With every year that passes, cruise lines strive to provide itineraries that can take passengers to new and exotic destinations around the world. From the isolated islands of the Caribbean to the untouched ports of the Mediterranean, cruise lines want to stay ahead of the game by offering new and authentic experiences and 2017 is no exception.
Staying clued up about new destinations offered by cruise lines will certainly provide an advantage when helping clients book their cruise. This week, we take a closer look at four new destinations set to be introduced to itineraries by cruise lines throughout the course of the next year.
The Indian Ocean has attracted many lines in recent years, providing cruisers with the chance to visit the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Middle East. The Middle East, in particular, is looking increase the number of cruise ports, with new opportunities appearing on the Arabian Gulf. In the years leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar will be placed more and more into the limelight and, in 2017, cruisers will be able to visit the nation’s capital city of Doha.
Throughout January to March, MSC Fantasia will be the first mega ship to visit this emerging Middle Eastern city, with a large emphasis being placed on cultural excursions. These will include visits to the Museums of Msheireb and the Museum of Islamic Art, as well the cultural village of Katara and the bustling marketplace of Souq Waqif.
As well as the city of Doha, passengers sailing on board MSC Fantasia on selected sailing will be able to enjoy tranquillity on Sir Bani Yas Island, which is situated just north of the western regions of the United Arab Emirates. A 1.3km beach has been designated specifically for use by cruise passengers, and passengers sailing upon MSC Fantasia will be among the first to take full advantage of it. As well as a beautiful golden beach, visitors will also be able to take advantage of facilities including volleyball courts, an aqua park, and a children’s play area.
Many cruise ships have docked in the Azores in recent years during transatlantic crossings, but many vessels stop at the island of Ponta Delgada. Flores is the westernmost island of this Portuguese archipelago and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This lush green island is home to a plethora of valleys, peaks, lagoons, cliffs, hot springs, extinct volcanoes and much more. Unlike the other islands, which sit on a European plate, Flores is situated on an American plate and is home to a unique range of wild flowers. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be docking in Flores on their America’s Cup itinerary, departing from Liverpool in June.
Croatia and Montenegro have both enjoyed a surge in popularity from cruise visitors in recent years and these are set to be joined by another of the Balkan nations. The Albanian town of Sarande is situated in the southern region of the country. Although the beaches will appeal to many cruisers, the town also provides an ideal point of access from which to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint. Inhabited since prehistoric times, this ancient site was a former Greek colony and a Roman city and recently been restored to its former glory. MSC Cruises will be the first line to incorporate this town into their itineraries, with MSC Poesia docking in the town on Adriatic sailings.
It goes without saying that cruising is becoming more and more popular. Each cruise line attempts to offer consumers a completely unique product, with onboard experience, crew-to-passenger ratios, and itineraries all taken into account. This builds the perfect platform from which to launch your very own business with GoCruise. We enable you to run your business the way you wish while providing assistance and a range of in-house tools to ensure your success.
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