Arabian Gulf officials embrace Resorts World Cruises

As earlier announced, Resorts World One will sail there from November to April.

Service will begin from DP World's Mina Port Rashid in Dubai Nov. 1. The ship will operate two-night weekend cruises to Sir Bani Yas departing Fridays, three-night Oman cruises to Khasab and Muscat departing Sundays and two-night Doha cruises leaving Wednesdays.

Resorts World One will also add Doha as a homeport during the Qatar school holidays from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2. 

Halal-friendly offerings

The vessel is set to receive the official OIC/SMIIC Standard Halal-Friendly Cruise Ship certification so Muslim passengers can expect certified halal cuisine throughout, with all meats sourced from UAE halal suppliers.

Other onboard options include same-gender services in selected facilities and venues. In addition, certified vegetarian and Jain cuisine will be offered. Shisha (hookah) will be available, too. And public announcements will be made in English and Arabic.

Encouraging response

'The response from the Gulf and from various markets in Asia, including from our travel partners, has been very encouraging and we look forward to welcoming guests aboard soon,' Resorts World Cruises President Michael Goh said.

Saud Mohammed Saeed Hareb, cruise tourism & yachting lead, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, called this partnership with Resorts World Cruises a 'testament to our commitment to bring increasingly diverse cruise experiences to our city, underlining Dubai’s position as the cruise hub of the region.'

Diwali

The Nov. 1 cruise start coincides with Diwali, one of India and Asia’s major festivals, which is expected to attract a wider expatriate demographic from the region and the inbound fly-cruise segment to Dubai.

Passengers will get to experience the Festival of Light aboard Resorts World One which will be decorated and brightly lit, with Diwali-inspired activities, entertainment, a Gujarat food festival, sweets and desserts during the entire week of celebration.

Oman

The Omani Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is working to ensure a 'genuine experience and hospitality for Resorts World Cruises in Khasab and Sultan Qaboos ports,' according to Khalid Al Azri, director of the ministry's tourism trends department.

Qatar

And Qatar Tourism, which expects the emirate's 2024/25 cruise season to be the largest yet, with many maiden calls, also welcomed Resorts World. New offerings for visitors will be coming soon, said Maryam Saoud, head of tourism product support section.

DP World partnership

With the upcoming deployment, Resorts World Cruises formed a new partnership with DP World focused on homeporting at Port Rashid.