Qatar crowned Favourite Cruise Destination at UK awards

Qatar has been named Favourite Cruise Destination at the 2025 Wave Awards, one of the UK’s leading events celebrating excellence across the global cruise and travel industry.

Qatar triumphed over six other shortlisted destinations – Norway, Barbados, Greece, Alaska, Antarctica and the Canary Islands – to claim the top spot.

The accolade was decided through a public vote by readers of World of Cruising magazine alongside an independent judging panel of 40 experts convened earlier this year at The Independent’s headquarters in London. 

Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said the award reflects the GCC country’s “growing status as a preferred destination” among international cruise travellers. “It reaffirms confidence in the high-quality cultural and maritime experiences Qatar offers, supported by advanced infrastructure and a rich selection of leisure options that make Doha an essential stop on regional and international cruise itineraries,” he said.

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The recognition coincides with the launch of Qatar’s 2025-2026 cruise season, which recently commenced with the arrival of the luxury MSC Euribia at Doha Port.

Running until May 2026, the season is expected to feature 73 cruise calls, including 40 transit stops, 15 turnaround visits and three maiden calls. Among these will be the Doha debut of Saudi Arabia’s Aroya Cruises, operating its inaugural Arabian Sea programme. Between February and April 2026, Aroya Cruises will offer five- and seven-night sailings aboard its 3,400-passenger vessel, calling at ports in Doha, the UAE and Oman.

This winter season, Celestyal Cruises will conduct 107 sailings in the Arabian Gulf, some departing from Doha, while MSC’s Euribia will operate a series of three-, four- and seven-night roundtrip Gulf itineraries from Doha, including stops in Dubai and Bahrain. TUI Cruises has also expanded its Gulf programme, adding 30 seven-night sailings from Dubai with Doha as a key port of call.