MSC Splendida arrived within the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on November 23 on her inaugural go to to the Kingdom, marking the beginning of the third season of sailings within the Red Sea. The name from the MSC Cruises cruise ship is a part of the Saudi Arabian initiative to convey extra cruise ships to the nation, which has been closed to tourism for a few years.
MSC Cruises has been steadily increase its presence within the Middle East and is presently the largest cruise operator within the area. Other cruise traces that can go to Jeddah this yr embody Viking, Silverseas, and Fred Olsen Cruise Line.
MSC Splendida Opens Saudi Arabian Cruise Season
Saudi Arabia, which till not too long ago has been closed off to mainstream tourism, has been working exhausting to convey extra cruise ships to its shores. The nation has discovered a prepared accomplice in that drive in MSC Cruises. The European cruise line, one of many greatest on the earth, is the market chief in Middle-Eastern cruises.
MSC Splendida arrived on the Jeddah Islamic Port on November 23, the place she was welcomed by Chief Legal and Governmental Affairs Officer at Cruise Saudi, Dr. Hani Gharbawi, and officers from The Saudi Ports Authority.
Dr. Hani Gharbawi commented on the arrival of the ship: “We are happy to welcome MSC Splendida to Saudi – the fourth ship from MSC Cruises to sail Saudi waters since Cruise Saudi launched the business lower than two years in the past. We stay up for welcoming extra famend world cruise ships and passengers to find and expertise Saudi – the latest participant within the cruising enviornment – by land and sea as a part of our newly launched season.
“The country’s breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and historical wonders make it a must-visit destination for travelers – and we are proud to open a new gateway to share Saudi’s story with the rest of the world.”
MSC Splendida will sail in Saudia Arabia between November 2022 and May 2023, providing cruises from Jeddah to Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, Aqaba in Jordan, and Port Sokhna and Safaga in Egypt. Cruises fluctuate in size between 3,4, and seven days.
MSC Splendida is a Fantasia-class, 133,500 gross-tons cruise ship with area on board for 3,900 company. The vessel was accomplished in 2008 and operated primarily within the far east till 2020 and within the Mediterranean for the reason that restart.
Saudi Arabia Cruises
While Saudia Arabia just isn’t the primary place that many would take into account taking a cruise to, the nation has been working exhausting to determine itself as a cruise vacation spot. The nation is stuffed with historic websites, together with a number of UNESCO World Heritage websites, and provides guests a good way to discover the Arabian Peninsula.
The nation first opened to cruise ship guests in 2020, and since then, it has operated two profitable seasons in 2021/2022 and welcomed 50,000+ native and worldwide passengers (from 80+ nationalities), ships from 4 world cruise traces that performed 70+ sailings.
There are three ports which can be able to receiving cruise ships within the Kingdom, Jeddah and Yanbu on the Red Sea and Damman on the Persian Gulf.
This season, the nation expects to welcome 5 completely different cruise traces for a complete of 75 calls. These are MSC Cruises with MSC Splendida and MSC Sinfonia, Silverseas with Silver Spirit, Viking with Viking Neptune, Fred Olsen Cruise Line with Bolette, and the personal residence cruise ship, The World.