CruiseXplore Middle East launches 2026 trade brochure

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CruiseXplore's 2026 brochure

Middle East cruise specialist CruiseXplore Middle East has released its new 2026 Cruise Collection trade brochure, featuring more than 30 premium cruise lines and over 120 curated itineraries spanning all seven continents.

The launch comes at a time when cruising continues to pick up momentum across the region, both as an outbound leisure choice and a growing tourism driver for inbound markets. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Arabia report strong demand from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, particularly among high-value family groups and luxury travellers seeking immersive, service-led cruising experiences.

The 50-page brochure includes 123 of the most “sought-after” itineraries for 2026, with options ranging from short 3-, 4- and 6-night sailings to extended 18- and 20-night journeys. Each itinerary has been designed to “inspire journeys, spark wanderlust and showcase experiences that go far beyond the destination,” according to CruiseXplore.

Silversea itineraries are included in the brochure

Divided by cruise line, the collection includes sailings from Celebrity Cruises, NCL, Crystal, Royal Caribbean, Explora Journeys and the GCC’s first homegrown cruise brand, Aroya Cruises. The itineraries span every corner of the globe — from the Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean and Riviera to Scandinavia, Polynesia, Southeast Asia and even Antarctica. Country-specific itineraries highlight destinations such as the Greek islands, Norwegian fjords, Japan, Iceland, Scotland and Tahiti, while river cruises include iconic waterways like the Danube, Rhine and Mekong.

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Highlights include Silversea’s seven-night Galapagos sailing (from US$11,600, with 16 departures), Crystal Cruises’ 18-night journey around Mexico (from US$9,300) and Quark Expeditions’ 12-night Iceland to Greenland voyage in August, timed to coincide with the solar eclipse.

Regional cruise demand is also featured prominently, with cruise lines including Costa, MSC and Celestyal offering seven-night Arabian Gulf itineraries calling at major ports in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Meanwhile, Aroya Cruises debuts three-, four- and seven-night Red Sea sailings departing from Jeddah, with a visit to its private island, as well as inaugural Arabian Gulf itineraries.

Aroya visiting private island destination in Saudi Arabia

Another standout is Oceania Cruises’ 20-night Sunny Sands & Chic Strands voyage, which explores the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea for two weeks before continuing to the Mediterranean, calling in Dubai, Muscat, Jeddah and Luxor.

Now in its 12th year of operation, CruiseXplore Middle East continues to strengthen its position as a key regional cruise trade partner, providing agents with seamless online booking tools, up-to-date cruise resources, training opportunities and extensive marketing support designed to help agents sell cruise products more effectively across the Middle East.

To view the CruiseXplore 2026 Cruise Collection, click here lnkd.in/dn9CvZGj or more information, visit cruisexplore.com

Discover More About Cruise

Supporting the growth of the cruise industry, Connections Cruise Arabia will return to Dubai in the UAE in 2026, following the success of the inaugural edition in 2025. The two-day event, taking place from 28 to 29 September, will welcome more than 500 travel trade professionals from across the global cruise ecosystem. To register your interest in attending, contact Connections.