Celebrity Cruises Middle East, represented in the region by UAE-based cruise specialists Travel Matrix, has announced that sales for its Dubai cruise itineraries aboard Celebrity Constellation have increased by 138% during the last 12 months.

“We are delighted to see the pace at which our modern luxury brand has been growing year on year, says Lakshmi Durai, CEO, Travel Matrix. “We started our dedicated representation for Celebrity Cruises in January 2015 and have more than doubled our business just in the second year of our representation. Our guest volume records an increase of 138% compared to the previous year.”

Lakshmi was speaking on the side-lines of an event during which Celebrity Cruises Middle East presented Appreciation Certificates to 15 travel industry partners from the Middle East at a special ceremony held at their stand during Arabian Travel Market.

“This growth would not have been possible without the support of our industry partners,” Durai said. “We take this opportunity to thank each one of our partners who supported us to reach this level.”

Celebrity Cruises Middle East also thanked TCA Abu Dhabi (Tourism & Culture Authority, Abu Dhabi), DTCM (Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing, Dubai) and Oman Tourism, Oman for their contribution to the successful first season of Celebrity Constellation in the Arabian Gulf during winter 2016 /17.

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Celebrity Cruises’ first Middle East season out of Abu Dhabi was so successful that the cruise line has committed to a further two cruise seasons in the Arabian Gulf in 2018 and 2019, and will be fully renovating Celebrity Constellation before she returns to the Gulf later this year.

Celebrity Constellation is a 13-deck, 91,000 ton cruise ship with a capacity of 2,170 guests based on double occupancy. The fully renovated Constellation will begin her second cruise season with a 10 night cruise from the UAE to Oman and will be sailing four longer round trip itineraries from Abu Dhabi, UAE, following the ancient spice route to some of India’s most fascinating cities including Cochin, Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai – before returning via the popular destinations of Dubai, UAE and Muscat, Oman.

At the event, Lukshmi Durai also announced that Celebrity Cruises would be offering Halal meals on-board, underscoring the importance that Celebrity Cruises places on growing the Middle East as a source market for cruise bookings.