150 INTERVIEW Aroya Cruises’ first cruise ship, Aroya, departed from its homeport of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with its very first guests on its maiden voyage across the Red Sea on 16 December 2024. The aroma of frankincense filled the air as musicians played maqam melodies on their traditional ouds and qanuns. Guests were welcomed with Saudi coffee and dates. The atmosphere was ‘authentically Arabian’ as Saudi Arabia’s first cruise brand was born. The experience onboard Aroya, which the cruise line describes as ‘remarkably Arabian’, has been specifically aimed to appeal to families from the Arabian Peninsula. “Aroya is the world’s first Arabic cruise ship, and the architectural creation of a new conceptual design style for Arabian cruising has been an extremely rewarding opportunity for SMC’s design teams,” says Alan Stewart, director at SMC Design, the studio behind many of Aroya’s interior spaces. According to Will Woodham, project manager for SMC, the interiors of Aroya have been influenced by traditional Saudi Arabian and ancient Arabic design. “Our interpretation has been to incorporate such Arabic interior detailing in a contemporary application throughout the vessel,” he explains. “Earthy tonal colours have been inspired by Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes and rich architectural heritage. On the other hand, strong geometric patterns and textures have been inspired by the arts and crafts of the Bedouin culture and woven through our architectural detailing, evoking a subliminal Arabic cultural enrichment to the guest experience and our ‘remarkably Arabian’ Aroya brand style.” SMC also curated a wide-ranging collection of Saudi Arabian art to build on the authentic experience. “Amassing over 2,480 individual pieces by 99 unique artists and artisans, the Aroya Artwork Collection is the largest platform of emerging and established Saudi Arabian artists and artisans at sea today,” says Jennie Drummond, head of art at SMC. “Hand-carved paper reliefs reference traditional Najd village stucco, while kinetic installations are based on live tidal data of the Red Sea. From embroidered textiles depicting dress from the five regions to painting on frond leaves, the vision was to create a collection that celebrates traditional craft practices but reinterprets them through a contemporary lens; one that reflects the rich culture and varied vistas of the kingdom in unexpected ways.” SMC Design created a contemporary interpretation of traditional Arabian design for spaces such as Aroya’s atrium Designers from SMC Design tell Alex Smith how they used Saudi Arabian traditions and artistic inspiration to create interiors for the country’s first cruise line An authentically Arabian experience Both Aroya’s interior design and art collection reference aspects of Arabian culture
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