CruiseXplore says ultra-luxury bookings have doubled compared with last year, while combined river and expedition bookings have tripled as GCC travellers increasingly seek specialised and experience-led cruise holidays.
DUBAI, UAE – 28 September 2026: Following its participation at ATM 2026, CruiseXplore says conversations with the regional travel trade reinforced strong and growing demand for cruise holidays across the Middle East, alongside increasing interest in more diverse cruise products and easier access to trade support.
In a post-Arabian Travel Market interview with The Cruise News Middle East, CruiseXplore CEO Lakshmi Durai said travel advisors were particularly interested in a wider choice of cruise products, distinctive destinations and reliable support to help them sell cruise holidays with greater confidence.
CruiseXplore exhibited at ATM for the second consecutive year, having also participated in the show in 2025. Durai also took part in the “Small Ships, Big Opportunities” panel, contributing to the discussion around small-ship cruising and the growth of more immersive, experience-led travel.
Demand expands beyond traditional family cruising
Contemporary cruise brands offering family-focused holidays continue to see strong demand, but CruiseXplore is also recording increased interest across other segments. Ultra-luxury small-ship cruises sailing to distinctive and less explored destinations are attracting greater attention, while river and expedition cruising have also grown strongly.
CruiseXplore says its ultra-luxury cruise bookings have doubled year on year, while combined river and expedition cruise bookings have tripled.
The booking trends point to growing demand for more specialised and experiential cruise holidays alongside the established family cruise market. That shift is also reflected in what UAE and GCC travellers are seeking. Travellers from the region have long shown an appetite for immersive and distinctive experiences, and CruiseXplore says this preference is increasingly shaping their cruise choices.
Customers are looking beyond familiar destinations towards journeys that offer access to remote locations, opportunities to engage with local cultures and experiences with a stronger sense of exploration.
Small ships attract a wider GCC audience
Experience-led cruising was a central theme of Durai’s contribution to ATM’s small-ship panel. While experienced travellers have traditionally been early adopters of small-ship products, CruiseXplore is now seeing growing interest from younger travellers across the GCC. Their appetite for adventure, exploration, authentic cultural experiences and expedition-style travel presents further opportunity for the sector as traveller preferences continue to evolve.
Durai’s own recent travels have also given her first-hand experience of the products attracting this growing interest. Earlier this year, she travelled to Antarctica with Quark Expeditions, while a couple of years previously she experienced an Arctic sailing.
“It felt like being on another planet, such a unique and unforgettable experience that I believe it deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list,” she said of Antarctica.
Her Arctic voyage offered another perspective on the category, highlighting the intimate and immersive nature of small-ship, experience-led cruising.
These first-hand experiences also form part of how CruiseXplore communicates less familiar cruise products to its regional trade partners and consumers. Practical knowledge of the sailing experience helps its team explain the benefits and selling points of different cruise products with greater confidence.
Travel advisor education remains central to growth
Conversations at ATM also highlighted the importance of the travel trade in converting growing interest in cruise holidays into actual bookings. Advisors were looking not only for access to a wider range of products and destinations, but also for one-stop support covering availability, online booking, promotions and dedicated assistance.
CruiseXplore regularly conducts webinars and workshops to educate the trade about different cruise products, sharing practical, first-hand experience from its team’s sailings. The company also works with advisors to explain the individual selling points of cruise products and how these can be positioned for different clients.
“Ultimately, a well-informed travel advisor becomes a very strong ambassador for cruising,” Durai said.
Consumer awareness and understanding of cruise holidays have improved significantly over the years, but CruiseXplore believes a substantial proportion of the population has still never experienced a cruise, leaving considerable scope for further growth across the UAE and wider GCC.
Education is particularly important for agencies that are new to the sector. CruiseXplore works closely with these businesses to help advisors understand the product, identify suitable cruise options for their clients and develop the confidence needed to convert enquiries into bookings.
Technology supports CruiseXplore’s trade proposition
Technology will remain a major component of CruiseXplore’s trade-support strategy through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
Its dedicated online booking platform enables travel agencies to access itineraries from almost all major cruise brands, check live availability and pricing, compare options and make bookings through a single system. The platform is designed to help advisors narrow down suitable choices quickly and provide customers with a more immediate, seamless service, while giving agencies greater flexibility and independence through the booking process.
CruiseXplore plans to continue engaging travel partners through both online and offline channels, providing updates on cruise brands, new products, itineraries, promotions and opportunities across different segments of the market. Workshops, webinars and other training initiatives will remain part of the strategy, with particular emphasis on agencies that are new to cruise.
The company says personalised guidance and practical training are important in helping new-to-cruise advisors understand the category, identify the appropriate product for their clients and build confidence through the selling process.
CruiseXplore approaches 12 years in the Middle East
CruiseXplore will complete 12 years in December 2026 and now has more than 40 popular cruise brands in its portfolio across ultra-luxury, premium, contemporary, expedition and river cruising, Durai said. Durai herself will complete 32 years in the Middle East cruise industry by the end of 2026.
Over CruiseXplore’s 11 years in the Middle East, one of the most significant changes the company has seen is the growth in consumer awareness of cruise holidays and the increasing diversity of products available to regional travellers, she said.
CruiseXplore’s priorities for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027 centre on strengthening travel-trade engagement, expanding cruise knowledge and awareness, and making the category easier for its agency partners to sell.
By combining trade education, personalised support, technology and access to a broad portfolio of cruise products, CruiseXplore aims to help advisors build greater confidence while creating wider awareness and demand for cruise holidays across the Middle East.
ATM 2026 Cover Story: Read Cruise at ATM 2026: The Industry View, TCN’s wider look at the cruise lines, market trends and trade priorities emerging from this year’s Arabian Travel Market.
More from ATM 2026:
» Royal Caribbean Arabia Sees GCC Cruise Demand Diversifying
» Quark Expeditions plans Middle East polar travel push
» Crystal Cruises sees GCC as key luxury source market at ATM 2026
» Oceania and Regent Build GCC Luxury Cruise Awareness Through Trade Education
» Scenic Group UAE trade education push at ATM 2026
» Swan Hellenic Targets GCC Growth Through Trade and Consumer Education
Source: Interviews by Sini Jerome, Editor-in-Chief, The Cruise News Middle East, at or post Arabian Travel Market 2026, Dubai.
