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Dubai Tourism alongside its public and private sector partners welcomed cruise ship Horizon into Dubai, marking the debut of Pullmantur Cruise Lines in the region. To commemorate the occasion, a traditional ‘Plaques and Keys Exchange’ ceremony was hosted on board in the presence of Richard Vogel, Pullmantur’s President and CEO, and the ship’s captain, as well as key industry stakeholders.
Reaffirming Dubai’s position as the ‘Cruise Hub of the Region’, Horizon was one of five cruise ships to arrive in-port on Frida,y 7th December, bringing in a total of over 25,000 cruise tourists to the emirate in a single day.
At 208 meters long and weighing 46,811 gross tonnes, Pullmantur’s cruise ship Horizon is the first Spanish Cruise Line to be deployed in the region. With Dubai as its official winter home port, the ship is set to conduct 14 calls throughout the season, with regular itineraries around the Arabian Gulf.
During each call, the ship will dock for over 36 hours, offering both its passengers and the crew the opportunity to explore the city and its wide range of attractions and experiences. The recent re-fit and upgrade to the ship’s interior has also ensured that this classic vessel offers world-class facilities including spacious public areas, a theatre lounge and a variety of restaurants. 80% of the ship’s cabins have a sea view with a selection boasting luxurious private balconies.
Jamal Alfalasi, Director of Dubai Cruise Tourism, said, "Dubai is fast becoming a favoured destination among global cruise tourists with travellers choosing to begin their experience from the emirate. We are delighted that Pullmantur has launched its inaugural Arabian Gulf itinerary for the 2018/2019 season and welcome their ship Horizon to Dubai, its official home port this season. As a popular winter cruise destination, our on-going partnership supports the promising future of the emirate’s cruise tourism industry, and we will continue to work collaboratively with our public-private sector stakeholders to position the city as the most viable gateway for both regional and international cruise itineraries, and the perfect pre-post cruise stay destination."
Dubai Tourism welcomed the ship’s captain and crew to Dubai alongside dignitaries from DP World, Dubai Immigration, Dubai Customs, PCFC Security and other private sector stakeholders. During the ceremony, Richard Vogel, Pullmantur’s President and CEO, thanked the city for its continued support in making the deployment of Horizon in Dubai during the winter season a reality.
Dubai’s cruise industry is set for a strong performance throughout the 2018/2019 season, with an anticipated 725,000 cruise tourists travelling into the emirate. Throughout the season, seven ships from six different cruise lines will operate regular itineraries from Dubai across the Arabian Gulf and India, with over 20 world-class cruise lines stopping over in the emirate, allowing tourists to start or finish their longer international cruise tours in the city.
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