Cruise Saudi Welcomes First Guests to Saba Beach on New Private Island

Cruise Saudi Welcomes First Guests to Saba Beach on New Private Island

Cruise Saudi welcomed its first guests to Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya, the destination’s newly developed private island, on December 21, according to a company statement.

Located approximately 220 nautical miles from Jeddah, Jabal AlSabaya will be exclusively accessible to cruise passengers, offering a Red Sea experience that highlights local culture and the natural beauty of the coastline.

Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: “Since the inception of Cruise Saudi, our vision has been to create unique and exceptional cruise experiences for passengers from around the world. The launch of Saba Beach represents not only a world-class destination but also our commitment to enhancing Saudi’s tourism industry. We are opening up a truly unique area of the region and look forward to welcoming cruise passengers from around the world.”

The destination will include a floating park, a full-service restaurant, retail shops, a VIP beach and VVIP beachfront villas. Guests can also enjoy a spa experience and a shisha lounge, as well as a variety of land and water activities.

Barbara Buczek, chief destination experiences officer of Cruise Saudi, said: “The soft launch of Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya is another pioneering and innovative development in the creation of Saudi Arabia’s cruise sector. At the heart of what we offer is the guest experience, showcasing Saudi’s incredible and diverse natural assets, culture and history to our passengers and the launch of Saba Beach represents a milestone in bringing a previously unseen Saudi to the local, regional and international markets.”

AROYA and Cruise Saudi Reveal Rendering of Cruise Ship

AROYA and Cruise Saudi Reveal Rendering of Cruise Ship

AROYA Cruises, the new Arabian cruise line operated by Cruise Saudi, has unveiled the renderings for the first cruise ship in its fleet, which was the former World Dream.

The 335-meter-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 company said in a statement.

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 onboard.”

AROYA Cruises will set sail from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024.

The company said the ship will offer “exceptional onboard service, an eclectic culinary offering, and a sensational activities program, guests aboard AROYA Cruises’ will enjoy a unique remarkably Arabian hospitality experience that reflects the warm and welcoming values of Saudi culture.”

MSC World Europa Six Months Away

MSC World Europa Six Months Away

In just six months MSC Cruises will launch its newest and most environmentally advanced ship to date, the MSC World Europa.

MSC said its new flagship is the first from the World Class prototype series, spanning 22 decks, 47 meters wide, with 2,626 cabins and boasting more than 40,000 square meters of public space.

The company said this metropolis at sea is the future of cruising and will offer a veritable world of different experiences pushing the boundaries of what is possible at sea.

Among the highlights is The Promenade, a 104-meter long, 7 seven deck-high outdoor is one of the key areas of the ship. Opening out onto the aft of the ship with sea views, this is the place to be day or night with entertainment and al-fresco dining space. The glory of the promenade is a striking architectural masterpiece: The Venom Drop @ The Spiral spanning 11 decks, the longest dry slide at sea.

The ship will offer seven new and innovative cabin types not seen on any other MSC Cruises’ ship, and more suites than ever have private whirlpool baths, the company said.

Another highlight is the new Infinite Ocean view cabins with a panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open.

The MSC World Europa will spend her inaugural season in the Gulf. Her season starts on Dec. 20 with a special four-night sailing from Doha in Qatar to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The MSC World Europa will then offer 7-night cruises from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and on to Sir Bani Yas Island, Her program in the Gulf has been adjusted with calls in the port of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, visiting Al Ahsa oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The ship also calls Doha, the futuristic capital of Qatar, before returning to Dubai with an overnight in the city.

The MSC World Europa will the head to the Mediterranean Sea. In summer 2023, she will offer seven-night cruises calling the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.

MSC Cruises Reveals Details of Bellissima’s Red Sea Season Starting in November 2021

MSC Cruises has confirmed the details of an updated sailing itinerary for MSC Bellissima’s winter season from her homeport of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia beginning on Nov. 6. According to a press release, the ship will offer seven-night cruises calling at the Saudi Arabian ports of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Yanbu, then on to Aqaba in Jordan before returning to Jeddah.

