Royal Caribbean International is into the second week of its four-month Dubai program with the Brilliance of the Seas and, according to the Dubai Department of Tourism, the ship is expected to bring an additional 32,000 passengers. Dubai has forecasted a 30 percent increase in cruise traffic this winter over last year.

The Brilliance of the Seas is sailing seven-day cruises calling at Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Royal Caribbean has already announced the Brilliance will be returning next winter.

Dubai expects 120 calls this season with 325,000 passengers, up from 87 calls and 260,000 passengers last year, and is forecasting further growth through 2015.

Costa Crociere and AIDA Cruises also sail from Dubai during the winter months, with two ships each, sailing seven-day cruises.

Costa will be christening its newest ship, the Deliziosa, in Dubai on Feb. 23.

Also next month, Dubai will be opening its new cruise terminal in Port Rashid. The new facility has been designed to handle up to four ships simultaneously.