By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean International (RCL) has announced a big increase in Middle East bookings for its three global brands: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.
The firm announced a 30 per cent rise in bookings on 2010 for the period between January and October with around 60 per cent of that figure opting for shorter seven-night sailings.
"We are very pleased to see that the interest in cruising in the Middle East is growing year on year,” said Lakshmi Durai, executive director Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises Middle East. "All markets in the region have contributed well to the success - even countries such as Bahrain and Egypt, which both faced many challenges due to the unrest, showed positive growth compared to last year.
"Being able to showcase our ship Brilliance of the Seas - which is sailing in the Gulf now for the third season – to travel agents, media and corporates, had a great impact on bookings and further strengthened the positioning of cruising as a holiday option for Middle Eastern guests," she added.