Top Cruises from Dubai & Abu Dhabi You Can't Miss in 2024

Life's just smoother when you're cruising. When planning a trip, most of us first think about hopping on a plane. But there's a whole other world out there on the open seas, and maybe it's time you gave cruising a shot for your next big adventure.

Plenty of cruises kick off right from the UAE (yep, Dubai and Abu Dhabi), and there’s something for everyone. With a bit of research, you'll soon be packing your bags and ready to set sail. Here’s a quick roundup of awesome cruises departing from Dubai and Abu Dhabi:

Costa Cruises

Ring a bell? The Costa Toscana made its grand debut at Dubai Harbour in December 2022. You can choose a little getaway in the Arabian Gulf with their 3, 4, or 7-day cruises or go all out with a 19-day adventure to Rome. This journey takes you from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Salalah (Oman), Aqaba (Jordan), Alexandria (Egypt), Athens (Greece), and Naples, finally docking at the historic port of Rome.

Upcoming cruises are set for March 2025, with options to Genoa, Italy (20 nights), and Marseille, France (21 nights).

Prices start at €958 (around Dhs3,817) for the December 2024 trip, and $2,429 (about Dhs8,922) for the March 2025 one. It's time to turn your 'out of office' on!

MSC Cruises

Don’t wanna stray too far from home? MSC Cruises is your go-to. They offer trips between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Qatar, with options of 1 night, 3 nights, or 7 nights. The 7-night tour swings you from Dubai to Doha, then Bahrain, before looping back to Abu Dhabi where you’ll enjoy stops at Abu Dhabi Port and Sir Bani Yas Island.

Fancy onboard gyms, pools, theaters, and kids' clubs are all part of the package. Cruises kick off again in November 2024.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

From the sky-high skyscrapers and bustling markets of Dubai to the mountain ranges and natural beauty of Africa, Regent Seven Seas Cruises have a 19-day trip that’s sure to wow.

This one moves from Dubai to Oman, visiting places like Madagascar and Mozambique, ending with epic stops in Durban, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town in South Africa. Onboard, expect a smorgasbord of cuisines, nightly entertainment, fitness centers, boutiques, and more.

Prices start at $6,600 (around Dhs24,242), and the adventure begins in May 2025.

Resort World Cruises

For a limited-time treat, Resorts World Cruises are sailing the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman from October 18, 2024, to April 13, 2025. Choices include a two-night Sir Bani Yas weekend cruise, a three-night Oman trip to Khasab and Muscat, and a two-night Doha jaunt. You can even mix and match to create 4, 5, or 7-night packages.

Prices start at $825 (about Dhs3,030) for the Gulf launch special. Think pools, theaters, restaurants, and kids’ clubs galore

Royal Caribbean

Ever fancied a two-week one-way trip from Dubai to Singapore? Royal Caribbean’s got you covered. This cruise will whisk you across the Indian Ocean, with stops in Mumbai and Cochin in India, and then off to East Asia making calls at Phuket, Penang, and finally Singapore City. Onboard fun includes a waterslide, laser tag, a spa, fitness center, shops, restaurants, bars, and lounges.

There are two ships to choose from: Voyager of the Seas starting at $1,487 (around Dhs5,462), and Anthem of the Seas from $2,154 (approximately Dhs7,912). Set sail in November 2024.

Swan Hellenic

If you’re after a true adventure, how about heading to the Arctic with Swan Hellenic? These cruises don’t start from the UAE, so you’ll need to fly to Longyearbyen first. Once there, you’ll join other explorers to feast your eyes on untouched, snowy landscapes teeming with polar bears, arctic foxes, reindeer, wolves, puffins, and a host of marine life like seals, sea lions, walruses, and whales.

These Arctic expeditions run until August 2024, costing around USD11,080 (Dhs40,697) per person. You’ve only got July and August 2024 to snag your spot, so don’t dawdle!

Ready to cruise into your next adventure? Happy sailing, mate! 🚢