Royal Caribbean International, the largest global cruise line, today announced its return to the Gulf in winter 2015-16.

The fifth seasonal sailings will comprise 16 roundtrip sailings by “Splendour of the Seas” from December 2015 through March 2016, visiting some of the Arabian coast’s most intriguing destinations on a seven-night itinerary.

The ship is scheduled to dock in its home port of Dubai followed by calls to Oman’s capital of Muscat and Khasab along with Abu Dhabi in UAE.

“Following on from positive and collaborative discussions with our key partners in the region, we are pleased to announce our return to cruising in the Arabian Gulf for the winter of 2015 / 2016.  We are looking forward to deploying Splendour of the Seas, one of our Vision-class vessels to the region for the first time and to welcoming guests from all over the world,” said Helen Beck, Regional Director, International Representatives, EMEA, Royal Caribbean International.  

“I would like to express our thanks to the cruise tourism officials from the DTCM, TCA Abu Dhabi and Oman's Ministry of Tourism for their support and congratulate them on the formation of the Cruise Arabia alliance.  This is a welcome step in continuing to promote the economic and touristic benefits of cruising and I'm sure the season will be very successful,” she said.

The Centrum onboard Splendour of the Seas with its sweeping views and central location is a chic and sophisticated venue featuring enriching daytime activities, dazzling nightly entertainment and jaw-dropping aerial spectacles.  The Centrum’s R Bar features a sophisticated 1960s vibe, complete with iconic furnishings and signature cocktails. Bringing the Centrum’s entertainment offerings to life is the latest in sound and light technology.  

Guests sailing aboard Splendour of the Seas have a variety of restaurants, both fine-dining and casual, to choose from providing them with an exceptional and customizable vacation experience. Among the highly-acclaimed dining concepts onboard Splendour of the Seas, guests will find the Asian Izumi restaurant; the line’s signature steakhouse, Chops Grille; as well as the Boardwalk Dog House hotdog counter; the Park Café deli-style restaurant and the exclusive Chef’s Table dining experience. The line also offers a à la carte menu in the Viking Crown Lounge, which giving guests the opportunity to enjoy bite-sized portions of their favorite classics.

The new sailings will go on sale on April 10, 2014.

For business travellers, Splendour of the Seas offers numerous conference and meeting facilities. State-of-the-art fully-equipped meeting rooms and Wi-Fi connections on board the vessel can accommodate big groups and charters too; whilst theatres and lounges are also available for corporate events with up to 800 people, said the statement. – TradeArabia News Service