Cruising Saudi Arabian Style

Freo Today. 17 August 2025. Here’s the massive cruise ship Aroya, spotted in Istanbul, Türkiye yesterday by our roving Shipping and Sailing Correspondent, Jean Hudson. 

Aroya has quite a layered backstory – she’s a vessel that’s sailed through multiple identities and ownerships before becoming a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in the cruise industry.

Here the ship’s overview –

• Current Name: Aroya (since July 2024)

• Previous Names: World Dream (2017–2023), Manara (2023–2024)

• Built By: Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany

• Launched: August 2017

• Tonnage: 150,695 GT

• Length: 335.2 meters

• Passenger Capacity: ~5,000

• Crew: ~1,925

• Registry: Valletta, Malta A

As to her ownership and operation –

• Original Owner: Genting Hong Kong, under Dream Cruises

• Current Owner: Cruise Saudi, a government-backed entity aiming to develop Saudi Arabia’s cruise sector

• Operator: Aroya Cruises, a brand launched by Cruise Saudi to cater specifically to the Arabian market.

Dr. Joerg Rudolph, formerly MD of Costa Cruises Germany, was appointed as the first President of Aroya Cruises in early 2024. His mandate includes positioning Aroya as a culturally attuned, regionally focused cruise experience with ambitions to welcome over 1.3 million cruise passenger visits to Saudi Arabia annually by 2035.

Unlike many Western cruise lines, Aroya is designed to reflect Arabian hospitality, cuisine, and entertainment preferences. It’s part of Saudi Arabia’s broader tourism strategy to diversify its economy and showcase regional heritage.