On 28 December 2023 AROYA Cruises, the new Arabian cruise line operated by Cruise Saudi, a Public Investment Fund Owned company responsible for the development of Saudi’s cruise industry, unveiled the first cruise ship in its fleet.
Rumoured to be named Aroya Manara, the ship is the former World Dream from Genting Cruises, which went bankrupt in January 2022 after initially being launched as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway class of ships.
The 335m-long ship is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to tailor the ship to the highest standard in line with the taste of Arabian passengers. The ship has 19 decks and 1,682 cabins, 17 restaurants, and a water park with five water slides..
Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: “We are delighted to sail into the new year with the unveiling of our first AROYA Cruises ship. This marks an exciting milestone for Cruise Saudi in creating a world-class cruise industry in Saudi, whilst offering a new way to holiday in the Kingdom for locals. We look forward to welcoming the first passengers on-board.”
AROYA Cruises will set sail from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024.
With cruise port facilities in Jeddah, Yanbu and Dammam, Cruise Saudi welcomes cruise lines from around the globe to include Saudi as a port of call on their itineraries and add new destinations that reveal Saudi’s cultural heritage, history and natural wonders.
AROYA Cruises was first launched in June 2023 as a separate business unit of Cruise Saudi; a 100 per cent Public Investment Fund owned business. The premium Cruise Line runs as a separate business unit with an independent operational and management team based in Jeddah.
Launched in line with Vision 2023 and Saudi Arabia’s plan to become one of the top global tourism destinations by 2030, AROYA Cruises aims to provide exceptional all-year-round experiences tailored to Saudi and GCC nationals and residents.
