The Silver Spirit will offer cruises in the Red Sea, exclusively for Saudi Arabian residents and within Saudi territorial waters. Saudi Arabia is launching its first luxury cruises along the Red Sea coast, beginning August 27th, with various itineraries.
This cruise is part of the Saudi Arabian Tourism Authority's "Break Free" campaign, which aims to highlight the kingdom's cultural treasures and promote domestic tourism while simultaneously reviving interest in international travel. The cruises, with various itineraries along Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, promise a wide range of leisure, dining, and entertainment options on board.
The cruise marketed as “Red Sea Spirit” offers two Red Sea itineraries. The first, a three-night (four-day) voyage, departs from King Abdullah Port in KAEC City, spends one day in Yanbu and Ras Abyadh, followed by a day at sea, before returning guests to KAEC on the fourth day. The second, a four-night (five-day) voyage, departs from King Abdullah Port in KAEC, spends two days in Neom and Magna, followed by a stop in Yanbu and Ras Abyadh, and sails back to KAEC on the fifth day.
Silversea, which will operate the cruises entirely, has reached a multi-month agreement and, in collaboration with local authorities, has established rigorous health and safety protocols. The Silver Spirit is already under guard, with no one allowed to enter or leave until its departure. The crew has undergone PCR testing, and the ship will sail at 75% capacity to ensure social distancing, which is already ample on luxury cruises like those offered by Silversea.
The Silver Spirit, departing from Marseille on August 16th bound for King Abdullah Port, is an ultra-luxury with a capacity of up to 540 passengers. It features spacious suites, 95% of which have private balconies, and ample space for passenger comfort, all decorated in a sophisticated Art Deco style. The ship underwent a complete refurbishment in 2018.
The first cruise is expected to depart on August 27. With these operations, Silversea Cruises, along with TUI Cruises, become the first and only Royal Caribbean Group companies to restart operations and contribute revenue to the group.
