The Silversea vessel, on route to Athens, first arrived in Jeddah on May 2 where it stayed for five days before sailing north along the Red Sea, arriving at Yanbu Commercial Port on May 7.
Traditional plaque and key exchange ceremonies were held at the ports, involving Cruise Saudi, the ship’s captain and senior officers.
The turnaround was combined with pre- and post-cruise packages.
Saudi Arabia’s growth ambitions
‘…This is another milestone in our development as we open our ports and Saudi to increasing numbers of ships and passengers,’ said Cruise Saudi’s CEO Lars Clasen. ‘We are proud of the role Cruise Saudi is playing in contributing to Vision 2030’s strategy to grow Saudi as a tourism destination supporting social and economic growth within the nation, and to welcome 1.3m cruise passenger visits by 2035 as part of its strategic objective to position Saudi as a premier global cruising destination.’
Shore excursions
The length of the itinerary allowed the ship’s captain and crew the chance to participate in experiences ashore, as well as the 210 passengers on board. It is not the first time the cruise line has visited the destination.
Capt. Kosta Doroshenko, master of Silver Cloud, remarked, ‘I thank Cruise Saudi, the local authorities, and the people of Jeddah and Yanbu for such a warm welcome to this fascination region – on behalf of everyone at Silversea Cruises. Guests of Silversea’s ultra-luxury Silver Cloud enjoyed the opportunity to travel deep into these rich destinations, with bespoke experiences ashore showcasing the local culture at its most authentic. I look forward to my next call in Saudi.’
Third season drawing to a close
With the opening of Dammam on the Arabian Gulf earlier this year, the number of visitors has increased substantially this season which began in November and has seen 192,714 passengers on seven different ships cruising the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The country received more than 30,000 cruise passengers during its 2021/22 winter cruise season.
Cruise Saudi’s third season draws to a close soon.
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