Judging by the number of cruise lines that have recently started to include Dubai in their itineraries, the city is rapidly gaining popularity as a cruise destination. Things really started to explode after the opening of their new cruise terminal last year.

The General Manager of Royal Caribbean, Jo Rzymowska, said “Dubai is really starting to boom on the cruising map – more than 325,000 people passed through the Cruise Terminal in 2010 and this is set to increase in 2011.”

Both Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean now offer cruises embarking from Dubai. A seven-night fly/cruise on board Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas sells for as little as £987.

The ship will also embark on a series of 12-night cruises from Dubai to India, calling at Goa, Cochin, Mangalore, Mumbai and Muscat in Oman.

Rzymowska added that Brilliance of the Seas would return to Dubai two months earlier this year as a result of customer demand for cruises originating from this exciting city.

Brilliance of the Seas is in all respects a floating palace: it offers 13 decks and a virtually unequalled variety of amenities. For the adventurous there is the rock climbing wall. Sport lovers can hit a couple of balls on the mini golf course and fitness fanatics have nothing to fear either: the ship boasts a top-of-the range fitness centre.

Those of you who are more inclined towards a relaxing lifestyle would love the health and beauty spa with its cascading waterfalls and solarium.

Lovers of fine food will not be disappointed either: the ship has five different eating places, including Portofino, an Italian restaurant offering mouth-watering pasta and pizza dishes.