The new Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal is within a ‘stone’s throw’ of Dubai’s major tourist attractions, its two international airports, and offers enhanced facilities for passengers, according AIDA Cruises, the first cruise line to use the new terminal.

The fact that Dubai’s popular sights, beaches, landmarks and malls are close by to Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, coupled with easy access to airport, makes the city “an unbeatable argument” for Middle East fly-cruise holidays, according to AIDA.

AIDA Cruises was the first line to use the new cruise terminal last week

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The comment came as AIDA Cruises became the first cruise line to use the new terminal, which forms part of the massive Dubai Harbour development, a project that will create a tourism, lifestyle, retail and residential area the size of Monaco.

AIDAvita and the much larger AIDAprima docked at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal on March 16th, 2021. AIDA Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise company in the world and one of the investors in the terminal.

AIDAprima and AIDAvita alongside at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal

Carnival has already confirmed that Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal will be its new regional hub for the Middle East, used by all the ships of its nine brands that cruise to or from the Arabian Gulf annually.

AIDA, Costa, Princess, Seabourn, P&O, Cunard, and Holland America all cruise from Dubai each year, with AIDA and Costa both homeporting for a full winter season annually.

The 120,000 square metre Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal will put Carnival-owned ships in the heart of the city’s tourism hotspots.

Dubai Harbour with cruise terminal adjacent Palm Jumeirah Island

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“The most popular sights, beautiful beaches and world-famous landmarks of the city, such as the 250-meter-high observation wheel Ain Dubai and the Burj Al Arab, are just a stone’s throw away,” says AIDA. “The two international airports are also very easy to reach.”

Between late November, 2021 and mid-April 2022, AIDAprima will return to Dubai to cruise a series of 7-night voyages in the Arabian Gulf.

She’ll stay overnight in Dubai on all of these cruises, giving guests the opportunity to discover the largest metropolis in the United Arab Emirates on various excursions.

“Pleasant summer temperatures in winter and a moderate flight time of almost six hours are further unbeatable arguments for a cruise to [Dubai],” AIDA Cruises said.

AIDA Cruises has been homeporting in the Middle East since 2006, with Dubai now ranked as one of the most popular cruise destinations for German vacationers in the winter months.