Saudi Arabia’s push into the world of tourism now includes a cruise line, Aroya, which will start operations with its first ship, also called Aroya, in December. But, like many other aspects of Saudi tourism, it comes with limits.
It will be uniquely the first alcohol-free cruise line in the business, although other lines that call at Saudi ports close their bars while in Saudi waters. The line also warns its passengers to “Please review our Prohibited Items Policy before packing your bags to avoid any inconvenience during your journey.”
The list is extensive and unusual. Some items are obvious, such as guns, ammunition and swords, but also prohibited are compact discs, soldering irons, paint thinner, scissors or ‘magazines that violate public decency.’
Initially the ship will be sailing from its home port on the Red Sea, Jeddah, to Aqaba in Jordan and two Egyptian ports: Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula and Ain Sokhna, south of Suez.
