Luxury cruise ships return to waters of Red Sea in boost to tourism in Saudi Arabia
Residents of Saudi Arabia will soon be able to enjoy luxury leisure cruises on the Red Sea for the first time.
The cruises are part of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s Break Free campaign, which aims to highlight the kingdom’s cultural gems and promote domestic travel.
Red Sea Spirit cruise line is offering customers two itineraries. The first is for three nights and four days
– it leaves from King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah, then spends a day in Yanbu and Ras Al Abyadh.
This is followed by a day at sea, before returning home on the fourth day.
The second trip lasts for four nights and five days. It also leaves from King Abdullah Economic City, spending two days in the Neom mega-city and the town of Magna, followed by a stop at Yanbu and Ras Al Abyadh. It then sails for home on the fifth day.
With its diverse and unspoilt coastline, the Red Sea region has virgin reefs, uninhabited islands, shoals of brightly coloured fish, bountiful coral and ancient shipwrecks.
Cruise passengers can explore private islands, dine on white sands and go swimming, snorkelling and kayaking.
The first cruise ship is expected to set sail on Monday, August 10 and the tourism authority is working with the Saudi Ministry of Health, tour operators and other parties to put in place strict safety measures.
Visitors can organise private yacht charters and explore some of the Red Sea’s restricted areas, which are usually closed to the public. These include the protected islands that form part of the vast Neom project, where a focus on sustainable development can be seen at the Sindalah Marine Sanctuary.
Passengers can also explore the Georgios G shipwreck – sometimes referred to as the Saudi – after it ran aground in 1978 – or the natural wonder of Wadi Tayeb Al-Ism, with its 600-metre high granite monolith.
With more than 100 remote islands, Umluj has been called the Maldives of Saudi Arabia. A private charter among the secluded beaches and turquoise waters of this archipelago will also give a glimpse of the kingdom’s conservation efforts, with nature reserves that protect endangered nesting turtles and act as a waypoint for thousands of migratory birds.
The Break Free initiative, which is running until the end of September, covers 10 destinations around Saudi Arabia, with a particular emphasis on the Red Sea coast.
The cosmopolitan coastal city of Jeddah and Riyadh, the capital, are among the popular domestic destinations for
Visitors can organise private yacht charters and explore some of the Red Sea’s restricted areas, which are usually closed to the public
travellers in the kingdom that are being highlighted as part of the campaign, along with Al Baha, Umluj, Yanbu, Taif, Asir and Tabuk.
Tabuk, a north-eastern city, has long been a resting point for Jordanian and Egyptian pilgrims and it has a rich Bedouin culture that can still be experienced in Souq Twaheen.
The southern endpoint of the Red Sea coast, Abha, is the capital of the Asir region, and is a great base for exploring this mountainous part of the kingdom. A trip to Taif involves a drive along a beautiful serpentine road that winds up through the mountains, passing by fruit markets, rose farms and deep valleys.
“Tourism recovery typically begins locally,” says Yasser Telmsani, a representative of the Sun Travel Agency. “Travellers tend to first venture out closer to home and visit their local sights, stay local for a weekend getaway before a robust demand for international travel returns.”