SAIDA - The Lebanese coastal city of Saida is set to welcome the cruise vessel Cedar Waves on September 5, marking its first docking at the city’s Old Port in decades and launching an initiative to promote domestic maritime tourism between Lebanon’s coastal cities.
The vessel will depart from Jounieh and arrive in Saida at noon, carrying around 200 passengers, including members of the Jounieh municipal council and visitors from Jounieh and Mount Lebanon.
The initiative is being held under the patronage of Tourism Minister Laura Lahoud and in cooperation with the Saida Municipality. It forms part of the Sidoniyat 2026 festivals, organized by the municipality at the port opposite the city’s Sea Castle from August 27 to September 6.
Showcasing Saida's Heritage
After arriving, visitors will walk from the port to Khan El-Franj for a welcoming ceremony before being divided into four groups, each accompanied by a tour guide.
The tours will cover several of Saida's major historical and heritage landmarks, including the Sea Castle, Audi Foundation’s Soap Museum, Khan Sacy, Debbane Palace, historic baths, St. Nicholas Church and historic mosques.
The municipality said the program is designed to highlight Saida's approximately 6,000-year history and its successive Phoenician, religious and cultural influences, while presenting the city as a destination open to visitors from across Lebanon.
Saida's Mayor Mustafa Hegazi told Lebanon’s National News Agency that the initiative goes beyond a one-day tourism event, saying the municipality hopes to establish a permanent maritime route connecting Saida with Jounieh and other coastal cities.
Hegazi said the docking of Cedar Waves is particularly significant because no cruise ship of this type has docked at Saida's port since the 1990s.
Preparations Underway
The municipality is coordinating with relevant authorities to prepare the port and city for the event, with work focusing on cleanliness, logistical arrangements and coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
A team representing the vessel has already inspected the Old Port’s pier and assessed the technical and logistical requirements for docking and receiving passengers.
The municipality has also received approval for a $720,000 annual street-cleaning contract with NTCC, according to Hegazi, marking the first such contract after years of relying heavily on volunteers for cleaning operations.
Broader Cultural and Economic Ambitions
The event comes as Saida prepares to serve as a Mediterranean capital for culture and dialogue in 2027, giving the initiative a broader cultural dimension.
Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh is also expected to attend alongside Tourism Minister Lahoud, while invitations have been extended to the ministers of environment, economy and trade, and public works and transport.
Businessman Marai Abu Merhi, the owner of Cedar Waves, said the initiative aims to strengthen maritime links between Lebanon’s coastal municipalities and promote the sea as a means of connecting cities.
He expressed hope that the Saida trip would develop into a more sustainable domestic maritime tourism route, helping attract visitors, support the local economy and restore Saida's place on Lebanon’s maritime tourism map.
