Splendida arrives in Yanbu, Jeddah to set off third Saudi cruise season

Splendida arrives in Yanbu, Jeddah to set off third Saudi cruise season

RIYADH — Yanbu Commercial Port has officially kick started 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.

To celebrate the start of the new season, a crest exchange ceremony was held at Jeddah and Yanbu onboard the 4,300-passenger luxury liner, which is scheduled to make weekly trips from Jeddah Islamic Port.

Its itinerary 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).

The startegy aims to bolster the local economy, foster the growth of the tourism sector, improve the overall quality of life, and enrich the local entertainment and sports scene with competitive offerings.

Saudi ports are well-equipped to receive cruise vessels thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure and operational capabilities, which also makes it a preferred investment hotspot for the global maritime industry.

The unprecedented