Aman and Cruise Saudi enter the cruise market with a luxury yacht

The papers have been signed for Italy’s T. Mariotti shipyard to go ahead with building a luxury yacht. The new ship is being presented as the first resort at sea.

The luxurious vessel, currently dubbed as ‘Project Sama’, is set to be 23,00 gross tons, 600 feet long, and packed in 50 opulent suites. A wide range of dining options is also promised, as well as a decked-out luxury spa with a Japanese relaxation garden. The fun doesn’t stop there, with the shop also boasting two helipads onboard, a beach club, a lounge, and much more. Environmental considerations haven’t been sacrificed for extravagance, with the ship being equipped with dual fuel power that can exceed the current environmental standards for cruise ships and yachts. Mariotti shipyard is known for creating elegant and luxurious ships, including for Seabourn, with Seabourn Pursuit also currently under construction. Marco Ghiglione, Managing Director of T. Mariotti says it’s an honour to continue making ships in the same vein, with the new luxury yacht a symbol of Italian craftsmanship. “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Aman, the pinnacle player in high-end hospitality. “We are proud to offer our luxury shipbuilding experience to this challenging new venture offering a unique combination of luxury, safety, and versatility which will innovate the art of traveling at sea. This is yet another sign of the ‘Made in Italy’ skill and capacity to satisfy the wishes of the most demanding customers in the world.” Aman currently has 34 hotels, resorts, and developments across 20 countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The other half of the operation, Cruise Saudi, is a publicly backed investment fund into cruise aiming to expand cruise and tourism across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The fund is aiming to exceed one million cruise passengers in Saudi Arabia by 2028 and have five operating ports across the country.