ROYAL Caribbean has confirmed that it will
suspend its operations in Dubai after the
upcoming 2012/13 winter season which is to
be operated by Serenade of the Seas.
According to a report in cruise industry
magazine Seatrade Cruise Review, the company
will also modify its Serenade season to a
shorter series of 11 seven-night voyages from
Dubai to Fujairah, Muscat and Abu Dhabi, with
the season commencing 28 Jan 2013.
Serenade is due for a makeover after its
Dubai deployment, and will then be
redeployed to New Orleans for the following
winter season 2013/14.
Royal Caribbean International’s regional
director, Helen Beck, said the move followed
sliding demand for the Dubai cruises.
“We were initially very pleased with the
business development there and expected
continued growth; however the demand has
declined in recent seasons and as a result we
have had to make some difficult decisions,
driven by strategic and financial
considerations, about discontinuing our
program there,” she was quoted as saying.
Brilliance of the Seas, which is being replaced
in Dubai for the upcoming season, has
operated in Dubai since 2008/09 and last year
carried around 40,000 passengers during its
Middle East deployment.
