By
Alex Smith |
Launched in June 2023 by Cruise Saudi, AROYA Cruises is set to become the first Arabian cruise line at sea when its eponymous ship, AROYA, embarks on its first voyage on 16 December 2024.
The cruise line has been launched with a unique vision in sight, as it aims to promote Saudi Arabia as a global destination through a cruise product tailored specifically for Arabian guests.
Aroya’s design has been inspired by the Arabian culture, architecture and landscape, with its public spaces, venues and suites evoking a sense of Arabian identity through a contemporary approach. Though cuisine and entertainment will feature international influences, AROYA Cruises is putting an Arabian touch on both.
“We’re focused on the Arabian source market, specifically Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” explains Turki Kari, executive director of marketing and corporate communications at AROYA Cruises. “To do that, we’re highlighting what we do differently than other cruise lines, which is providing a ‘Remarkably Arabian’ experience. We’re focusing heavily on the guest experience to ensure it is an authentic representation of the generosity and hospitality of Arabia.”
AROYA’s first voyage will begin in Jeddah, Saudi’s second largest city and the cruise line’s headquarters, and sail in the Red Sea. The city has been settled for over 2,500 years, as is evident in its architecture, while its beaches offer a range of activities. From its homeport, AROYA will embark on three- and four-night itineraries, visiting Al Aqaba in Jordan, Ain Al Sokhna and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and a private island.
“We’re working a lot with our destination partners to ensure the same Arabian experience that we deliver onboard will be delivered onshore,” says Kari. “For instance, we’re working with them to ensure the beaches that are part of the onshore experiences offer experiences on par with our guests’ standards. We also wanted to ensure that experiences are readily available for children and families to enjoy, as we consider ourselves a family product. Arabian travellers usually travel as a big family, so we aim to cater our product to them.”
AROYA Cruises will sail short itineraries across the Red Sea in its first season
Itineraries in the cruise line’s first season of operation will also include a visit to a private island, which will offer diverse land and water activities.
“The private island is the first island in the Red Sea exclusively accessible by cruise lines and AROYA Cruises will be the first cruise line to visit the island,” says Kari. “It will be developed to cater for those guests, with a welcome centre, dining area, and beach club with private villas and sunbeds. We’ll reveal much more about the look and feel of the island soon.”
The decision to exclusively sail shorter-length itineraries during this initial period is part of a strategy of allowing local travellers to familiarise themselves with cruising, explains Kari.
“In our first season of operation, we want to introduce Arabian consumers to the cruise experience in the region and what it has to offer,” he says. “We want them to experience the unique holiday cruising offers in comparison to more conventional vacationing. In the future, we’ll be able to extend our itineraries to offer longer journeys for our guests.”
In its efforts to engage as many guests as possible from the wider Arabian Peninsula, AROYA is also planning to add new regions and destinations to its programme in the near future.
“After our winter season sailing from Saudi, we’ll be heading to the Eastern Mediterranean region for around three months during the summer, with more information coming on those itineraries soon,” says Kari. “We’re also planning to sail in the Arabian Gulf for our third season, homeporting at Dammam Port in the Eastern Province of Saudi. From then on, we’ll be operating in these three different regions in rotation.”
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