Qatar to host 73 cruise calls in winter 2025-26 schedule

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Cruise ship in Doha port

Qatar is set to host 73 cruise calls to Doha Port during the 2025-26 winter cruise season, officially running from November 2025 through May 2026, according to Mwani Qatar, the operator of the Doha Port Cruise Terminal.

This figure marks a slight decrease from the record 87 ship calls and more than 360,000 cruise visitors logged in the 2024/25 season, a year in which cruise traffic rose 19% and reinforced Qatar’s standing as a premier regional hub.

The upcoming season will feature 40 partial turnaround calls, 15 full turnaround calls and three maiden calls, including the Doha debut of Saudi Arabia’s Aroya Cruises as part of its inaugural Arabian Sea programme.

Aroya will operate five- and seven-night itineraries between February and April 2026 aboard its 3,400-passenger vessel, sailing from Dubai and Dammam with calls at Doha and ports across the UAE and Oman.

Saudi's first cruise ship Aroya will stop for the first time in Doha

Major international lines are also anchoring their regional operations in Doha. Celestyal Cruises is set to run 107 sailings in the Arabian Gulf, with 14 seven-night Desert Days roundtrip itineraries departing from Doha or Dubai. The brand has committed two ships to the region for the next three years, homeporting Celestyal Journey in Doha for part of the season.

After a brief hiatus, MSC Cruises returns citing “growing demand from GCC travellers seeking a luxurious and effortless way to rediscover the region.” Its new flagship, Euribia, will sail a mix of three-, four-, and seven-night Gulf cruises roundtrip from Doha, with stops in Dubai and Bahrain.

Aroya Cruises opens bookings for debut Arabian Gulf sailings

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TUI Cruises has expanded its Arabian Gulf schedule, offering 30 seven-night itineraries from Dubai with Doha featured as a key port of call; while Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer two signature sailings from Doha, departing for Cape Town and Singapore, respectively.

Enhancing the passenger experience, the Doha Port Cruise Terminal – located just minutes from major landmarks like the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif – will be fully operational throughout the season, providing “expedited entry procedures,” enhanced facilities and a diverse array of curated shore excursions, according to Abdulrahman Saad Al-Baker, Cruise Terminal Manager at Mwani Qatar.

Commenting on the launch of the cruise season, Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber, Chief of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said: “Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar are committed to delivering an exceptional experience that embodies Qatar’s authentic hospitality and upholds the highest international standards.”

Further underscoring its commitment to the sector, Qatar recently joined the Cruise Arabia Alliance alongside Saudi, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman and Bahrain, an expanded partnership focused on boosting regional connectivity, expanding itineraries and attracting more cruise lines.

More cruise lines are adding Middle East ports to their itineraries as cruise tourism in the region is on the rise and set to be further accelerated by Connections Cruise Arabia, a game-changing annual event, launched in September 2025, that will bring together 300 senior cruise leaders and stakeholders in September 2026 to shape the future of the sector in the region.

For more information, visit mwani.com.qa and qatartourism.com, plus for all the latest cruise news, bookmark www.connectingtravel.com/cruise