Doha: Qatar Tourism (QT) has kicked off its 2024/2025 cruise season with the arrival of the "Resorts World One" cruise ship. This season is set to be Qatar's biggest yet, with 95 cruise calls, including 33 turnaround calls, 11 homeporting calls, and 4 maiden calls. Resorts World One marks the first maiden call of the season and is expected to make 23 scheduled visits, welcoming approximately 72,000 visitors. According to Qatar News Agency, more than 430,000 passengers are expected between November 2024 and April 2025. This season will welcome notable ships such as Mein Schiff 4, MSC Euribia, AIDAprima, Costa Smeralda, Norwegian Sky, and Celestyal Journey. These arrivals further solidify Qatar's status as a premier global cruise destination, as stated by QT in a press release today. Building on the success of the 2023/2024 cruise season, which saw 73 cruise ships and over 347,000 visitors, the new season represents a significant milestone in Qatar's cruise market. International world-class ships, including M SC Virtuosa, Seabourn Encore, AIDAprima, Artania, Mein Schiff 2, Azamara Journey, MS Riviera, MS Hamburg, and Norwegian Dawn have previously docked in Doha. HE Chairman of QT, Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, emphasized the importance of the cruise sector in achieving Qatar's National Tourism Strategy 2030. He noted that the 2024/2025 season is expected to see a 30% increase in cruise calls and a 24.5% increase in visitors compared to the previous season. This reflects the growing demand for cruise vacations in the region. For his part, CEO of Mwani Qatar, Capt. Abdullah Mohammed Al Khanji, highlighted the record-breaking visitor numbers from the previous season. He expressed excitement for an even greater influx of visitors, which he believes will solidify Qatar's position as a leading cruise destination. Doha Port is fully prepared to ensure an unforgettable experience for guests on the 95 scheduled cruises in the 2024/2025 season. The strategic location of Doha Port's cruise terminal, just minutes away from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimizes the visitor experience. This allows cruise passengers to make the most of their time in the city. Looking ahead, QT plans to strengthen collaborations with more international cruise lines. This strategy is vital for driving further growth in Qatar's tourism sector and contributing to Qatar's economic diversification efforts.