DUBAI, UAE, 24 September 2026: Cruise Master has concluded its participation at Arabian Travel Market 2026 after bringing seven global cruise-line partners together on a dedicated Cruise Platform at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The regional cruise agency said the four-day event, held from 14 to 17 September, generated meaningful interactions with travel-trade partners and reported early signs of pent-up demand for summer 2027. The participation marked Cruise Master’s 19th year in the region.
Seven cruise lines join platform
Cruise Master’s ATM platform featured Princess Cruises, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, HX Expeditions and Swan Hellenic.
The participating brands covered contemporary, premium, luxury and expedition cruising, with representatives meeting travel-agency partners throughout the event. Visitors to the stand could also claim exclusive discount coupons redeemable against bookings made during or after the show.
Cruise Master said the exhibitor floor was more curated, with key regional players well represented. It added that most visitors were travel-agency partners and described the quality of attendees and interactions as strong. The stand recorded a steady flow of quality meetings across the four days as agents learned more about the participating cruise lines and their products.
Focus shifts to summer 2027
This year marked the first time Arabian Travel Market was held in September rather than its usual May slot.
Cruise Master said May had historically set the stage for the summer booking period, given the Middle East’s tendency towards late bookings. It also said that despite the geopolitical situation that unfolded in February reducing leisure-travel demand, the year overall proved promising, with early signs of pent-up demand building for 2027. Cruise Master expects an earlier booking window for summer 2027 and said the September timing of ATM provided a platform to begin capturing that demand.
Ashok Kumar, Founder and Managing Director of Cruise Master Middle East, said: “This year marks 19 years since we founded Cruise Master, and none of that would have been possible without the trust of our partners and the travel trade community across the region. ATM 2026 reaffirmed exactly what we set out to do from the start: make the best of the cruise industry more accessible to this market. With pent-up demand already building, our focus now shifts to 2027, and we are excited about what the next chapter holds for cruising in the Middle East.”
Cruise Master said the conversations and connections made during ATM would inform its approach to early bookings for 2027, together with its cruise-line partners.
Established in 2007, Cruise Master represents more than 50 cruise lines across ocean, river, luxury and expedition categories. The company connects the region’s travel trade with global cruise brands and continues to support the growth of the cruise sector across the GCC.
Source: This article is based on Cruise Master’s official press release issued on 24 September 2026, Dubai.
