12/02/12, 12:38:29 EST

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Black Watch arrives in Dubai on maiden call

ameinfo.com

Leading European cruise operator, Fred Olsen, has placed Dubai on its cruise calendar with its Black Watch ship making a maiden call on Monday.

A total of 1079 passengers and crew members arrived at the Dubai Cruise Terminal for a three-day tour and were accorded a traditional Arabian hospitality. There was a passenger exchange of 775. The majority of the passengers are British nationals. Also on board are tourists from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and US. The cruise ship is also making a regional tour of Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Salalah. The welcome reception included performances by Dubai Police and traditional Aiyala bands. School children welcomed the visitors with flowers and a display of heritage activities. Gahwah (Arabic coffee) and dates were served to the visitors on arrival. Black Watch, refurbished in June 2005, is the Flagship of the Norwegian-origin company. The refitted vessel has 435 cabins, over 90% of them offering sea view, a 150-seat film theatre, two swimming pools, a fitness centre, deck sports, and a health and beauty salon. The 28492 tonnes-Black Watch is one of the five vessels in Fred. Olsen's fleet. Fred. Olsen is a family-run company, with 150 years of seafaring traditions. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is the 2006 recipient of 'Best Classic Ship Operator' and 'Best European Cruise Operator' awards. The state-of-the-art Dubai cruise terminal, opened in 2001 at the sprawling Port Rashid complex, measures 3300 square metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously. The ship-shaped cruise terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world's only cruise facility run by the government tourism body. Dubai is considered as the home to one of the best cruise terminals and its world-class facility received global recognition when it won the best cruise terminal prize in a trade show in Miami in the US. The cruise tourism industry in Dubai is expected to receive 63,000 cruise passengers this winter season and predictions are that the number could double next winter. The cruise terminal was used for 13 cruise stopovers with 13,000 passenger movements in 2005. It received a total of 23,000 passengers during the 2005-2006 winter seasons. For the 2006-07 seasons, Dubai is expected to see 85,000 passenger movements, while the 2007-08 seasons will attract 200,000 tourists. Traditionally, October to May is the busy season for this region's cruise travel sector. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), which operates the Dubai Cruise Terminal, see Dubai and other regional destinations benefiting immensely from the cruise industry.

 Printable Version  | published Feb 26, 2007