Travel Unpacked: Dubai's newest cruise, mpox travel advice and freediving in France

The National rounds up the most interesting tourism news you might have missed

Dubai's newest cruise liner will port in the city in November for six months. Photo: Resorts World Cruises

As a new variant of mpox continues to spread, several countries will screen travellers and others are recommending that tourists visiting countries in Africa get vaccinated before they go.

Ahead of the UAE's cruise season returning, there's a new boutique cruise liner sailing into town with trips to Oman, Abu Dhabi and Doha, and travellers heading to Nice can learn freediving first-hand from a world champion.

Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.

Singapore's Resorts World Cruises to debut in Dubai

Holidaymakers in Dubai can set sail on the Arabian Gulf on a brand-new cruise setting sail in November.

Singapore's Resorts World Cruises is debuting in Dubai with the arrival of Resorts World One, a 268-metre-long ship that will home port in the UAE city for six months.

The boutique cruise liner has 18 restaurants, several shisha bars, swimming pools, waterslides, a spa and an overwater zipline. It also has a wide schedule of entertainment, including DJs, pajama sleepovers and foam parties, plus live music sessions and Bollywood-themed celebrations.

For luxury travellers, The Palace is the vessel's ship-within-a-ship experience that features 24-hour butler service, an all-suite concept and halal-certified five-star cuisine as part of its private on-board club members area.

Sailings will include two-night trips from Dubai to Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and three-night itineraries taking in the Gulf of Oman and calling at Khasab and Muscat. The vessel will also set sail for Qatar, with two-night trips to Doha. Travellers seeking a longer sailing can combine two or all three itineraries to create a four, five or seven-night trip.

Shore excursions will take in the cultural tapestries of the Middle East, showcasing attractions in the UAE, Oman and Qatar. The liner is expecting to make 75 calls in the Gulf region, hosting about 150,000 passengers over the six-month period. Dubai's cruising season typically launches at the end of October.

Mpox travel advice: Vaccinations and airport screening

Travellers should be aware of new screening processes being installed at some airports around the world, as well as updated medical recommendations in relation to the mpox virus. Tourists heading to African nations that are facing surging mpox cases should consider taking the appropriate vaccine ahead of travel. That's the latest advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

The authority updated its vaccine advice following outbreaks of a new strain of the virus. It said that while more cases of the virus are “highly likely” in Europe, that the risk of the virus spreading globally is low, despite the World Health Organisation declaring a global emergency.

The disease – formerly known as monkeypox – can be passed on by close contact with someone with the infection. It has been reported in 16 African countries. A case of mpox has also been detected in Sweden after a person became infected during a visit to Africa.

Some destinations around the world have introduced screenings for arriving tourists to combat the spread of the virus.

Pakistan has started screening passengers from select countries at airports across the country as a precautionary step.

In Bangladesh, passengers arriving from countries battling the virus will be screened on arrival in Dhaka. Temperature screenings on arriving travellers have already begun at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the Bangladeshi capital.

Chinese customs authorities confirmed on Friday that all overseas arrivals will be screened for symptoms of the virus for the next six months. Travellers who have any symptoms or knowledge of being in contact with the virus are advised to declare this to the country's customs officials.

Freediving in France: Holidaymakers can learn from world champion

Travellers headed to France's stunning Riviera will be able to learn the art of freediving from one of the world's best.

Anantara Nice Plaza Hotel, located on Nice's boardwalk, has announced a new World of Silence experience. Led by Arthur Guerin-Boeri, a five-time world champion and world-record-holding free-diver, the new activity is designed to allow both in-house and outside guests to explore the underwater world without having to worry about scuba tanks and equipment.

Starting on the sands of Passable Beach in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the experience begins with guidance from the star of 2023 documentary film Sunny Boy, who will lead participants through breathwork and relaxation tutorials in preparation for the underwater adventure.

As well as teaching breath control and equalisation techniques, Guerin-Boeri aims to give travellers a new sense of freedom. “Although breath-holding is an important aspect of the experience, it’s just one element of free-diving. For me, it’s mostly about connecting with the ocean’s heartbeat,” he said.

“As divers gain confidence to venture deeper and stay submerged for longer periods, they seamlessly blend into the underwater environment, creating truly magical encounters with marine life while minimising their impact.”

Starting from €1,400 ($1,545) per person, and available for up to four divers at a time, the free-diving excursion can be offset back at the five-star hotel with an ocean-themed spa treatment at Anantara Spa.

Marriott International opens its 9,000th hotel

No matter where you're travelling, you're likely never too far from a Marriott International property. That's because the hotel group has just celebrated its 9,000 global opening with the launch of The St Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida.

The five-star beachfront resort in Longboat Key has 168 guestrooms, 26 luxury suites and 69 private branded residences, all of which have already sold out. It is the largest development on the island that's famed for its white-sand beaches, waterfront golf and views over the Gulf of Mexico.

The property on Florida's Suncoast is one of several luxury resorts around the world, including Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

While it's known for its namesake properties, Marriot International has a portfolio of several hotel brands including St Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari and W Hotels.

And there's more to come. Another 3,500 Marriott International properties are under development around the world, which will mean more than 559,000 new hotel rooms. By the end of next year, Marriott International is forecast to have 10,000 hotels open globally.