The Celestyal Journey has made its first visit to Jeddah, and this marks an important development in tourism in the Middle East since it is the first call of this cruise to Jeddah, and it marks the beginning of a new chapter of Cruise Saudi.
The 1,260 passenger vessel arrived in the busy port this morning, where a welcome ceremony had been organised with colourful Saudi hospitality, fireworks, and traditional Arabic shows. This maiden voyage is an indication of an ambitious Saudi Arabia move to become a leading cruise destination in the area.
The arrival of the Celestyal Journey is associated with the beginning of the winter season, and the program begins with a special celebratory cruise dedicated to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The ship will leave later today, and it will have a custom itinerary that combines high-speed racing with Arabian opulence.
During the following few days, the passengers will have the exclusive onboard events, gourmet cuisines inspired by the local flavours and the best seats to view the Grand Prix festivities once they arrive in the UAE.
To facilitate this expansion, Cruise Saudi is a government-supported initiative that has made significant investments in the infrastructure. The Jeddah Islamic Port has been upgraded with new berthing premises as well as passenger terminals, which will accommodate up to 1,000 cruise calls every year by 2030.
The projected revenue from the season alone may raise more than 100,000 visitors to the areas may positively impact local economies with investment in tourist activities such as shopping, sightseeing, and heritage sites such as the historic Al-Balad area.
It is not just a docking of a ship, but a point of discovery, said one spokesperson of Cruise Saudi at the ribbon-cutting opening. We are asking the world to feel the warmth of Saudi culture, as well as world-class cruising.
This collaboration with Celestyal Cruises will be seasonal, as the Journey will have seven-night trips to and from Doha, called Desert Days. These cruises will include visits to Sir Bani Yas Island, where one will explore wildlife, and Abu Dhabi, the glitzy capital, as well as the souks in Bahrain, and an overnight in the glittering skyline of Dubai.
Carnival Cruise Line Under Fire due to Reductions in Loyalty Perks
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Carnival Cruise Line is sailing towards the turbulent seas with passengers, after informing them that it was eliminating elite loyalty benefits when it left Mobile, Alabama, on December 6.
The eight-night Bahamas trip of The Carnival Spirit, which will include the visits of Celebration Key, Princess Cays, and Nassau, will not include priority embarkation, debarkation, and early luggage drop-off services to the Diamond and Platinum members of the VIFP Club. The move is motivated by the fact that there is a significantly large number of elite guests on board, and the line is therefore streamlining operations.
Loyal cruisers took to social media to air their grievances, and many said it was a slap in the face to long-time fans. Carnival justified the action by pointing out that all of the perks, such as free drinks and priority dining, would be retained.
A statement made by the company said, We are determined to ensure smooth sailing for all. This is not the first of this kind of change, as a recent trip to the Eastern Caribbean also experienced similar cuts, which illustrates the persistent issue of capacity even after the pandemic.
New Sailings Spice up the Holidays
Other lines are attracting holiday travellers as the temperature heats up in December. Holland America Nieuw Statendam today arrives at Port Everglades to make a brief turnaround before a 7-night loop of the Eastern Caribbean, starting at Fort Lauderdale, which includes Amber Cove and the Bahamas.
Carnival Panorama leaves Los Angeles on an eight-day adventure on the Mexican Riviera, which includes sun-bathed beaches and bustling markets. The Rhapsody of the Seas of Royal Caribbean sets off from Tampa on a seven-night Western Caribbean getaway, which visits Cozumel and Costa Maya.
Such trips highlight the strong recovery of the cruise industry, as bookings around the globe are increasing 15% annually. However, with the increase in lines, the balance between the perks of passengers and efficiency is also important. In the meantime, the splashy launch of the Celestyal Journey is taking centre stage and welcomes adventurers to sail in new paths in the Arabian seas.
