DHIBA — The Saudi seaport of Dhiba received on Sunday the first tourist cruise ship (Silver Spirit), and the first coming to a port, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ship arrived here for the purpose of refueling and completing the procedures for taking part, in the tourist program related to the voyages of the local tourist ships (Oubhur, in the Summer), in the context of the Saudi Summer Season (Tanaffus) of this year. Functioning of tourist voyages will be inaugurated, at King Abdullah Port, in King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, via Yanbu Commercial Port and then to Sandalla Island, in Neom Area, in accordance with an integrated system of highly advanced operational maritime services and fixtures. Earlier, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) announced that Saudi Arabia’s cruise ships would embark on its maiden sail in the Red Sea on Aug. 27, giving the vacationers an exceptional luxurious tourism experience. The cruise ships will enable the tourists to rediscover the Red Sea beaches and islands during the summer by spending an open sea vacation with the utmost luxury of a five-star category, enjoying luxurious dishes on board one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world. The launch of the cruise ships is part of the summer season initiative titled “Tanaffus” (Breathing), which runs from June 25 to Sept. 30. It will provide exceptional tourism experiences through which it seeks to highlight the tourist treasures in the Red Sea and enable tourists to enjoy the huge tourism potential that lies along the Red Sea coasts in the Kingdom. Cruise ships are expected to provide a wide array of options and packages, as the authority has called the topmost cruise ship companies in the world to operate luxury ships in the Red Sea coasts with different paths and stations. The facilities in the cruise ship includes a number of private restaurants according to the available package, and the services of its sections range from luxurious to the highest luxury, and the prices of rooms and suites vary according to their location on the ship’s deck. There are interior rooms with a window overlooking the Red Sea and others with a balcony, while the private suites enjoy additional features, including a personal assistant, private elevators supported by magnetic cards, and open services of meals and soft drinks 24 hours a day. The guests of the suites receive a special and express reception when they check in to the ship. —SPA/SG