The Aroya has arrived in Jeddah, marking a huge milestone for Aroya Cruises and Cruise Saudi as the ship nears its first revenue sailing later this month on Dec. 16 for a three-night sailing.

The occasion was celebrated with a traditional plaque and key ceremony, attended by 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.

Following months of drydocking and design innovation in Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, the company said the ship, which is the former World Dream, now offers an exceptional cruising experience featuring a fully reimagined interior, with 95 percent 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 center, 29 restaurants, lounges and cafes, 20 entertainment venues and one of the largest children’s play areas at sea.

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.”