Qatar’s 2018/19 cruise season, which kicked off with the Fred Olsen’s Boudicca docking at Doha Port, is expecting nearly double the number of cruise ships of the previous season.
Of the 43 ships scheduled to call in Doha Port, ten will be making their maiden calls to Qatar. And, with the majority of calls being megaships, this season is set to be the biggest yet for Qatar, bringing 140,000 visitors to its shores – triple those of last year.
Boudicca berthed at Dohar Port in Qatar
This season will also witness the arrival of two megaships at Doha Port at the same time.
Said Hassan Al Ibrahim, acting chairman at QTA: “It continues to be an exciting period of rapid growth for Qatar’s cruise tourism sector. We look forward to continue drawing a growing number of visitors to Qatar’s shores to enjoy the country’s pleasant winter weather.”
Qatar is expecting to receive 200,000 cruise visitors by the 2019/20 season and has plans to turn Doha to a turnaround port.
QTA recently signed an agreement with the German Aida Cruises and the Italian Costa Cruises to place Qatar on the two companies’ winter itineraries. AIDAprima and Costa Mediterranea are expected make their maiden trips to Doha Port this season. Between them, the two cruise lines will bring up to a quarter of this season’s passengers to Doha.
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