Start-up cruise line Blue World Ocean Voyages looks to launch in Middle East

Blue World Ocean Voyages, which bills itself as the first cruise line dedicated to health and wellness, has announced it plans to launch from the Middle East in mid-2023.

The cruise line, which will operate a vessel that is part cruise ship and part floating residences, will spend its first six months cruising in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Abu Dhabi and Dubai before repositioning to Europe.

The cruise line said its European destinations will include ports in Greece, Italy, Spain, England, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and other regions.

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Blue World Ocean Voyages encourages potential passengers to “forget everything they know about cruising” in its promotional material. The cruise line says sports and wellness will be embedded in the design of the ship, the onboard programs, dining options, shore-side programs, even the itineraries.

Rather than the bells and whistles associated with most modern cruise ships, Blue World Ocean Voyages will instead offer mini golf courses, a first-in-the-industry sea water lap pool and marina deck, plus an impressive array of professional-style water sports equipment.

The ship will also offer what the cruise line claims will be the largest athletic and fitness conditioning facility at sea.

This facility will offer a fully equipped functional training gym, several private studios for spinning, yoga & meditation, TRX training, plus a full assortment of cardio equipment, swimmers treadmill, a golf training facility including multi-sport simulators, a bike fitting station and a comprehensive physical therapy lab.

There will also be a two-deck space for spa amenities and a Spa Deck with the greatest space-to-passenger ratio in the industry. Up here, guests will find an ocean view solarium, aft therapy pool, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, and a Himalayan salt room and aromatherapy.

There are also private outdoor deckside Bali beds for sleeping under the stars and waking up to a butler-served breakfast.

“Now more than ever, people recognize that they need to take ownership of their health. Blue World Voyages is setting the precedent. Our attention to sports and wellness is the core of the overall travel experience – and not just options or add-ons,” said Gene Meehan, Co-founder & Chairman, Blue World Ocean Voyages.

The ship’s size would ordinarily provide a passenger capacity of around 1,500, but it will instead carry a third of that, due to the inclusion of 40 at-sea residences for purchase at $2.5 million to $3.5 million. These one and two-bedroom Residences are designed by Juan Poggi Design and Tomas Tillberg Design International.

For those cruising with the line for a single itinerary, pricing starts from $3,500, which includes all gratuities, all meals in four specialty restaurants, grape beverages and hops with lunch and dinner, onboard wi-fi, laundry, some excursions (running, hiking, yoga), and three signature events per cruise.

It’s unclear whether the cruise line’s first ship will be a new build or a vessel bought second-hand and renovated. The renderings released by the cruise line show a close similarity to Holland America’s Amsterdam and Rotterdam vessels, which were acquired by Fred Olsen Cruise Line in 2020 after several weeks at auction.