AROYA Cruises’ flagship vessel, AROYA, has embarked on its inaugural journey across the Red Sea, marking a significant milestone for Cruise Saudi, a Public Investment Fund company, as it expands Saudi Arabia’s cruise tourism sector.
Cruise Saudi, launched in 2021, is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). AROYA Cruises officially launched in June 2023 as a separate business unit of Cruise Saudi and its first new cruise ship, AROYA, recently launched at the Jeddah Islamic Port.
The AROYA features 19 decks and 1,678 cabins and suites, accommodates up to 3,362 passengers and offers an inclusive culinary experience with 12 restaurants and 17 cafes. AROYA is equipped with a range of entertainment facilities, including a shopping area, a 1,018-seat theater, a kids’ zone, and prayer areas. It also has designated women’s hours in health and entertainment venues and extensive sports amenities including a walking track as well as football and basketball courts.
Notably, at 1,099-foot-long the AROYA is only slightly shorter than Royal Caribbean International’s Icon- and Oasis-class ships which are the biggest at sea but have roughly double AROYA’s capacity (at 6,700 to 7,600 passengers).
Kevin Rozario reports in Forbes that, “Aroya will host fewer guests than typical ships of its size as it begins its inaugural three-night weekend voyages out of Jeddah’s cruise terminal this week. One reason is that it has a series of large Khuzama suites and villas on board. For example, ‘Family Premier’ and ‘Seaview’ suites can be up to 625 square feet featuring dining areas and fully furnished balconies serviced by dedicated butlers, concierges, and 24-hour assistance.”
The AROYA was built by German ship builder Meyer Werft and was initially ordered under the name World Dream for Star Cruises in 2014 and then transferred to Dream Cruises during construction. World Dream was auctioned to Cruise Saudi in 2023, and immediately renamed Manara. In July 2024, Aroya Cruises confirmed the name of their first vessel as the Aroya.
After months of dry-docking and design work in Bremerhaven and Rotterdam—95% of the ship’s spaces were completely transformed to reflect Arabian heritage
Chief Executive Officer of Cruise Saudi Lars Clasen commented: “The arrival of AROYA marks the beginning of a new chapter for Cruise Saudi and tourism in Saudi overall, in line with Saudi’s Vision 2030. Cruise Saudi was only launched in 2021, and witnessing the arrival of our first owned ship just three years later is a huge milestone. We are so grateful to the whole Cruise Saudi team for their hard work and dedication and are excited to be offering something truly unique to local, regional, and international guests with the first-ever Arabian cruise line.”
