LONDON: Cruise Saudi has been nominated in three major cruise industry awards programs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The company was shortlisted for “Middle East’s Best Cruise Destination” by the World Cruise Awards, “Destination of the Year” by the Seatrade Cruise Awards, and “Best Excursion” by the Wave Awards. The nomination by the World Cruise Awards honors the company’s success in developing the nation’s cruise sector, enhancing ports along the Red Sea coast and Arabian Gulf, and creating shore excursion experiences that “showcase Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and culture and hospitality,” organizers said. The Wave Awards nomination is for a Cruise Saudi excursion called “The Lives of Saudi Women.” The tour, which is only open to female passengers, is described as offering a deeper understanding of the role of women in the Kingdom by providing an authentic glimpse into their past and present lives. During the excursion, passengers are taken to Jeddah Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where they visit a historic women’s shelter, one of the 18 in the area, which was recently transformed by Saudi entrepreneur Haleel Alabassi into an Arabic language school. “We’re delighted to be nominated for awards at the World Cruise Awards, Seatrade Cruise Awards and Wave Awards,” said Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen. “The categories we have been nominated for are especially important to us, as they recognize the hard work our team and our partners have put in to create exceptional experiences for our passengers and to make a positive contribution to the wider global cruising industry.” The winners of the World Cruise Awards will be announced during a gala event at Atlantis the Royal hotel in Dubai on Oct. 15. The Seatrade Cruise Awards will be presented during a ceremony on Sept. 6 during the Seatrade Europe exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, and the Wave Awards on Nov. 13 at the Dorchester Hotel in London.