Middle East & Africa

Windstar Cruises replaced its Middle East sailings from December to April with a mostly western Mediterranean winter program.

Cruise Saudi renewed its collaboration with Discover Saudi, a destination management company and a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s leading travel company Almosafer, part of Seera Group.

MSC Orchestra's full winter program in the Red Sea was canceled due to the proximity of some ports to Israel and restrictions in bordering countries that the line said would have adversely affected the experience for passengers.

SH Diana sailed into Saudi Arabia for the first time ever this month, calling at Yanbu, Baridi Island and Jeddah. 

MSC Group’s cruise division will open its first office in Saudi Arabia in November to house the commercial, sales and marketing functions for both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys.  

MSC Cruises forecasts bringing up to 200,000 passengers to Saudi Arabia by the end of the year, with the line’s executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago ‘committed’ to introucing more cruise tourists to the country. 

Lemoneight developed an in-person interactive training experience, 'My Perfect Day,' for tour guides serving Qatar’s expanding cruise sector.