The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched the Cruise Crew Pass, an exclusive discount programme designed for crew members working aboard cruise liners calling in the Arabian Gulf. The pass, developed in collaboration with online platform Alike and costing US$1 to sign-up, offers discounts at retail, dining, and attraction venues throughout Abu Dhabi, … [Read more...]

Costa Smeralda on Saturday successfully completed her first LNG refuelling in Dubai Harbour, the primary hub for Carnival Corporation in the Middle East, in the UAE’s emirate of Dubai. The flagship of the Costa fleet and sistership to Costa Toscana is also the first cruise ship in the world to conduct Liquified Natural Gas bunkering operations at any Dubai port. The operation was made … [Read more...]

Aroya made her inaugural visit to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt on December 31st, 2024 as part of her inaugural cruise season in the Red Sea out of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The ship’s maiden visit on New Year’s Eve was commemorated with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony attended by senior representatives from AROYA Cruises, including President Dr. Jorg Rudolph and Captain Roland … [Read more...]

Celestyal Cruises has unveiled its ‘Live Your Vacation Dream’ campaign, offering up to 50% savings on Arabian Gulf cruises for 2025 through 2027, along exclusive perks for early bookings, as it seeks to consolidate its market position in the region. Coinciding with the launch of Celestyal Cruises maiden season in the region, with Celestyal Journey cruising roundtrip from Doha, Qatar and … [Read more...]

AROYA Cruises has welcomed the first passengers to its new Saba Beach island destination in the Red Sea, during the maiden passenger voyage of its first cruise ship Aroya. Owned by Cruise Saudi, a Public Investment Fund portfolio company responsible for the creation and development of Saudi’s cruise sector, AROYA Cruises is the first homegrown cruise brand in the Arab world. Its Saba … [Read more...]

Just days after Aroya set sail from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on her maiden passenger voyage as the first cruise ship designed specifically for the Arab and Muslim cruise market, MJM Marine has marked the completion of the landmark project. According to the company, the collaboration with the Saudi Arabian cruise line, AROYA Cruises, the first of its kind in the region, marks the largest … [Read more...]

AROYA Cruises has revealed the retail experience aboard its first ship Aroya, with German retailer and distributor Gebr. Heinemann having opened eight stores featuring more than 250 international and Arabian brands across three decks. The boutiques will be staffed by more than 30 Heinemann employees, offering unique shopping experiences and customer service comparative with what AROYA … [Read more...]

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that its sister ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Breakaway are set to undergo drydock updates that will introuce new experiences, including a cinema, dining venues, and an outdoor recreational area. New onboard experiences will include the Silver Screen Bistro, an immersive cinema and dining venue, and Horizon Park, a new outdoor recreational area, … [Read more...]

CalmGetaways, a Dubai-based travel agency, is expanding its involvement in the cruise sector through the launch of its new Cruise Booking Platform, which is intended to simplify the cruise booking experience for GCC travellers. In a release, the company said the platform would provide an efficient and hassle-free way to plan and book a cruise vacation, with access to more than 26 cruise … [Read more...]

Aroya, the first cruise ship in the AROYA Cruises fleet, and the first cruise ship in the world designed specifically for the Middle East cruise market, is finally at sea on her first-ever passenger voyage. At the time of writing Aroya was making 7-knots heading north east in the Red Sea, bound for a private island owned by Cruise Saudi, the parent company of AROYA Cruises, and the … [Read more...]

Cruise Saudi has signed an agreement with the University of Prince Mugrin (UPM) in Madinah to support talent development in Saudi Arabia’s growing cruise sector, ahead of the maiden cruise of its new AROYA Cruises brand. The agreement was signed on December 15th, 2024, at Cruise Saudi’s office in Jeddah, the day before the first passenger voyage of Aroya, the first cruise ship in the fleet … [Read more...]

The Fred Olsen cruise liner Balmoral is currently in drydock at the A&P Shipyard in Falmouth, England, for both technical maintenance and an extensive refurbishment that will extend her service life for many years to come. The 1988-built ship will recieve a digital photo gallery, replacing the vessel’s current outdated photo walls, as well as new central computer systems in the Neptune … [Read more...]

Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s Line’s exclusive destination in The Bahamas known for beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, is being renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay ahead of its redevelopment. The announcement was made jointly by Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line, both of which use the island as part of the Carnival Corporation cruise company. The two cruise lines are … [Read more...]

The SH Diana of Swan Hellenic is back at sea after mechanical failures on a cruise from Cape Town, South Africa proved so controversial that some passengers staged a hunger strike and onboard demonstrations. SH Diana was forced to cancel the Antarctica leg of its sailing last week due to problems with the ship’s propulsion motor, and while partial refunds and cruise credits were offered, … [Read more...]

The Saudi Arabian cruise line AROYA Cruises has made its grand debut in Jeddah, its new homeport, with its first ship Aroya docking for the first time in the kingdom this week. AROYA Cruises welcomed its first cruise ship to its new homeport on Saturday, with a a traditional plaque and key ceremony. The event was attended by AROYA’s captain, Jan Gelinder, and Cruise Saudi’s CEO, Lars … [Read more...]

Bahrain has marked the start to the 2024/25 cruise season with the arrival this week of MSC Euribia on a 7-night roundtrip cruise out of Dubai and Doha. More than 50 further port calls are scheduled during the coming season, which runs from December to March, with 12 cruise ships sailing itineraries that feature the island kingdom. This makes the current season the busiest on record for … [Read more...]

Cunard Line has announce what it is calling an “era-defining” refurbishment of Queen Elizabeth ahead of her inaugural Caribbean programme sailing from Miami and her debut Alaska season from Seattle in 2025. The 2,000 guest ship will undergo a significant refit from February 25th to March 13th, 2025, in Seatrium’s Admiralty Yard … [Read more...]

The Saudi Arabian start-up cruise line AROYA Cruises has revealed new details about the dining experiences available aboard its first cruise ship, Aroya, ahead of her debut later this month in the Red Sea. The 3,362-passenger, 150,000 gross ton ship will feature 12 restaurants, including eight speciality restaurants, and 17 lounges and cafes, catering to a variety of tastes and culinary … [Read more...]

Celestyal Cruises has commenced its first-ever homeporting cruise season in the Arabian Gulf, with Celestyal Journey departing Doha, Qatar on November 30th for the first of several dozen round-trip itineraries. The cruise line marked the occasion by hosting a day event in partnership with Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism, and Mwani Port Authority aboard Celestyal Journey. Local dignitaries … [Read more...]

The luxury cruise line Viking has taken delivery of its newest ocean ship, Viking Vela, during a delivery ceremony at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy.  Classified as a small ship, Viking Vela has 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. She joins the company’s growing fleet of near-identical award-winning ocean ships and will spend her inaugural season sailing … [Read more...]