During the 2025-2026 cruise season, Doha Port (Qatar) received the first port visits of two passenger ships, marking notable additions to its seasonal schedule.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ ship Seven Seas Navigator, registered in the Bahamas, made its inaugural call at Doha on December 14th, remaining alongside the berth for 2 nights before departing on December 15th with 373 passengers and 365 crew. Shortly thereafter, Celestyal Discovery, operated by Celestyal Cruises, completed its first visit to the port with a complement of 1,322 passengers and 476 crew aboard.
Commemorative exchanges were held ashore to acknowledge each maiden call.
The port visits were accompanied by presentations of Qatari culture and heritage intended to engage arriving passengers. These activities included exhibitions of traditional handicrafts, displays connected with the region’s maritime and pearl diving history, demonstrations of local craft techniques and performing art forms, and the customary offering of Arabic coffee and dates to passengers as part of established hospitality practices.
These early-season calls form part of a broader programme at Doha Port, which saw the arrival of luxury vessels such as MSC Euribia at the commencement of the 2025-2026 season and anticipates 73 cruise calls through May 2026 as part of its scheduled operations. The inclusion of additional inaugural visits this season reflects ongoing growth in cruise liner deployments to the Gulf region and reinforces Qatar’s emerging position as a regional cruise destination with expanding inbound traffic and port activity.
Qatar Tourism, in partnership with the port authority Mwani Qatar, continues coordination efforts with international cruise operators to further develop the sector and contribute to the nation’s wider economic diversification and tourism development goals, aligning seasonal cruise operations with strategic objectives set forth under national planning frameworks.