2025-11-06
Preparations in Full Swing To Welcome Qatar’s 2025/26 Cruise Season
Preparations are in full swing to welcome Qatar's 2025/26 cruise season, which has put the country on a high pedestal in the international tourism market.
"A co-ordination meeting was held as part of the preparations for 2025/26 cruise season, bringing together stakeholders, agents, and tour operators to discuss operational plans and co-ordination efforts to ensure a successful season and an exceptional visitor experience," Mwani Qatar said in its social media handle X.
Qatar's 2024/25 cruise season had welcomed more than 396,000 visitors aboard 87 cruise ships, marking a 5% jump in visitors and a 19% rise in vessel calls against the previous season.
Doha Port’s cruise terminal is strategically located minutes away from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimising the visitor experience by allowing cruise passengers to make the most of their time in the city.
Qatar Tourism plans to strengthen its collaborations with more international cruise lines, which is vital for driving further growth in Qatar’s the tourism sector and contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification efforts.
The 2023/24 cruise season had seen 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, representing a significant milestone in Qatar’s cruise market. This marks an increase from its predecessor, the 2022/23 season which saw 54 cruise ships and 253, 191 passengers.
"Doha has become a prominent cruise destination with varied tourism experiences offered to visitors. From its debut in October 2023 to its grand finale in April 2024, this cruise season has exceeded all expectations breaking the records of visitors and cruise ships from previous seasons. The Grand Cruise Terminal symbolising Qatar's commitment to excellence” Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism had said.
Qatar is gaining popularity as a world-class cruise destination in the region as it showcased exceptional tourism capabilities, especially after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In this regard, efforts are currently underway to attract more cruise lines and travellers in the upcoming seasons.
Many international cruise lines had their maiden calls to Doha Port, depicting Qatar’s increasing allure on the global stage in terms of cruise tourism. Travellers were from across the world including Germany, Italy, Russia, Kazakhstan, the US, the UK, China, Spain, France, and Uzbekistan, as well as the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries.
International world-class ships including MSC Virtuosa, Seabourn Encore, AIDAprima, Artania, Mein Schiff 2, Azamara Journey, MS Riviera, MS Hamburg, and Norwegian Dawn have all previously docked in Doha.
Mwani Qatar is committed to enhancing the capabilities of Doha Port in line with the Ministry of Transport's strategic plan, according to its top officials.
"A co-ordination meeting was held as part of the preparations for 2025/26 cruise season, bringing together stakeholders, agents, and tour operators to discuss operational plans and co-ordination efforts to ensure a successful season and an exceptional visitor experience," Mwani Qatar said in its social media handle X.
Qatar's 2024/25 cruise season had welcomed more than 396,000 visitors aboard 87 cruise ships, marking a 5% jump in visitors and a 19% rise in vessel calls against the previous season.
Doha Port’s cruise terminal is strategically located minutes away from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimising the visitor experience by allowing cruise passengers to make the most of their time in the city.
Qatar Tourism plans to strengthen its collaborations with more international cruise lines, which is vital for driving further growth in Qatar’s the tourism sector and contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification efforts.
The 2023/24 cruise season had seen 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, representing a significant milestone in Qatar’s cruise market. This marks an increase from its predecessor, the 2022/23 season which saw 54 cruise ships and 253, 191 passengers.
"Doha has become a prominent cruise destination with varied tourism experiences offered to visitors. From its debut in October 2023 to its grand finale in April 2024, this cruise season has exceeded all expectations breaking the records of visitors and cruise ships from previous seasons. The Grand Cruise Terminal symbolising Qatar's commitment to excellence” Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism had said.
Qatar is gaining popularity as a world-class cruise destination in the region as it showcased exceptional tourism capabilities, especially after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In this regard, efforts are currently underway to attract more cruise lines and travellers in the upcoming seasons.
Many international cruise lines had their maiden calls to Doha Port, depicting Qatar’s increasing allure on the global stage in terms of cruise tourism. Travellers were from across the world including Germany, Italy, Russia, Kazakhstan, the US, the UK, China, Spain, France, and Uzbekistan, as well as the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries.
International world-class ships including MSC Virtuosa, Seabourn Encore, AIDAprima, Artania, Mein Schiff 2, Azamara Journey, MS Riviera, MS Hamburg, and Norwegian Dawn have all previously docked in Doha.
Mwani Qatar is committed to enhancing the capabilities of Doha Port in line with the Ministry of Transport's strategic plan, according to its top officials.
Source: GULF TIMES