River cruises are making a quiet comeback on the Danube after the COVID-19 pandemic brought global tourism to a standstill and forced companies to suspend voyages.

Qatar will charter two cruise liners, with a combined capacity of 4,000 cabins, to act as floating hotels for accommodating fans during the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Two mega cruise ships arrived in Doha on consecutive days -- Thursday and Wednesday -- as part of the ongoing cruise season.

Large cruise ships will be allowed back into the Venice lagoon, but will be kept away from St Mark's Square, the Italian government has announced, limiting a practice seen as an eyesore and a potential environmental risk.

Mwani Qatar, operator of the state’s commercial and touristic ports, said the cruise season will see the arrival of 21 cruise ships at the Doha Port.

Two cruise ships, MSC Fantasia and Crystal Esprit, are expected to dock simultaneously at Doha Port on Wednesday, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced.

Qatar’s multi-billion dollar state-of-the-art Hamad Port will start full operations on December 1, the Ministry of Transport and Communications has announced.

More than 50,000 tourists are expected to arrive in Qatar aboard 32 ships during the 2016/2017 cruise season, providing a further fillip to the country's tourism industry.