In its bid to strengthen marine tourism in the emirate, Dubai recently welcomed Royal Caribbean International's, Spectrum of the Seas, into Port Rashid.
It was the ship’s debut entry into the Arabian Gulf, and Dubai celebrated the occasion by hosting a traditional ‘Plaques and Keys Exchange’ ceremony.
Spectrum of the Seas arrived in the port bringing close to 4,000 tourists to the emirate in just one single day.
The ship features quite a few innovative features including the Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline, RipCord by iFly sky diving simulator and North Star observation pod that offers guests astonishing panoramic views more than 300 feet above sea level. And, that’s not all, guests get access to the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex with bumper cars, roller skating and basketball.
Weighing 168,666 gross tonnes, it is the largest ship ever to arrive at the Dubai port. The ship has specifically been designed to cater for the Chinese market. The ship sails from Barcelona to Dubai in 16 nights. After which, it sails from Dubai to Singapore in 14 nights.
Mohamed Abdul Aziz Al Mannai, CEO of P&O Marina and CEO of Port Rashid at DP World, said: "The cruise ship terminal at Port Rashid has recorded significant achievements over the past few years, including the development of marine, commercial and tourism infrastructure. This strengthens the emirate’s global position as a hub for trade and cruise tourism and supports the tourism sector in Dubai and its efforts to establish the emirate among the best cities in the world.
Jamal Alfalasi, Director of Dubai Cruise Tourism, said: “Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of reputable cruise liners visiting the emirate and our ongoing partnership with key stakeholders is testament to delivering top-class cruise facilities and providing distinctive services to enhance the tourists’ experience, marking Dubai as a significant destination for cruise tourists worldwide.”