While everyone is still contemplating how travellers will vacation, Saudi Tourism has made the bold move to bring cruising to the Red Sea. 

The Saudi Summer Campaign welcomed by expats and Saudi nationals, as vacationing is prime during the summers, and with borders closed all over the world and a hotchpotch of regulations that confuse the traveling public, to bring luxury cruising to the Red Sea. This strategic move is part of the tourism development of the Red Sea coast that, in the future, will rival the Maldives or the Caribbean islands. 

Red Sea cruising is the doorway to virgin island beaches, adventure, and diving amongst Technicolor reefs and jewel-like shoals of fish, that travellers have never experienced before and when your add on the luxurious SilverSea Spirit cruise ship with exquisite All-Suite only accommodation, delightful public spaces accompanied with culinary delights and spa experiences there is no better way to explore Saudi Arabia.

Cruising responsibly and safety are on the top of the agenda, Silver Spirit will only book 60 per cent of its space limiting the total guest capacity and will have one of the highest crew to guest ratios ensuring the best service experience onboard. Health protocols that include screening pre-departure and temperature testing twice a day for guests and crew alike, along with expanded medical facilities capable of extending special care to its guests onboard.

These sailings will have a unique Saudi blend when it comes to cuisine, halal food will be the unique selling point, and for entertainment, an Arabic bands line-up is expected. Cruising always means luxury cruise ships for Saudi nationals, and the large following of consumers who have experienced SilverSea hospitality in Europe makes the Silver Spirit a great choice for the Saudi Summer Campaign. The Silver Spirit is developing a kids club to suite Arabic consumer tastes as she relocates to King Abdulla Economic city her home port for the next three months.

The Red Sea coast offers 3- and 4-night itineraries visiting newly developed facilities and water villas for a balmy day out. Facilities at Alraas AlAbyadh and Neom are being developed alongside resorts for the stops enroute. These stops will offer a wide variety of sea sports to include swimming, Jet Skis, and banana boat rides, snorkelling, and diving in pristine waters with rich coral and sea life rounding off a satisfying cruising experience. Departing from King Abdullah and stopping at Alraas AlAbyadh then heading out to a Day at Sea to enjoy the luxurious setting of the Silver Spirts lounges and outdoor decks and returning back to KAEC on Day 4 round off the 3-night sailing, on the 4-nights sailing guests get to experience Neom for 2 nights and stopping at Alraas AlAbyadh on the way back to KAEC.

This precursor to sailings in the Red Sea will open opportunities for consumers to experience luxury cruising and the new tourism developments that Saudi Arabian Tourism is developing, paving the way for larger ships. Travel Agencies can easily benefit by booking their guests with TBO Holidays that enables over 1000 agencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sell relevant tourism ancillaries over the last decade. 

By Lyndon Mendonca