Qatar Tourism has launched its 2024/2025 cruise season with the arrival of Resorts World One, marking the first maiden call of the season and setting the stage for Qatar’s largest cruise season to date. According to the reports from The Peninsula News, this ambitious season is expected to welcome 95 cruise ships to Doha, including 33 turnaround calls, 11 homeporting calls, and 4 maiden calls, indicating a substantial increase in cruise activity. Resorts World One alone will make 23 visits, bringing an estimated 72,000 visitors to Qatar.
Between November 2024 and April 2025, more than 430,000 passengers are projected to arrive in Qatar, as the country hosts renowned ships such as Mein Schiff 4, MSC Euribia, AIDAprima, Costa Smeralda, Norwegian Sky, and Celestyal Journey. This influx reflects Qatar’s evolving status as a premier cruise destination, building on the success of the 2023/2024 season, which brought 73 cruise ships and over 347,000 visitors.
H.E. Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, emphasized that the growth of the cruise sector is central to Qatar’s National Tourism Strategy 2030. He noted that this season is expected to see a 30% increase in cruise calls and a 24.5% rise in visitors compared to last year. “With new partnerships and an increasing number of high-profile cruise lines visiting our shores, Qatar continues to position itself as a leading destination for cruise travelers worldwide,” he stated.
Capt. Abdullah Mohammed Al Khanji, CEO of Mwani Qatar, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Doha Port’s readiness to handle the surge of visitors with enhanced facilities and experiences. He remarked, “The remarkable increase in visitor numbers and cruise arrivals underscores the growing interest from operators in choosing Doha as a port of call.” He also affirmed Mwani Qatar’s commitment to working closely with Qatar Tourism to drive growth in marine tourism and to further elevate Qatar’s global profile within the travel industry, aligning with the goals of the National Tourism Strategy 2030.
With an expanding roster of world-class ships and comprehensive planning, Qatar’s 2024/2025 cruise season promises to strengthen its position as a leading regional and global destination for cruise travelers.
