Aroya

Aroya is a large cruise ship operated under the Aroya Cruises brand, a Saudi Arabian cruise venture developed by Cruise Saudi. The vessel was originally ordered in February 2014 for Star Cruises and was intended to be named World Dream. During construction, ownership and brand arrangements changed, and the ship was transferred to sister company Dream Cruises before completion. It was designed primarily for the Asian cruise market, with a broad selection of restaurants, entertainment venues, specially designed cabins and a casino. Construction began with the keel laying on 29 July 2015, followed by the start of major shipbuilding work in February 2016. The ship was launched on 26 August 2017 and completed on 26 October 2017. Measuring approximately 150,695 gross tons, it is 335.2 metres long and 39.7 metres wide. Dream Cruises formally named the vessel World Dream on 17 November 2017. Cecilia Lim, the wife of Genting Group chief executive Lim Kok Thay, served as the ship's godmother. World Dream entered commercial service for Dream Cruises in November 2017. The vessel became associated with the early operational disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three passengers who had sailed on World Dream between 19 and 24 January 2020 were later confirmed to have been infected. On 5 February 2020, approximately 3,800 passengers and crew members were quarantined aboard the ship at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal after Taiwan blocked its planned call at Kaohsiung. The quarantine ended on 9 February after all approximately 1,800 crew members tested negative. Indonesian authorities subsequently evacuated 188 Indonesian nationals from the vessel to the hospital ship KRI dr. Soeharso, after which they underwent observation and quarantine on Sebaru Kecil Island. World Dream's original operating career was interrupted by the financial collapse of Genting Hong Kong. Dream Cruises ceased operations in March 2022, and the ship was laid up in Singapore. It was later offered for sale through an auction process. Cruise Saudi acquired the vessel in 2023 for approximately US$355 million, according to reported reference material, and renamed it Manara. Because the financial figure is reported without a directly supplied primary source in the reference material, it is not treated as a verified financial disclosure here. In June 2023, Manara arrived in Bremerhaven for an extensive conversion and refurbishment project, with Bredo and Meyer Werft involved in the work. Cruise Saudi subsequently renamed the vessel Aroya, a name described as combining elements associated with Arabia and the Arabic word for vision or dream. The ship began operations under the Aroya Cruises brand in December 2024. Aroya therefore represents both a refitted former Asian-market cruise ship and part of Saudi Arabia's effort to establish a domestic and internationally marketed cruise tourism industry. Its identity has changed several times—from the planned World Dream, to the operating name World Dream, to Manara, and finally Aroya—but the vessel itself remains the central product associated with the brand.

Aroya was ordered in February 2014 for Star Cruises, a cruise brand associated with the Genting group. The ship was laid down on 29 July 2015, and construction began in February 2016. In November 2015, before completion, the order was transferred to sister brand Dream Cruises. The vessel was initially planned as World Dream and was designed with the Asian cruise market in mind. The ship was launched on 26 August 2017 and completed on 26 October 2017. It has a gross tonnage of approximately 150,695, a length of 335.2 metres and a beam of 39.7 metres. Dream Cruises held a formal naming ceremony on 17 November 2017. Cecilia Lim, wife of Genting chief executive Lim Kok Thay, served as godmother. World Dream entered service in November 2017 with extensive dining, entertainment and accommodation facilities, as well as a casino and cabins adapted to the expectations of Asian cruise passengers. In early 2020, World Dream became involved in the public-health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three passengers who had travelled aboard the ship from 19 to 24 January were confirmed as infected. On 5 February, about 3,800 passengers and crew were confined aboard the vessel at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal after Taiwan denied it a planned port call in Kaohsiung. Authorities conducted health checks, and the quarantine was lifted on 9 February after all approximately 1,800 crew members tested negative. On 26 February, Indonesia evacuated 188 citizens from the ship aboard the hospital ship KRI dr. Soeharso. Those passengers were then taken to Sebaru Kecil Island for a further 14-day observation period. The ship's original commercial career ended after the financial problems of Genting Hong Kong led to the collapse of Dream Cruises. World Dream completed its final sailing before operations ceased in March 2022. It was laid up in Singapore and subsequently offered for sale through an auction process. Cruise Saudi acquired the vessel in 2023 and renamed it Manara. The ship moved to Bremerhaven in June 2023 for a substantial refit, with Bredo and Meyer Werft associated with the work. In 2024 the ship was renamed Aroya. The name was presented as a combination associated with Arabia and the Arabic concept of vision or dream. The vessel became part of Aroya Cruises, Cruise Saudi's cruise operation, and began service in December 2024. Its successive names document a change from a Genting-era Asian cruise product to a Saudi-owned vessel intended to support the development of Saudi cruise tourism. Aroya is consequently both a ship and a principal physical expression of the Aroya Cruises brand.

• 2024

  Aroya rebranding and launch

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship was renamed Aroya and began operations under Aroya Cruises in December.

• 2023

  Acquisition and Manara renaming

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Cruise Saudi acquired the ship and renamed it Manara before sending it to Bremerhaven for refit.

• 2022

  Dream Cruises service ends

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship ceased operations after the insolvency-related collapse of Genting Hong Kong's cruise businesses and was laid up in Singapore.

• 2020

  COVID-19 quarantine

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Passengers and crew were quarantined aboard World Dream in Hong Kong after infections were identified among earlier passengers.

• 2017

  Launch, completion and naming

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship was launched on 26 August, completed on 26 October, formally named World Dream on 17 November and entered service later that month.

• 2015

  Construction begins with keel laying

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The keel was laid on 29 July. Before completion, the project was transferred from Star Cruises to Dream Cruises.

• 2014

  Order placed for Star Cruises

  [1]Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship was ordered in February for Star Cruises and was initially planned as World Dream.

Aroya is positioned as a flagship Saudi cruise vessel and a core operating asset of Aroya Cruises, combining large-ship hospitality with itineraries connected to Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. Its facilities and original design also reflect its earlier positioning for the Asian cruise market.

• Cruise ship · 2017

  Aroya

  A large cruise ship measuring approximately 150,695 gross tons, 335.2 metres in length and 39.7 metres in beam. The vessel provides passenger accommodation, restaurants, entertainment facilities, leisure areas and other amenities associated with full-service cruising. It was originally designed for the Asian cruise market as World Dream and was extensively refitted after Cruise Saudi acquired it. It entered service for Aroya Cruises in December 2024.

• 2024

  Rebranding as AroyaStrategy

  Background

  Cruise Saudi was preparing the former World Dream for operation as part of a Saudi cruise tourism platform.

  Action taken

  The ship was renamed Aroya and placed under the Aroya Cruises brand.

  Aftermath

  Aroya began commercial operations in December 2024 as a Saudi-operated cruise ship.

  Source

• 2023

  Cruise Saudi acquisition and conversionM&A

  Background

  After Dream Cruises ceased operations and the vessel was laid up, it was offered for sale through an auction process.

  Action taken

  Cruise Saudi acquired the ship, renamed it Manara and commissioned an extensive refit at Bremerhaven.

  Aftermath

  The vessel was subsequently renamed Aroya and entered the Aroya Cruises fleet in December 2024.

  Source

• 2015

  Transfer from Star Cruises to Dream CruisesStrategy

  Background

  The ship was ordered for Star Cruises but was transferred to the related Dream Cruises brand while still under construction.

  Action taken

  Dream Cruises took over the project and completed the vessel as World Dream.

  Aftermath

  The ship entered service in November 2017 as a Dream Cruises vessel.

  Source

1. 1Aroya (ship)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Aroya Cruisesaroyacruises.com