Skift Take
Having snatched headlines with its glamorous hotel projects, Saudi Arabia wants to do the same with its new cruise ship.
Saudi Arabia is working on its own major commercial cruise line brand designed for those with “Arabian preferences.” AROYA Cruises sets sail next year with a single ship, formerly known as World Dream, the last remaining ship of the struggling Dream Cruises company.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the new owner of the ship – now known as Manara – for $300 million at an auction in December last year. It comes under the management of PIF’s cruise company, Cruise Saudi, and acts as a showcase for its cruise liner brand AROYA.
As is the way with Saudi Arabia and its ambitious ventures, it is throwing everything at this ship. Originally designed for "Asian preferences," a lot is being done to make the ship more "Arabian" in fe