Tag Archives: cruise ship

AROYA and Cruise Saudi Reveal Rendering of Cruise Ship

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AROYA Cruises, the new Arabian cruise line operated by Cruise Saudi, has unveiled the renderings for the first cruise ship in its fleet, which was the former World Dream.

The 335-meter-long ship is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to tailor the ship to the highest standard in line with the taste of Arabian passengers, the company said in a statement.

Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: “We are delighted to sail into the new year with the unveiling of our first AROYA Cruises ship. This marks an exciting milestone for Cruise Saudi in creating a world-class cruise industry in Saudi, whilst offering a new way to holiday in the Kingdom for locals. We look forward to welcoming the first passengers onboard.”

AROYA Cruises will set sail from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024.

The company said the ship will offer “exceptional onboard service, an eclectic culinary offering, and a sensational activities program, guests aboard AROYA Cruises’ will enjoy a unique remarkably Arabian hospitality experience that reflects the warm and welcoming values of Saudi culture.”

Tourism Trinidad Welcomes MSC Seaside

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MSC Cruises’ Seaside made its inaugural visit to the Port of Spain in Trinidad on Thursday, December 14, just as passenger arrivals this season reached the 20,000 mark.

The arrival of the MSC Seaside marks the 18th call for the port so far for the 2023-24 season.

The ship arrived in Trinidad while sailing its 14-night Southern Caribbean voyage which departed from Fort de France, Martinique on December 9. 

MSC Seaside’s visit brings passenger arrivals to 21,011 since the start of the 2023-24 season in October. Among these, an estimated 13,800 passengers have disembarked, with 25 percent opting for curated organized tours.

After leaving Trinidad, the MSC headed towards St Georges, Grenada. The itinerary also includes calls in Pointe A Pitre, Guadeloupe; Roseau, Dominica; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St Johns, Antigua; and Basseterre, St. Kitts before returning to Fort de France.

The port’s projections indicate that approximately 88,000 passengers and 30,000 crew will visit Trinidad’s shores during the 2023-24 season, representing an estimated 81 percent increase in passengers from last season.

Rhapsody of the Seas Starts Homeporting Season in Colombia

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The Rhapsody of the Seas is kicking off its homeporting season in Cartagena de Indias today.

Part of Royal Caribbean International’s return to Latin America after a seven-year gap, the operation includes 12 cruises departing from the Colombian port.

Through April, the vessel is set to offer a series of seven-night voyages to the Southern Caribbean that also feature visits to other destinations in the region, including Panama and Aruba.

While some of the itineraries also feature overnight calls at selected ports, Rhapsody’s regular itinerary sails to Willemstad, in Curaçao; Kralendijk, in Aruba; Oranjestad, in Bonaire; and Colón, in Panama.

The latter also serves as homeport for the operation, with passengers being able to embark on the cruise in both Cartagena and Colón.

Upon completing the winter program in mid-April, the Rhapsody sets sail on a repositioning cruise to Fort Lauderdale before returning to the Southern Caribbean.

Remaining in the region for the entire year, the Vision-Class ship is set to kick off a year-round program out of San Juan in late April.

The deployment includes seven-night cruises to additional destinations in the region, such as Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Croix, and Antigua.

Built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the Rhapsody of the Seas originally entered service for Royal Caribbean International in 1996.

Extensively refurbished over the years, the 2,000-guest vessel offers several of the company’s signature features, including a rock climbing wall, an adults-only Solarium, and an array of specialty restaurants.

Among the dining venues available onboard is Chops Grille, an American-style steakhouse; Giovanni’s Table, a specialty restaurant that serves Italian food; and the self-service buffet Windjammer Café.