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Cruise Saudi appoints the first president of AROYA Cruises

Bringing three decades of cruise industry expertise, Dr Joerg Rudolph will launch AROYA's maiden voyage this year

aroya cruises saudi
A MSC World Europa ship in Dammam. Photo used for illustrative purposes.

Dr Joerg Rudolph, with 30 years’ experience, including two decades in the global cruise industry, has been named as the inaugural President of AROYA Cruises.

His time as the managing director of Costa Cruises in Germany and previous senior positions at TUI, AIDA Cruises, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean International, has led him to his new position at AROYA, which is owned by Cruise Saudi.

Rudolph will lead the introduction of AROYA Cruises to the market, marking the launch of the first cruise line exclusively tailored for the Arabian audience. His responsibilities will encompass overseeing the operational and financial aspects of the line, including sales, marketing, guest experience, itinerary planning, revenue management, customer-oriented services, and the formulation and execution of strategies to foster business growth.

Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen said: “Cruise Saudi has grown rapidly as a business over the last few years and Joerg Rudolph’s appointment as President of AROYA Cruises is a milestone in the company’s journey to providing a unique offering delivered to an exceptional standard. I look forward to working with Joerg as we work towards the milestone launch of AROYA Cruises”.

Rudolph added: “I am delighted to be joining Cruise Saudi as President of AROYA Cruises at such a significant time in the business. To be part of delivering such a unique and innovative product catering specifically for a new source market is an incredible opportunity.”

Cruise Saudi, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is actively expanding and enhancing its innovative services in the region. In June 2023, Cruise Saudi introduced its own cruise line, AROYA Cruises, with a distinct focus on highlighting Arabian experiences. The company aims to have more than 1.3 million cruise passengers in Saudi Arabia annually by 2035.