Dubai: For a city synonymous with luxury, you’d have thought people residing in Dubai would have seen it all and this perception probably would have remained had the luxury cruise ship Mariner of the Seas not docked in Dubai for a day on Tuesday. Oozing opulence way beyond imagination, the Royal Caribbean International liner managed to show even Dubaiites a thing or two about luxury.
On way from Barcelona to Singapore, having initiated its journey exactly a month ago from Galveston, Texas, this Voyager Class ship – there are six classes of ships – is one of the biggest to dock in Dubai. With 15 passenger decks, the 1,020 feet long liner features the first on-board ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, a nine-hole miniature golf course, basketball court, three swimming pools and six whirlpools. And of course there is the highly impressive Royal Promenade that stretches almost the ship’s entire length. It is flanked by restaurants, lounges and boutiques and it is the area where lively parades and evening street parties are held. This area is the heart of the ship for evening activity, along with a three-story high theatre in which some of the latest production technology is used to produce Broadway-standard shows at night.
This ship brought with it around 3800 guests and according to Ahmad Belhoul, CEO of Strategy & Tourism Sector Development, DTCM, Dubai is fast becoming a coveted cruising destination. “Dubai is increasingly consolidating its position as a destination of choice for cruise tourism. In 2012 we received 105 ship calls carrying almost 408,000 visitors and expect this to increase to more than 420,000 from 110 ship calls this year,” he said.
“Dubai is currently the homeport for four luxury cruise lines and features in the itineraries of no less than 20 world’s leading cruise lines,” he added.
