Arab News, Saturday, Aug 26, 2023 | Safar 9, 1445
Cruise Saudi teams up with Columbia blue to elevate AROYA Cruises offering
Saudi Arabia:
Cruise Saudi, a wholly-owned venture of the Public Investment Fund, has
unveiled a strategic partnership with the leisure services platform, Columbia
blue, for the development of its much-anticipated premium cruise line, AROYA
Cruises.
In a significant move, Cruise Saudi has selected
Columbia blue, one of the leading players in the ship management industry, as
its designated ship manager for AROYA Cruises.
The platform specializes in cruise and expedition
passenger vessel management and boasts a large portfolio featuring some of the
globe’s most distinguished brands.
Under this partnership, Columbia blue will be
responsible for AROYA Cruises’ hotel management operations, covering critical
areas such as guest relations, housekeeping, crew management and food and
beverage. Additionally, the platform will take charge of deck and engine
management, ensuring the vessel’s smooth operation and passenger safety.
Talking about the collaboration, Cruise Saudi’s
CEO, Lars Clasen, emphasized the significance of this partnership in delivering
a unique voyage for AROYA Cruises passengers.
“Columbia blue is a leader in the ship management
industry and an instrumental organization for AROYA Cruises to work with. This
strategic partnership is crucial in ensuring that AROYA Cruises passengers have
the best possible experience on-board,” he said.
The partnership aligns with Cruise Saudi’s vision
to offer a unique Arabian cruise experience.
Columbia blue’s CEO, Norman Schmiedl, expressed
pride in contributing to crafting an authentically Arabian experience for AROYA
Cruises guests.
He added: “We are extremely proud to be helping
AROYA Cruises deliver a remarkably Arabian experience to their guests. We are
deploying all of our 40 years of experience in cruise ship management to deliver
safe, efficient and sustainable standards to AROYA Cruises.”
Announced in June 2023, AROYA Cruises is set to be
the Kingdom’s upscale maritime venture, designed to cater to the preferences of
Saudi nationals, expatriates, and regional visitors.
The partnership with Columbia blue underscores
Cruise Saudi’s broader mission to generate 50,000 employment opportunities
within Saudi Arabia and welcome an estimated 1.3 million cruise passengers
annually by the year 2035.
Earlier this week, Cruise Saudi and the Royal
Commission for Jubail and Yanbu inked a memorandum of understanding to unlock
the tourism potential of the Kingdom's unexplored southern region.
This strategic partnership aims to position the
southern region as a captivating destination for tourists, fostering growth in
tourism and contributing to the region’s economic advancement.