Interview: Gregory Reeves on the Middle East’s biggest-ever cruise event

CT: Beyond sales, what makes this event strategically important?

GR: There’s a second, equally important layer to the event: senior leadership and long-term strategy. We’re bringing together C-suite and director-level decision-makers from cruise lines, ports, tourism authorities, destinations and industry associations. These are the people actively shaping policy, infrastructure and investment decisions.

A big part of the conversation isn’t just about next season, or even the next two years, it’s about 2030 and beyond. The Gulf is investing heavily in cruise terminals, port infrastructure and destination development, and when the region commits to an objective, it has a strong track record of delivering at scale. 

If organisations want to be part of that future, whether through homeporting, deployment or destination partnerships, they need to be in these rooms and part of these discussions.

CT: Following the success of the inaugural one-day Connections Cruise Arabia event in 2025, what can delegates expect from the second edition’s programme?

GR: Connections Cruise Arabia 2026 will run over two full days. It is designed to be far more than a traditional trade show. There will be over 25 hours of content across 24 thought-leadership sessions, covering everything from how to sell cruise and developing new source markets, through to sustainability, operations, safety, destination development and best practice from around the world. Sessions are delivered through keynotes, panels, workshops and fireside chats led by senior industry figures.

Alongside the content, the event will feature a hosted buyer programme with pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, a hosted buyer lounge, a cruise operators’ lounge, and a dedicated exhibition floor. There are also curated networking experiences and off-site activities designed to encourage meaningful, long-term relationships rather than transactional conversations.

The focus throughout is on quality: quality delegates, quality conversations and quality outcomes.

CT: How does this build on the success of the launch edition?

GR: The inaugural event exceeded expectations, welcoming more than 200 vetted senior cruise leaders, with more than 85% at director level or above. Feedback was extremely strong, with the majority of attendees confirming new business connections and committing to return for 2026.

That success gave us the confidence to scale the event significantly. In 2026, we’re expanding to accommodate more than 500 senior participants, introducing new exhibition and themed zones, and deepening both the commercial and strategic elements of the programme, while staying true to the Connections ethos of trust-based, high-value engagement.

CT: Who should attend Connections Cruise Arabia 2026?

GR: The event is designed for organisations that want to play a serious role in the future of cruise in the Gulf. That includes cruise lines, ports and terminals, tourism boards, destinations, travel agencies and tour operators, airlines, hospitality groups and cruise-adjacent service providers. 

Whether the objective is near-term sales growth, long-term market positioning, or shaping the strategic direction of cruise in the region, Connections Cruise Arabia 2026 is where those conversations can happen.

For more information, visit www.connectionscruise.com and to register your interest in attending, contact Connections