AROYA Cruises reveals onboard dining experiences ahead of Red Sea debut

The Saudi Arabian start-up cruise line AROYA Cruises has revealed new details about the dining experiences available aboard its first cruise ship, Aroya, ahead of her debut later this month in the Red Sea.

The 3,362-passenger, 150,000 gross ton ship will feature 12 restaurants, including eight speciality restaurants, and 17 lounges and cafes, catering to a variety of tastes and culinary interests.

Several of these restaurants and lounges will also be exclusive to guests of its luxury Khuzama experience, a ship-within-a-ship enclave on-par with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Haven and MSC Cruise’s Yacht Club experience.

AROYA Cruises was announced in June 2023 as a separate business unit of Cruise Saudi, a PIF Portfolio Company. 

The cruise line is the first in the world designed specifically for the domestic cruise market in the Arab world, offering local and international guests an Arabian cruise experience that reflects the values, preferences and cultures of the region. 

Restaurants

Irth

The first Saudi Arabian restaurant at sea, Irth, will combine flavours and dishes from across the Kingdom. Local products are used throughout the menu, and diners can expect to enjoy traditional Saudi sharing dishes such as jareesh, haneeth and saleeg, as well as local breads, and Saudi coffees and cold drinks including lemon juice with Habaq, Medinah’s traditional dry mint. 

La Tavola

AROYA’s speciality Italian restaurant, La Tavola, is a traditional trattoria featuring artisan pastas, hearty risottos and fresh salads, alongside a range of Italian desserts. A highlight of the restaurant is its hydroponic herb garden, with produce used in La Tavola’s savoury dishes, including its freshly made pastas.

The Fish Market

The Fish Market is AROYA’s speciality seafood restaurant, offering fresh fish sourced locally and sustainably. Guests will be able to choose their dinner from the largest fresh seafood display on-board any cruise ship, with local catches, such as najel, hamour, harid and shaour, on offer. Different service levels are available, including Guéridon and silver service for diners looking to elevate their experience, as well as interactive colouring packages to keep the little ones occupied.

Space Diner

American cuisine meets the excitement of space exploration at the interactive Space Diner, with retro art inspired by the Saudi Space Agency’s Human Space Flight Programme. Space Diner serves American fast food, such as astro-burger sliders and meteorite mac ‘n’ cheese, alongside speciality milkshakes inspired by the textures and colours of outer space.

Bamboo Kitchen

Bamboo Kitchen, AROYA’s signature Asian restaurant, features authentic dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea. With a sleek design and spaces for live cooking displays, including teppanyaki, by world-class chefs, the restaurant offers dishes from across the region, from fragrant Vietnamese pho and Chinese Peking duck, to Thailand’s fiery Tom Yum soup and delicious Japanese sushi rolls.

Lounges & Cafes

Al Matal Lounge

The Al Matal Lounge is an all-day venue, offering ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows, walls adorned with contemporary artwork and comfortable sofas for relaxing from sunrise to sunset. Guests can enjoy traditional Saudi, Moroccan, Turkish and English teas alongside freshly baked pastries, or head to the dedicated indoor terrace for shisha.

Legends Sports Lounge

Legends Sports Lounge will stream sports from around the world across its multiple TV screens and boast sports memorabilia on the walls, making guests feel as though they’re in the VIP lounge of a football stadium. On the menu will be quick bites across US and Arabian cuisines, such as nachos, sliders and mezze platters, and for shisha fans, Legends Sports Lounge will be home to the first charcoal shishas aboard a cruise ship.

Khuzama experience

Khuzama Restaurant

Exclusive to guests who book AROYA’s luxury Khuzama experience, the Khuzama Restaurant offers an elegant dining experience in a sophisticated setting, bringing together the ingredients and cooking styles of both Saudi and French cuisines. The elevated menu rotates every seven days to give guests a diverse range of flavourful, fusion dishes, while warm interiors and low lighting, accompanied by live performances, create one of the most refined atmospheres at sea.  

Khuzama Lounge

Another exclusive offering for Khuzama guests is the elegant Khuzama Lounge, a 24/7 space for guests to unwind, relax, and indulge in light bites and sweet treats, with a regularly changing menu that reflects local and international cuisine, including Spanish tapas and French pastries. The upscale dining is paired with live music to create a cosy yet luxurious atmosphere that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

In addition to these dining experiences, Aroya will also offer 20 entertainment venues, including a two-deck theatre, karaoke room, climbing wall and mini golf course, several kids and teens areas, a bespoke spa and wellness services, two swimming pools, and the largest retail area of any cruise ship in the world. 

Each of the 1,524 cabins has been designed with style and comfort in mind, blending modern amenities with a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects the hospitality and heritage of Saudi Arabia.Aroya will depart Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on her maiden passenger voyage on December 16th. The three-night sailing includes a visit to a Red Sea private island.