Cruise & Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line Setting Sail for UAE

Image: View of Abu Dhabi Skyline at sunset, United Arab Emirates (photo via vwalakte/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Image: View of Abu Dhabi Skyline at sunset, United Arab Emirates (photo via vwalakte/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 1:05 PM ET, Sat December 9, 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line will soon break new ground, which is pretty good for a company that makes its living on the water.

NCL will soon set sail for the United Arab Emirates.

It's the first time the cruise line will visit the Middle Eastern country and sail on Norwegian Dawn. The first voyage of several is scheduled for December 13.

The sailings will range from seven to 20 days and include Middle Eastern sites such as Doha, Qatar; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Port Louis, Mauritius; and more.

“We are thrilled to be introducing Norwegian Dawn to Gulf waters. At NCL, we pride ourselves in delivering the best holiday experience and providing endless opportunities for our guests to explore the world,” said Gary Anslow of NCL.

It is a sign, perhaps, that NCL does not believe the war or terrorism will extend beyond Gaza and Israel. The conflict has been raging since October 7, forcing many cruise lines and airlines to cancel or alter scheduled routes and flights.

The Norwegian Dawn will reposition to Africa and then return to the Middle East later in 2024. There will also be a stop in Europe for the summer season.

Another NCL ship, the Norwegian Viva, entered service in Italy earlier this summer.


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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