Tag Archives: maiden voyage

Celestyal has launched four new 14-night repositioning cruises, as part of its winter sun season in the Arabian Gulf. The sailings feature two new countries for the brand, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and four maiden calls: Aqaba in Jordan, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Muscat in Oman and Sharm El Shiekh in Egypt. The itineraries also mark the cruise line’s return to Egypt after a two-year break. A new 14-night ‘Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi’ itinerary will be available across the two-ship fleet. Celestyal Journey will depart Athens on 22 November 2025, calling at Port Said, with maiden calls to Sharm El Shiekh, Aqaba, Jeddah and Muscat, followed by Dubai, arriving back into Abu Dhabi on 6 December 2025, in time for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. She then departs on her ‘Desert Days and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ sailing on 07 December, taking in the race weekend before embarking on the first ‘Desert Days’ itinerary of the season. Celestyal Discovery will depart Athens on 28 November 2025, charting the same course with an additional call at Kusadasi, Turkey, arriving for her maiden call into Abu Dhabi on 13 December 2025, ahead of its inaugural winter season sailing the new-to-2025 three-, four- and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ itineraries and homeporting in the Arabian Gulf for the next three years. The two returning 14-night ‘Amazing Abu Dhabi to Ancient Athens’ cruises will also feature across both ships. Celestyal Discovery will cruise from Abu Dhabi on 6 March 2026, charting the same return course and arriving back into Athens for the summer Greece and Mediterranean season. Meanwhile, Celestyal Journey will depart Abu Dhabi on 21 March 2026. All four cruises …

Cruise Saudi welcomed AROYA Cruises’ inaugural ship, AROYA, to Jeddah after a comprehensive transformation, AROYA is now ready to call Jeddah its homeport. Following months of dry-docking and design innovation in Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, AROYA now offers an exceptional cruising experience featuring a fully reimagined interior, with 95% of the ship’s spaces completely redesigned to reflect Arabian heritage and preferences. The ship is equipped with an array of world-class facilities, such as a souq-inspired shopping district – the largest retail area ever built on a cruise ship – luxury spa facilities, a wellness centre, 29 restaurants, lounges and cafes, 20 entertainment venues, and one of the largest children’s play areas at sea. The occasion was celebrated with a traditional plaque and key ceremony, attended by AROYA’s captain, Jan Gelinder, and Cruise Saudi’s CEO, Lars Clasen, and the President of AROYA Cruises, Dr Jorg Rudolph, and the Chief Destination Experiences Offices, Barbara Buczek. Jeddah Islamic Port offers all services to handle international and local guests, as well as logistics services to cruise vessels. The port has long had great historical significance, with Jeddah being the principal gateway to the Two Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah. Cruise terminal facilities have been upgraded to accommodate the largest cruise ships, and new bollards and fenders have been installed to serve cruise ships 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 …

With a matter of weeks until its maiden voyage, AROYA, the first ship in the fleet from the first Arabian cruise line AROYA Cruises, has departed Bremerhaven, Germany for its homeport in Jeddah, Saudi. After lengthy dry docking and transformation periods in Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, AROYA is now ready for operation. AROYA has undergone the largest cruise ship refit project in the world, transforming 95% of its interior to create a brand new Remarkably Arabian experience. The vessel features an array of world-leading facilities including a souq-inspired shopping district – the largest retail area on a cruise ship – state-of-the-art spa area, 29 restaurants, lounges and cafes, 20 entertainment venues, and one of the largest kids play areas on a cruise ship. AROYA’s Maiden Voyage, departing on the 16th December, will take passengers on a three-night journey to an exclusive Red Sea private island developed by Cruise Saudi, the Public Investment Fund company which owns AROYA Cruises.