Gulf cruise sector to double by 2010

Senior management from AIDA, Carnival, Costa, Holland America, Louis, MSC Cruises, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Saga, Seabourn and Silversea and are among the participants, an international who's who in the cruise sector, underscoring the high level of interest shown in the Gulf as a cruise hub.

On the agenda are topics ranging from sourcing passengers from the region, what cruise lines are looking for in shore excursions, port and terminal development, the role of cruise tourism in broadening the region's inbound tourism mix, and the growth of the Gulf as a major destination for winter cruising.

The latter was boosted recently with the announcement by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines that it will base the 1050-cabin 'Brilliance of the Seas' in Dubai in winter 2010, operating a series of week-long cruises between January and April that will enhance the Gulf's visibility as a hub.

The trend was started by Costa Cruises and its sister line AIDA in 2006 when the two lines chose Dubai as a hub for winter cruising, but the significance of the move by Royal Caribbean is enhanced by the fact that a significant proportion of its passenger mix is generated from North America.

According to regional sales director, EMA, Helen Beck, while the UK, Germany and Russia were primed to be the main source markets for the ship, she expected interest from the US as well as the regional market.

"The recent increases in flights to North America - with Emirates, Qatar, Delta and United all boosting frequencies - opens up potential here," she said.

At the same time, the arrival of the world's newest luxury sailing ship in January 2010 will place additional emphasis on Gulf waters, when the 'Sea Cloud Hussar' arrives for a winter cruise season, also based in Dubai.

Interest by several other cruise lines too has prompted Dubai to announce a new cruise terminal development based in Port Rashid, as part of the major Nakheel waterfront project there that will be fast-tracked to accommodate the new business at the port.

Overall, more than 82 ships are scheduled to visit Dubai in 2009. A figure that should be significantly increased by the 2010 cruise season and its new entrants to the market.

And, while Dubai has provided the right infrastructure to act as a magnet for cruise lines seeking new destinations - with its hotels, air access and land itineraries - the rest of the region will also benefit, potentially ports such as Muscat, Musandam, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Qatar.

Silversea has 10 voyages covering the Gulf next year and also plans to introduce extra cruises when it takes delivery of a new vessel at the end of 2009: "We are planning to add more to future schedules from 2010 and beyond," said SVP sales & marketing, Trudy Redfern, adding that reservations were being received up to 18 months in advance, with cruises waitlisted.

"As port infrastructure around the Gulf improves, there is an opportunity for guests to enjoy more land excursions and with increased hospitality developments it will only get better,"

she said.

While the conference delegates will investigate the potential to homeport in the Gulf, interest in cruising as a vacation is expected to benefit too from the focus at SMEM.

Specialist cruise agent Cruise Master Middle East reported increased interest in selling cruise by travel agents, many of whom can now review the cruise product when ships dock in Dubai and other destinations: "The Middle East as a source market for outbound cruises has seen significant growth in the past decade, and more ships coming in to Dubai offers an opportunity for the trade to touch and feel the product with ship inspection trips," said sales and marketing manager Ashok Kumar.

"Agent training programmes at SMEM will also help boost this sector enabling agents to understand the many different cruise brands from Costa to Princess or Regent Seven Seas, for instance - and then pass this knowledge on to the customer."

The Seatrade Middle East Maritime exhibition and conference is held every two years and has evolved into one of the world's fastest-growing maritime events and now ranks among the industry's Top 10 largest. In 2006 the event was the biggest yet with record attendance of 6,000 trade participants from 63 countries - 45% from outside the region. In 2008, participation is expected to increase by 30%.