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Cruise Saudi welcomes record tourists

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MSC World Europa called on King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam early this year with more than 5,600 passengers

On Saudi Founding Day 2023, Cruise Saudi achieved a remarkable record for the first time in welcoming nearly 9,000 tourists visiting key Saudi destinations by three cruise ships calls in two ports.

The day marked the arrival of MSC Splendida with 3,000+ passengers, Residences at Sea’s ultra-luxury private residential ship The World with 80+ residents and guests in Jeddah Islamic Port. At the same time, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam welcomed MSC World Europa with 5,600+ passengers.

Cruise Saudi’s ongoing cruising season is set to welcome 75+ scheduled calls by ships from several global cruise lines sailing the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf

 

The tourists, who represent different nationalities - the top five being English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Russian – witnessed and engaged in the vibrant Saudi Founding Day festivities in their different excursions in both Jeddah and the Eastern Province through Dammam Port.

In Jeddah, the well-designed excursions included a flight to visit AlUla, Saudi’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, an enjoyable walk at Jeddah’s Waterfront (Corniche), as well as a journey back in time through centuries of culture and traditions by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Jeddah Historical District (Al Balad). Muslim passengers and crew were presented with a unique experience, as Cruise Saudi facilitated their visit to Makkah and performed Umrah.

From Dammam, the excursions included Saudi’s third UNESCO World Heritage site accessible via cruising, Al Asha Oasis, exploring the Qara Mountain, Princess School, and AlQaisariyah Souq. Other excursions provided an escape to the sandy beach on the tranquil waters of the Arabian Gulf or a city drive with a visit to Dammam’s distinctive Love Market.

Cruise Saudi has completed two successful seasons thus far, welcoming 50,000+ passengers and five major international cruise lines. Cruise Saudi aims to develop further ports around the country, opening more destinations in Saudi to cruise tourism, with plans to welcome 1.3 million cruise passenger visits by 2035.

Cruise Saudi’s ongoing cruising season - from November 2022 until May 2023 - is set to welcome 75+ scheduled calls by ships from several global cruise lines sailing the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.  

 


 

CRUISE SAUDI PARTICIPATES IN TOURISM FORUM

CRUISE Saudi participated as a gold sponsor in the recent Saudi Tourism Forum 2023, held in Riyadh between March 14 to 16 this year. A 100 per cent Public Investment Fund-owned business, Cruise Saudi works hand in hand with ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem with the aim of positioning Saudi as a premier global cruise destination.

Throughout the forum, Cruise Saudi met with a number of public and private sector companies – an opportunity to update key industry contacts with the news and developments since Cruise Saudi launched in 2021. Cruise Saudi also organised an awareness workshop, delivered by Mashhour Bashan, the Executive Director for Travel Experiences, on designing tours and experiences for cruise passengers.

 

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