Santa in his Speedos may not be the most appropriate image to conjure up at this time of year.
But given the temperatures outside as I write it’s easy to see why the idea of flying off on festive break to the sun is proving popular as ever this winter.
Latest figures from industry body ABTA shows that three million of us will be travelling abroad over the Christmas and New Year period, just as many as last year despite the recession.
A large proportion will be heading off for winter sun to destinations such as the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and Egypt.
Dubai is also amongst the top spots to escape to this year even though the Emirate has had its fair share of financial misery over the past few months.
Depart to the desert destination
For that reason alone, I reckon the desert destination has to offer holidaymakers some of the best value going.
In a survey, 80 per cent of cruise passengers in Dubai revealed that they would extend their visit to the Emirate during their next visit, and 95 per cent said they would recommend others to visit for its facilities, beaches and shopping.
And from early in the New Year there’s going to be increased cruise line competition as Royal Caribbean International starts its first winter of sailings from Dubai to compete with established player Costa Cruises.
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas will sail a series of seven-night cruises around the Arabian Gulf from January 18 until April. The cruises call at Fujairah and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Mina Sulman, Bahrain; and Oman’s capital city of Muscat before returning to Dubai.
The 2,112-passenger Brilliance of the Seas is great for families with its Adventure Ocean youth area splits into four age ranges from three year-olds to teenagers up to 17.
With 10-deck high windows and ocean-facing glass elevators, the ship is great for sight-seeing and features a nine hole mini-golf course; rock climbing wall, waterslide; and even self-levelling pool tables.
Royal Caribbean will be pitching itself against Costa Cruises which will be embarking on its fourth winter season in Dubai.
More Arabian Gulf cruises
For the first time, Costa Cruises is deploying the fleet’s top of the range ships, 2,826-passenger Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa, to boost the Italian company’s presence in the Arabian Gulf.
They will be joined by smaller 1,830-passenger Costa Europa which will run a series of eight cruises from Italy to Dubai and vice versa.
After entering service in April, this is the first time that Costa Luminosa will operate in the region with a seven-day itinerary in the Arabic gulf until April 2010.
New ship Costa Deliziosa is to be named in Dubai on February 23 – becoming the first cruise ship to be christened in an Arabian city.
Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa’s itineraries consist of two nights in Dubai and one day calls at the ports of Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
Cutting-edge technology features on both ships including a 4D cinema; roller skating track; the latest generation golf simulator; Grand Prix driving simulator; 3,500 m² Samsara Spa wellness centre and PlayStation World, an area dedicated exclusively to PlayStation3.
Costa Deliziosa will depart from Dubai on Sundays from March 14 to May 2; Costa Luminosa will be setting sail on Saturdays from this month until April 3, including a sailing over Christmas. Costa Europa will be offering 18-day winter cruises from Savona in Italy to Dubai and from Dubai to Savona crossing the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and Red Sea.
The line’s confidence in Dubai departures appears to be paying off with bookings for this winter up 40 per cent on last year.
Costa’s ships are expected to bring 140,000 passengers to Dubai travelling on the three ships on a total of 32 calls.
In addition to Costa’s ships, one vessel from German company AIDA Cruises, the 2,500-passenger AIDA diva will be calling 20 times at Dubai in winter 2009/10.
All this activity – together with calls by other cruise companies – is turning Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributing to its growth as a major tourist draw.
Given the big freeze in Britain, I can’t think of a better place to be right now. Merry Christmas!
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