Cruise Saudi welcomed Viking's Viking Star to Saudi Arabia for its inaugural visit on March 30. The ship called at the Islamic port of Jeddah, where a plaque and key exchange ceremony took place, before continuing on to Yanbu port for a stopover.
The Viking Star is the fifth ship to sail in Saudi waters as part of Cruise Saudi's interest in attracting the cruise industry to the country, opening a new door for tourism in line with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's transformation plan.
The Viking Star is a relatively small cruise ship, accommodating up to 930 guests, capable of docking where larger vessels cannot and providing a comfortable embarkation and disembarkation process. Marking the Viking Star's inaugural visit, Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen said, “The Viking Star’s visit is a significant milestone for Cruise Saudi, as it is a new cruise line to Saudi Arabia. We are delighted to offer tourists a new and exciting opportunity to discover all that Saudi Arabia has to offer, from the pristine islands and beaches of the Red Sea to its unique culture and heritage, all underpinned by Saudi hospitality par excellence.”
“Our goal is to be recognized as a world-class one-stop-shop maritime operator and to develop the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia as a major economic pillar of tourism in line with Vision 2030.”
Cruise Saudi has welcomed and partnered with several major international cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, Scenic Group, Silversea, and Viking, which have completed more than 70 sailings during the 2021 and 2022 summer and winter seasons.