MSC said that the port of Safaga in Egypt has been cancelled as many countries from where guests for the Red Sea cruises originate have the country currently listed as a high-risk destination due to the pandemic and for their return home they would have to undergo a period of quarantine.

The Bellissima will now spend an overnight stay in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia so guests can visit AlUla, one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula and home to Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Guests will also be able to visit a secluded island, partake in coral reef snorkelling or a desert excursion.

MSC said that KAEC has been added to the ship’s itinerary to include a sightseeing tour of the holy city of Medina or a day on the beach.

As the Bellissima does not leave the Jeddah port until late on Saturday evenings, guests can check-in and embark on the ship and then go ashore in the afternoon to make the most of their day in Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city. According to MSC, A City Of Culture & History tour offers a "journey through centuries of culture and traditions" including a visit to the old town of Al Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Medina sightseeing tours offer a glimpse into the site of Islamic pilgrimage. 

The ship will remain in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia overnight to allow guests the opportunity to visit Hegra, AlUla ancient town and the Elephant Rock. The UNESCO World Heritage site Hegra is an ancient city hidden in the sands of the desert. A guided tour will allow guests to discover some of its monuments, of which there are more than 100 at the site.

AlUla is situated in a desert setting in the Hijaz mountains and where pilgrims, travellers and permanent settlers have gathered over the centuries. Surrounded by an ancient oasis, the town boasts a citadel dating back to the 10th century, 900 brick houses, 400 shops and a maze of alleyways and squares.

Elephant Rock is two monolithic rocks, the "trunk" and the "body", which stand out against the desert backdrop and have been shaped over the centuries by the weather into the shape of an elephant.

MSC said that Yanbu is "known as the diving capital of Saudi Arabia” and snorkelling will be available at Iona Coral Reef to see various fish, the marine flora and the sunken wreck of the British ship Iona. A secluded spot on Baridi Island is also available, as well as a desert camp under the stars.

A "highlight" of the voyage, according to MSC, is a visit to the Wonders of Petra – the ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage site in the middle of the Jordanian desert, rediscovered in 1812. 

MSC Bellissima Sails into Saudi Arabia

This MSC Bellissima at the weekend sailed into Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to prepare for her maiden summer season of 21 voyages in the Red Sea.

The ship becomes the largest cruise ship to have ever operated in the Red Sea, and will offer three- and four-night sailings between the end of July and late October from her summer base in Jeddah to Safaga, Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan.

The summer sailings will add to MSC Cruises’ previously announced winter 2021/2022 Red Sea voyages from Jeddah that start in November.

The MSC Bellissima will be the eighth MSC Cruises’ ship to resume sailings with passengers on board with a further three vessels preparing to start future voyages, which will see half of the company’s fleet back at sea by the end of summer.

Five MSC Cruises’ ships are currently sailing in the Mediterranean - MSC Grandiosa MSC Seaside, MSC Orchestra, MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica, MSC Virtuosa is operating around the UK and MSC Seaview is cruising in the Baltic Sea.

The MSC Meraviglia from 2 August will resume Caribbean cruises from Miami and will be joined in the region from 18 September when MSC Divina restarts sailing from Port Canaveral near Orlando in Florida.

The MSC Seashore will come into service in August with voyages in the West Mediterranean before the company’s newest flagship transfers in November to Miami for a season in the Caribbean.

Saudi Arabia buys a piece of Carnival Corp.

The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has acquired an 8.2% stake in Carnival Corp.

According to Carnival Corp.’s securities filing on Monday, Saudi Arabia acquired 43.51 million Carnival shares. Carnival’s closing stock price of $8.49 last Friday makes the transaction worth about $370 million.

With the news, Carnival Corp.’s share price increased 22% on Monday afternoon. The company’s stock has fallen about 80% since mid-January.

Like other cruise companies, Carnival Corp. has paused its operations since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cruising has been suspended through the middle of May.

Carnival Corp. last week shored up its liquidity, securing about $500 million from a stock sale and about $5.75 billion on the bond market.

Carnival Corp. borrowed at a high cost. The company is paying 11.5% interest on $4 billion in three-year senior secured notes and 5.75% interest on $1.75 billion in three-year senior convertible notes.