The Gulf region is once again highlighted as a favourite winter destination, as Celebrity Cruises homeports its 2,038-lower berth Celebrity Constellation at Zayed Port for the 2016-17 season. Alan Lam reports.

The line, which announced this intention in November, will offer itineraries from Abu Dhabi for the first time in winter 2016, undertaking six sailings in the region, starting 28 November 2016 and ending on 11 January 2017, before returning the ship to Singapore.

Cruise business in Abu Dhabi has grown five folds in the last six tear. According to Noura Al Dhaheri, the cruise terminal manager of Abu Dhabi Ports Company, the company responsible for developing cruise business at Zayed Port, 600 ships and more than 900,000 passengers have called at Abu Dhabi since the business began in earnest.

“The fact that Celebrity Cruises has chosen to homeport a ship in Zayed Port,” said Al Dhaheri, “which is a first for the Gulf region, demonstrates how attractive Abu Dhabi has become as global holiday destination.”

Celebrity has previously made calls into Abu Dhabi, but this is the first time the line homeport a ship here. The company is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL).