Thomson Cruises has announced that the Thomson Celebration cruise ship will be operating from the port of Dubai for the first time next winter, offering choices to British holiday makers.
The UK holiday company has announced two new itineraries, available for sale from November 2015, featuring seven new ports of call: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manama (Bahrain), Doha (Qatar), Khor Fakkan (UAE), Muscat and Khasab (Oman). The move comes as Dubai’s popularity as a tourist spot has risen, with 13 million tourists visiting the destination in 2014.
The new seven night itineraries – ‘Arabian Nights’ and ‘Cities of Gold’ – will stop overnight in Dubai and visit six new destinations including Khasab and Muscat in Oman, Manama in Bahrain, Doha in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Khor Fakkan in UAE. Holiday highlights include the spectacular sites of the Burj al Arab and Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and the Grand Mosque in Muscat. Tourists can also explore the magnificent Musafi Mountains in Khor Fakkan and try out desert safaris.
Customers looking to combine their cruise with a seven night stay in Dubai can stay in luxury hotels including Atlantis the Palm. Offering further flexibility, cruise customers can fly direct to Dubai from six regional airports including Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and London Gatwick.
Managing Director for Thomson Cruises, Helen Caron, said: ‘At Thomson Cruises we know that destinations are one of the key deciding factors for our customers and our decision to set sail from Dubai will allow holiday-makers to see and experience more destinations than ever before. As Dubai becomes more and more popular for winter sun and incredible excursions, we know our customers will be as excited as we are to welcome this destination to our programme. With the average Brit visiting more than 14 foreign countries in their lifetime*, we can’t wait for everyone to discover Arabia, from the glamour and opulence of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to the ancient heritage sites in Oman.’
