Aroya Cruises chooses Versonix for reservation and management systems

Aroya Cruises has announced it will partner with travel technology provider Versonix for the development of its reservation and management systems ahead of the debut of its first cruise ship Manara. 

Versonix’s reservation system will enable Aroya Cruises to offer passengers a user-friendly online booking platform with real-time availability updates, transparent pricing and customisation options.

The Versonix management system will help Aroya Cruises optimise every aspect of its operations, from crew management to inventory control, according to a release. 

Aroya Cruises said this will enable it to deliver “exceptional service and exceed guest expectations while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.”

Through the reservation and management systems, Aroya will be able to collect and analyse guest data, preferences and brand interaction history.

These insights will then be used to personalise and continuously improve the guest experience.

Versonix is a leading cruise reservation and management provider, and already works with Azamara, Explora Journeys, and Celestyal Cruises.

“We are thrilled to partner with Aroya Cruises and help them revolutionise the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia,” said Yuri Polissky, COO of Versonix. 

“Our advanced technology solutions will empower Aroya Cruises to offer a new level of luxury and personalisation to their guests,” he added. 

“We are confident that our partnership will establish Aroya Cruises as the leading cruise line in the region and contribute to the growth of the Saudi Arabian tourism industry.”

Aroya Cruises is a homegrown Saudi Arabian cruise line backed by Cruise Saudi, which is itself part of the Kingdom’s soverign wealth fund PIF. 

The cruise line has already purchased its first cruise ship, the 3,300-passenger World Dream, which was put up for sale when the Hong Kong brand went bankrupt following the pandemic.

The launch of the Arab world’s first cruise line will not only help establish Saudi Arabia as a cruise destination and cruise market, but will also transform the regional cruise sector.

The cruise line will cater specifically to regional tastes and cultural norms, unlike the many cruise lines that homeport annually in Dubai, which target the international fly-cruise market out of Europe, North America, India and Asia.

The creation of the cruise line also supports Cruise Saudi’s overall objectives of creating 50,000 cruise sector job opportunities in the Kingdom and hosting 1.3 million cruise passengers annually by 2035.

The partnership with Versonix forms part of Cruise Saudi’s broader strategy to collaborate with sector-leading contractors to guarantee that Aroya Cruises offers services and facilities onboard on-par with leading global cruise brands.

SMC and Partner Ship Design were previously appointed to handle the refit and refurbishment of World Dream, while the cruise line has also engaged several leading tech companies to digitise booking and the onboard experience for passengers.

Aroya Cruises has also announced that MJM Marine and DE Wave had been appointed to handle the fit and finish of the interior of the ship, while leading cruise retail operator Gebr. Heinemann will operate the ship’s onboard mall.

Meanwhile Columbia Blue will handle ship management for the new cruise line, including staffing and technical support, and DL Services has been contracted to develop the catering spaces aboard the cruise line’s first ship.