, let’s take a look at the top luxury cruise ships sailing these waters and their cruise packages.

MSC Euribia:
Named after the Greek Goddess the Eurybia, MSC Euribia offers a luxurious, family-friendly experience. The ship boasts of 5 unique swimming pools including a waterpark. There’s also a casino, theatre, sportsplex and an indoor shopping promenade and dozens of dining venues spread across 19 decks. There’s even an F1 simulator! Onboard accommodation ranges from cabins to suites with a private whirlpool bath.

MSC cruises set sail from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. You can choose between 3-nights, 4-nights and 7-nights cruise deals. The 4 Nights Dubai, UAE Cruise takes you from Dubai to Abu Dhabi with stops enroute at Doha and Bahrain. The 7-Nights Explore Middle East Cruise starts and ends in Doha. It includes daytime halts in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island and an overnight halt in Dubai.

Costa Smeralda:
Sailing on the Costa Smeralda lets you take in the wonders of the Middle East in utmost luxury. It also gives you bragging rights to sailing on the fifth-largest cruise ship in the world. The Costa cruise Dubai ship is designed on the lines of a ‘smart city’. The Colosseo stage with its live performances is the heart of the Costa cruises. Then there’s the Piazza di Spagna, the Aqua Park and the Volare Skywalk. When it comes to swimming pools, restaurants and bars, the ship spoils you for choice. You can get great cruise deals on practical cabins as well as indulgent suites.

Costa Smeralda offers a short 2-Night Abu Dhabi to Dubai Cruise. There are also longer return cruise packages with 5-night, 7-night and 11-night itineraries. The 7-Night UAE, Qatar & Oman Cruise begins and ends in Abu Dhabi. The Costa cruises halt in Dubai for 2 nights and include daytime halts in Muscat and Doha.

Resorts World One
Enjoy a classic resort experience at sea with Resorts World One. The 13-deck cruise ship offers limitless opportunities to make memories. The Zodiac Theatre stage puts up signature live productions while the ESC Experience Lab delivers non-stop thrills with virtual and augmented reality technology. For a more relaxing experience, take in the beautiful ocean views from the Palm Court. Or, take a dip in the Parthenon pool. You can choose to stay in one of the ship’s 926 staterooms or indulge in The Palace - an all-suite concept within Resorts World One.

Resorts World One sails from Dubai for a 2-night Sir Bani Yas Weekend Cruise on Fridays and a 2-night cruise to Doha on Wednesdays.  There’s also a 3-night Oman Cruise to Khasab and Muscat on Sundays.  Combining cruises from Dubai lets you enjoy extended 4, 5 or 7-night cruises.

Celestyal Journey:
This is the latest ship to join the Celystal fleet. Celystal Journey focuses on port related itineraries. The ship devotes an entire deck to wellness with a beauty salon, massage rooms, thermal suites, a jacuzzi, a gym, a sauna, pools and more. A casino, retail outlets, decadent restaurants and chic bars give you plenty to do on-board. Off-ship, a series of specially curated excursions at every port let you to soak up local flavours. The cruise offers a variety of staterooms and suites designed for cozy escapes.

Celestyal Journeys sails on a 7-night Desert Days cruise with Doha as its home port. The cruise takes you to the fascinating archipelagos of Bahrain, the glittering city of Dubai, the forts and fjords of Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island and the mesmerizing Abu Dhabi.

Planning international cruises from India
With short flights connecting India to Dubai, the city is one of the most popular starting points for fly cruises from India. Take your pick from these luxury cruise packages and we’ll tend to all the details. From cruise confirmations to Dubai flight bookings, visas and insurance we cover all the bases. What’s more, we’ll help you combine a cruise with an onshore holiday before or after the cruise to explore other spectacular sights in the area. Reach out to know more.