Silversea Cruises has chartered a ship for late summer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, four months after the royal state invested more than $400m in rival Carnival Corp.
The Royal Caribbean Group brand has fixed 608-berth Silver Spirit (built 2009) for two months starting 27 August to Red Sea Cruises, an initiative backed by Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund.
The fund plans to use the ship to offer short cruises throughout the kingdom to the Saudi market as part of Saudi Tourism Authority's (STA)"Saudi Summer" programme.
Silver Spirit's itineraries will include three- and four-day voyages out of King Abdullah Port, Silversea Cruises spokeswoman Barbara Muckermann said.
She said the STA is working with the Ministry of Health, tour operators and other parties to implement strict Covid-19 health and safety guidelines in place for the cruises.
"As well as the Public Investment Fund, we would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, the Culinary Arts Commission, and the General Entertainment Authority," she told TradeWinds.
"We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Health, for their support in ensuring a safe sailing experience".
Saudi Arabia turns to US cruise sector once again
This is not the first time that Saudi Arabia has made deals with the US cruise sector.
In early April, the fund snapped up 4.35m shares equal to 8.2% of Arnold Donald-led Carnival, worth around $420m.
Carnival shares, which also trade on the New York Stock Exchange as CCL, slipped 5.1% to $15.02.
Safety protocols aboard the ship will include capping guest capacity at 75% and administering health screenings to all guests and crew, including PCR Covid-19 tests, she said.
"Shore excursions will be managed in a closed-loop spirit with all shoreside personnel tested and no possibility of encountering the local population," she said.
"Silversea Cruises looks forward to start offering its incredible experiences again soon."
Royal Caribbean has chartered its ships many times before but has no immediate plans to fix other vessels, spokesman Jonathon Fishman said.
"We won't sail again until we are ready," he told TradeWinds.
Royal Caribbean bought the remaining third of Silversea Cruises from Heritage Cruise Holding in mid-July with 5.2m shares.
It bought two-thirds of the company, which owns six luxury expedition cruiseships, two years ago for $1bn.
Royal Caribbean's shares, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RCL, declined 4.9% to $55.79 by early-afternoon on Wednesday.
