Ever considered a cruise vacation in the Middle East? If you haven't, you have no idea what you are missing out! Most tour operators offer land-based packages and the tourists get a single perspective of travelling to the Middle East through ground holiday packages which is simply taking a flight, landing in the country and exploring it via land tours and transports. Here’s your chance to shift your view and take an extraordinary leap to explore the enchanting sceneries of the Middle East from an off-shore viewpoint. What’s best is that a single, majestic ship becomes your home and entertainment venue for a big leg of your holiday. You do not have to worry about land transportation, multiple hotel bookings, where to go and what to see as everything is packed into an all-inclusive cruise package. So this year, if you have the Middle East on your travel list, take the route less explored and book yourself any of these top Middle East Cruises!
Azamara Cruise
Launched around 14 years ago, Azamara is a fairly new player in the cruising game yet it has quickly gained a reputation for exceptional service. Though it operates small ships, it prides itself on providing the best leisure amenities. These compact, elegant vessels have the advantage of docking at smaller ports, allowing you to explore unique destinations often overlooked by larger cruise itineraries. With fewer crowds and more opportunities for late-night stays and extended port visits, Azamara offers a more intimate and personalized cruising experience. For a UAE family vacation, the 7-night Arabian Intense Voyage is an ideal choice, taking you through the picturesque landscapes and vibrant cultures of Dubai, Sir Bani Yas, Al Manamah, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
MSC
MSC Cruises offers extravagance in every facet of your cruise vacation with comfort, sustainability, and safety as its top priorities. MSC Cruises has dedicatedly designed 7-night cruise vacations through Dubai and Abu Dhabi in UAE and Qatar to explore its dramatic panoramas. Onboard, you can unwind in rooms with astounding sea views, indulge in global dining experiences, and immerse yourself in world-class entertainment. Ashore, you find yourself gazing in wonder at the shimmering, contemporary cities, groundbreaking Arabian landmarks, the golden desert dunes, and vibrant nightlife. For avid F1 racing fans, rejoice as MSC Middle East cruises 2024 departures include a chance to witness the thrill of F1 racing first-hand at the Qatar Grand Prix being held at Doha's Lusail International Circuit!
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises is a great choice for a family cruise vacation offering a variety of itineraries with a fun, Italian twist. With over 75 years of experience, Costa has a reputation for providing exceptional space for spending the finest days of your life with the people you love onboard a wonderful ship. Costa Cruise has a fantastic collection of Middle East cruise itineraries, including trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Experience the thrill of seafaring and get the feel of the cultural trade route and amazing sights of modern and traditional aspects of Dubai and Abu Dhabi onboard Costa Smeralda. Its 5-night cruise is another cruise package that takes you to the port towns of Muscat and Doha to further enhance your Arabian sea adventure.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean is a popular name you would come across while deciding on cruise vacations. It has a huge range of cruise vacations along with the best cruise deals and packages for discerning travellers. The ships are larger, the cabins are more spacious, and the itineraries are extensive. Your time onboard the ship is nothing short of a carnival of fun parks, pools and a riot of games and entertainment. Additionally, passengers can enjoy a wide range of onboard activities, from spa treatments to fine dining. For those interested in the Middle East, this cruise operator offers various itineraries exploring the region's most famous ports and extending into Asia. Their 2024-2025 cruise packages include two Dubai departures: a 14-night Dubai to Singapore Cruise and a 14-night Spice Route Cruise.
Oceania Cruise
This Miami-based cruise line emphasises on luxurious and wholesome lifestyle at sea. Oceania Cruise prides itself on offering destination-focused cruises combined with the finest culinary experiences and luxury comfort. While its fleet may be smaller than some competitors, stepping onboard reveals spacious, luxurious spaces, cabins and decks. To maintain a serene atmosphere, they limit the number of guests to 1250 per ship, ensuring a less-crowded experience. A paradise for foodies, this cruise features over 10 restaurants, cafes, and bars serving a diverse range of delectable international cuisine. Oceania Cruise offers a couple of itineraries that cruise Middle East and Africa through the wondrous sceneries of UAE, Oman, Madagascar and South Africa.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Set sail in luxury as you cruise onboard one of Regent Seven Sea’s exquisite fleets. Attention to detail regarding every need of their guests is their utmost priority and you will witness it first-hand right from the moment you step on board. Their grand and spacious cruise limits bookings to fewer than 800 passengers to offer unrivalled services and hospitality. Boasted as having the world’s most luxurious fleet, sail in luxury and explore multiple destinations in the Middle East with their Indian Ocean Islands Cruise that extensively covers South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles, Oman, and UAE.
Seabourn
Recognized as one of the premier luxury cruises in the world, Seabourn offers an impressive collection of itineraries to diverse destinations. With unique shore excursions and land tours, these cruises provide an eclectic mix of experiences. The cruise offers an all-inclusive yacht-styled ambience that has state-of-the-art ocean-facing rooms, world-class dining, entertainment and personalized services. Spend a fortnight onboard the cruise and explore the best of UAE sailing across the Arabian Sea to India and then to Singapore on an enchanting sea journey spanning 17 days. Alternatively, blend the luxury of Seabourn with visits to the dynamic modern cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Egypt on a cruise tour like Egypt and Arabia.
Silversea Cruise
Silversea Cruises offers all-inclusive travel with personalized hospitality on board its cruise and expeditions for you to discover fascinating destinations. It has 12 fleets that offer luxury stays along with spaces to relax, lounge facilities on decks, spa services, gym, pools and more. Their culinary experience is unique and remarkably aligned with S.A.L.T - Sea and Land Taste where they imbibe the flavours of the land offering a gateway into cultural immersion through culinary delights. For 2025, Silversea has a month-long cruise itinerary designed to take you exploring the extraordinary panoramas of South Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles India, Oman, UAE and Qatar. For a shorter journey, check out their 17-day Mahe to Doha cruise holiday with stops at Seychelles, Maldives, India, Oman, UAE and Qatar.
Resort World Cruises
Launched in 2022, Resort World Cruises is a relatively new player in the luxury cruising scene. As part of the renowned Resorts World resort chain, this cruise line embodies an Asian flair for luxurious living on the sea. It has two opulent cruises - the Genting Dream Cruise and Resorts World One. The latter being a brand new fleet is making waves with its Middle East itineraries. For 2024-25, Resorts World One offers short cruise vacations such as a 2-night Dubai-Doha Cruise, 3-year New Year Sailing in UAE, Oman and Qatar and 2 Nights Sir Bani Yas Cruise.
Viking Cruises
Not just oceans and seas, Viking Cruises meanders through rivers as well to offer intimate experiences of the destinations it visits. Viking Cruise lets its guests get the most out of their holiday experience and explore their chosen destinations to the fullest. Onboard, it is ascertained that every tourist is well-fed, relaxed and spending their time doing what they love the most. Viking's itineraries include off-shore excursions at all ports, offering a comprehensive experience of the land. In the Middle East, their cruise programs are centered around Egypt and Morocco.
Conclusion
The Middle Eastern cruise tours offer a myriad of ways to explore Arab destinations. With an amazing sailing expedition, you can explore vast Middle Eastern deserts, picturesque port towns and harbours, immerse yourself in Arabesque culture and cuisine, and much more. You won't want to go on vacation in any other way once you have experienced cruise holidays in the Middle East.