Jeddah Islamic Port and Yanbu Commercial Port kick off third Saudi cruise season

Jeddah Islamic Port and Yanbu Commercial Port kick off third Saudi cruise season

Yanbu Commercial Port has officially kickstarted the third edition of the Saudi cruise season by berthing MSC Splendida, which arrived from Jeddah Islamic Port, thereby marking the maiden cruise call for the current season that will run from November 2022 until May 2023.The third season is expected to welcome over 75 calls from international cruise lines at both Yanbu and Jeddah ports, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.To celebrate the start of the new season, a crest exchange ceremony was held at Jeddah and Yanbu onboard the 4300-passenger luxury liner, which is scheduled to make weekly trips from Jeddah Islamic Port as part of its itinerary that covers both the Red Sea hubs given their stature as fast-emerging cruise tourism destinations in the region, besides Egypt and Jordan.The influx of cruise ships into the Kingdom’s waters follows the strategic efforts of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) to attract high vessel traffic and offer top-tier services under the guidance of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), which aims to bolster the local economy, foster the growth of the tourism sector, improve the overall quality of life, and