@Halal March/April 2026 | Page 22

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LIFESTYLE
@ Halal | March-April. 2026
ASIA FIRST: Malaysia’ s historic Umrah cruise package set a new standard for faithbased travel in Asia.

Swap flights for cruises

• Malaysia introduces an Asia-first Sharia-compliant Umrah cruise travel option.
• Particularly suitable for seniors, families, and travellers seeking a calm, faith-focused alternative to air travel.
• The initiative also aimed to strengthen Malaysia’ s image
as a Muslim-friendly tourism hub.

MALAYSIA entered a new chapter in pilgrimage travel with a unique umrah option for prospective pilgrims from January 2026. Rather than travelling solely by air, pilgrims were set to experience worship while sailing across the ocean.

In a landmark for the industry, Malaysia officially became the first Asian country to introduce an umrah package on a fully Sharia-compliant cruise ship.
TAILORED FOR ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES
When people typically thought of a cruise ship, gambling centres or nightclubs often came to mind. However, this ship for the Umrah mission was designed to be different.
To ensure the journey complied with Islamic law, the ship was fully modified. Gambling areas were removed to preserve the blessings of travel, alcohol was not sold anywhere on the cruise, and all dishes provided were guaranteed to be fully halal.
SHARIA COMFORT: Pilgrims will travel in comfort with a familyfriendly, Sharia-compliant onboard environment.
‘ HEALING’ AT SEA
For those concerned that the middle of the ocean might become boring, conventional entertainment activities were replaced with programmes intended to benefit the soul.
Certified mutawwifs guided pilgrims through religious lectures and guidance in worship. As a result, before pilgrims set foot in Makkah and Madinah, their minds and souls were expected to be“ filled” with sufficient knowledge.
PORT KLANG TO JEDDAH
The journey was scheduled to begin from Port Klang, Selangor. Pilgrims would be taken across the calm Indian Ocean to the port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and then continue their overland journey to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
The package was presented as especially suitable for seniors, families, and those seeking a new experience, allowing travellers to experience the calm atmosphere at sea before focusing on worship.

Postponement of the inaugural voyage
ALTHOUGH the cruise was announced as beginning in January 2026, the provider later reported that the maiden voyage had been postponed indefintely.
According to an announcement on the provider’ s official website, IslamiCruise ® International stated that it had officially postponed the maiden voyage of the luxury ship IslamiCruise ®– AROYA, which had been scheduled to depart from Port Klang to Jeddah in January 2026.
The company said the postponement was made to allow it to restructure its routes and the package configurations it offered. It also said the decision followed a detailed assessment intended to ensure the package better met market demand and aligned with the school holiday season to be more convenient for passengers.
Following the postponement, all ticket sales were halted immediately, and no new bookings were
to be accepted until the updated package structure was finalised.
At the time, IslamiCruise ® was stated to be in the process of further discussions with the ship owner, AROYA Cruises, to determine a new sailing date that would be more suitable from a commercial perspective.
The official date for the maiden voyage would be announced only once both parties reached formal agreement.-