CruiseXplore and Hurtigruten partner...

Dubai-based agency will be exclusive representative as regional cruise booms

Middle East cruise specialist CruiseXplore has been named the official, exclusive representative for Norwegian operator Hurtigruten in the region.

The partnership will address the growing demand in the Middle East for cruise, specifically tapping into Hurtigruten’s more than 130-year history sailing Norway’s coast and into the Arctic Circle to view the Northern Lights.

Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express voyages and premium Signature Line sailings are operated with a fleet of small ships for an authentic and immersive travel experience year round.

Carla Hines, Head of Sales for EMEA at Hurtigruten, says the Middle East presents an "exciting opportunity for us to connect more travellers with the natural wonders of Norway, from its dramatic fjords to its rich coastal heritage".

Lakshmi Durai, CEO of Dubai-based CruiseXplore, added that demand for destination-focused, experiential cruising has been growing year on year and that Middle Eastern guests always look for different destinations where they can engage with history, people, culture and food.

Cruise is a growing sector in the Middle East for both inbound and outbound travellers, with cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Arabia seeing a strong upswing in demand from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where high-value family groups and luxury FITs [Fully Independent Travellers] are gravitating toward immersive, high-service cruise experiences.

And with its rich heritage, family-friendly tourist attractions and winter sun, the Middle East is also emerging as a popular destination for cruise travel from November to March, with the cruise industry in the Arabian Gulf on track to welcome record passenger numbers in the coming years.

In recognition of that, Jacobs Media will launch Connections Cruise Arabia, a game-changing, two-day cruise event taking place in March 2026, which will bring together more than 300 senior cruise leaders and influencers from across the globe to shape the future of the sector.

For more information, visit www.cruisexplore.com and Hurtigruten’s B2B Agent Portal at www.agentportal.hurtigruten.com and www.hurtigruten.com/en. For travel trade enquires, visit www.connectingtravel.com/cruise-hub/hurtigruten or contact Carla Hines, Head of Sales Emerging Markets on +44 (0) 7826 912 426 or carla.hines@hurtigruten.com

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