Pioneering Saudi Arabian cruise ship undergoes landmark revamp

“Aroya Cruises is uniquely designed to cater specifically to Arabian preferences, unlike any other cruise line in the world,” he explains. “All cabins have also been fitted with amenities that cater to Saudi Arabian culture. We have introduced separate prayer rooms for men and women, electronic shishas, various entertainment options, and added more than 25 restaurants, lounges and cafes, including Saudi Deck, a fish market, the Atrium and Dallah Cafe.

The ship has been fully redesigned so that it caters more towards family travellers and the Arabian market. There is now a much larger kids’ club area, an additional retail area, a spa and a larger water park, designed for children.”

The 18-deck ship takes its name from a combination of the words Arabian and roya, the latter meaning vision or dream.

De Wave Group and MJM Marine were hired as the two key outfitting companies working on board. London-based SMC Design was chosen as the lead designer and Partnership Ship Design, based in Hamburg, also worked on the ship’s design features. 

“These design companies were chosen as their experience is suited to handle the sheer volume of work generated in the creation of Aroya,” adds Dr Rudolph.

He explains the architects also worked with local designers on the briefs to provide facilities suited to local culture and an ambience celebrating the rich heritage and hospitality of Arabia.

“One of the first companies to become involved in the effort to realise this ambition was Partner Ship Design,” he says. “Partner Ship Design implemented a design to allow Arabian passengers to feel at home in an elegant and modern atmosphere inspired by traditions. They used typical Arabian structures, patterns and colour schemes and incorporated them into a modern and timeless design.”

Local landscapes including mountain highlands such as Asir and Hijaz, the deserts of Najd and Rub’ al Khali, or the Empty Quarter, flora and fauna and seascapes including the Red Sea, served as a catalyst for the interior design, with further inspiration taken from Islamic architecture, Saudi craftmanship, Arabic calligraphy and language, traditional festivals and fashion and textiles.

Aroya will have 25 dining options comprising 15 restaurants and 10 lounges and cafes, a souq-inspired retail area and a shop selling Al-Nassr football club merchandise, wellness and spa facilities and a 1,018-seat theatre. Among the dining options is Irth, the first ever Saudi restaurant at sea, offering traditional dishes, products from Saudi brands, and a dedicated area for authentic Saudi coffee. Additionally, the spa area includes special areas and dedicated hours for female guests, and there are two pools; one for families and the other adult-only.

Dr Rudolph concludes, “Aroya is offering the Arabian market a brand-new holiday product and reinventing the meaning of holidays in the region. Launched in line with Vision 2030 and Saudi’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.

Homeporting in Jeddah, Aroya enters year-round service for Aroya Cruises this December. The vessel will initially sail on three- to seven-night itineraries around the Red Sea with ports of call including a Saudi private island, Aqaba in Jordan and Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh and Ain Sokhna.

Cruise Saudi collaborates with ministries and regulatory authorities to build the infrastructure of the region’s offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem. Following the completion of its third season, Cruise Saudi has welcomed more than 370,000 cruise passengers.

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