Saudis launch first cruise ship on ‘route to nowhere’ in latest plot to win over tourists…& they bought ship SECOND HAND
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SAUDI Arabia has launched its first ever cruise ship in its latest plot to suck in international tourists. The Aroya luxury cruise ship set sail from Jeddah on Saudi’s west coast and floated off towards Egypt on the Red Sea on December 11 - but had no fixed destination.
![[The cruise ship in 2018 when it was called World Dream and belonged to a different cruise line]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2ra20y6-aerial-drone-view-giant-960102151.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The bobbing behemoth is a third of a kilometre long and spans a jaw-dropping 19 decks. The almost 1,700 cabins are serviced by an on-board crew of 1,500. The whole trip was dripping in luxury and curated to give the influencers invited on board a decadent Arabian experience.
![[A view of the water park n top of the Aroya]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2ra20g1-aerial-drone-view-giant-960102146.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The most exclusive suites and facilities are part of the “Khuzama” experience, meaning "lavender" in Arabian. This uber-VIP accommodation features walk-in wardrobes, vast personal balconies, free-standing baths and 24-hour bars and restaurants serving French-Arabian blend cuisine.
![[An aerial view of 330m-long Aroya]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2ra20jr-aerial-drone-view-giant-960102148.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
After the December 11 trip launched especially to woo the media, commercial trips began on December 16 to various destinations including private Red Sea islands, Egypt and Jordan. The colossal boat was first ordered by Hong Kong-based cruise line Star Cruises and named World Dream, but ran into trouble when it became a hotbed for Covid cases and was quarantined in 2020.
In 2023, the ship was auctioned off and bought by Cruise Saudi for £300million, and sent off for renovations in preparation for its launch. Joerg Rudolph, president of Aroya Cruises, said: “We are incredibly proud to see the Aroya embark on its first commercial voyage from Jeddah after two years of hard work and dedication.”.
![[A concept image of The Line, which will not be finished in the next 50 years]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/city-project-saudi-arabia-line-900026741_041214.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
