Cruise Saudi joint venture Aman at Sea celebrates construction milestone for 1st vessel

Aman at Sea, the joint venture between Aman Group and Cruise Saudi, has marked a significant construction milestone for its first vessel, Amangati, following the completion of the yacht’s hull and its transfer between Italian shipyards in December.

The newly completed hull was towed from San Giorgio di Nogaro to the Port of Genoa, a journey that took approximately one week, with 183-metre vessel now moored at the T. Mariotti shipyard, where it will enter the next phase of construction and outfitting.

The float-out of Amangati represents a key step in the delivery schedule of Aman at Sea’s inaugural ship, which remains on track for completion in 2027.

The vessel will become the first ship in the new ultra-luxury brand’s fleet and will be positioned in what the company previously described as an unexplored segment of the leisure travel market: the “ultra-luxury resort-at-sea” category.

Aman at Sea was established in early 2023 as a strategic partnership between Aman Group, the luxury hospitality company behind a global portfolio of resorts and residences, and Cruise Saudi, the Saudi Arabian entity tasked with developing the Kingdom’s cruise sector.

The collaboration is intended to extend the Aman brand into the maritime environment while supporting Saudi Arabia’s wider tourism and maritime development objectives.

The 23,000-ton Amangati has been designed to accommodate just 47 suites, each with a private balcony, maintaining the low guest density in the industry, a hallmark of Aman’s land-based properties.

Onboard facilities will include four dining venues, a jazz club, and the Aman Spa, which will feature a Japanese garden as a central design element. The ship’s name, Amangati, is derived from the Sanskrit word for “peaceful motion,” reflecting the brand’s emphasis on tranquillity and immersive luxury.

Aman at Sea have confirmed that reservations for Amangati’s inaugural Mediterranean season will open in early 2026. Once delivered in 2027, the yacht is scheduled to operate in the Mediterranean for its first summer season, with itineraries expected to emphasise exclusive ports, extended stays, and highly personalised guest experiences.

The project is one of the most closely watched newbuilds in the ultra-luxury cruise segment, combining Aman’s hospitality model with Cruise Saudi’s strategic ambition to establish Saudi Arabia as a major global cruise and yachting hub.

For Cruise Saudi, the partnership strengthens the Kingdom’s growing presence across multiple tiers of the cruise market, from mass-market operations to high-end experiential travel, and will support the development of the domestic fly-cruise market.