HA LONG, Vietnam, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Set to make a grand debut in August 2025, Lyra Grandeur is a new luxury vessel in Halong & Lan Ha Bay—a bold reimagining of what it means to travel on water. Launching under the umbrella of Lyra Cruise Collection—home to the award-winning Capella Cruise, Lyra Grandeur ushers in a new era of immersive, design-forward cruising.
Artful Design with Heritage Touches
Designed for the traveler seeking both comfort and immersion, Lyra Grandeur seamlessly blends bold, contemporary design with Indochine-inspired elements. Every detail is intentional, from the spacious, nature-immersed suites with panoramic windows, private balconies, and bay-view bathtubs, to the sophisticated ambiance spaces of the Spirit of the Sea lounge and Harmony of the Sea restaurant that frame the bay's natural beauty.
Dive Into an Oasis of Water Adventures
Lyra Grandeur was built for true water lovers with a signature, heart-pounding water slide, a heated infinity pool that melts into the horizon, and a soothing jacuzzi that sparkles under the sun. Warm up in a Nordic-style outdoor sauna before leaping into crystal waters, or glide quietly across serene lagoons on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Here, the water isn't just a backdrop, it's a world you immerse yourself in.
Elevated Leisure, Enriched Culture
Days onboard unfold like a finely written story, where indulgence meets discovery. Begin with Tai Chi at sunrise, mist curling over the limestone peaks. Spend afternoons savoring Vietnamese tea ceremonies, joining hands-on cooking classes, or simply sipping cocktails while soaking in the magical sunset from our 360-degree observation peak. Evenings might find you testing your luck in the poker club, casting a line for squid fishing under the stars, or settling into the outdoor lounge for a movie beneath the night sky. If the mood strikes, the mini-theater transforms into a lively karaoke room.
Onshore, step into ancient caves, stroll barefoot along untouched beaches, or connect with the cultural heritage of Cat Ba's villages. Every moment is designed to stir your curiosity, your senses, and your soul.
Luxury, Tailored to Every Desire
True luxury comes with privacy and personalization. Guests can enjoy butler service and private dining for couples or intimate groups of up to 10, as well as single and couple spa rooms for tailored wellness experiences. Whatever your desire, our dedicated crew will ensure every detail is taken care of, creating an atmosphere of exclusivity and refinement.
Lyra Grandeur Sets Sail
As the latest addition to the Lyra Cruise Collection—a brand celebrated for its exceptional facilities and elevated journeys through the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyra Grandeur marks a new chapter in the brand's journey into experiential, design-forward cruising.
With limited sailings starting from August 2025, Lyra Grandeur invites travelers to be among the first to experience Halong Bay like never before—dynamic, luxurious, and deeply immersive.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Lyra Grandeur: The Newest Luxury Cruise Reinvents Experiences in Halong & Lan Ha Bay
ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the official opening of Desert X AlUla 2026, the landmark fourth edition of the international, open-air biennial exhibition. Arts AlUla, in collaboration with Desert X, welcomes visitors to experience a stellar line-up of Saudi and international multi-generational artists whose site-responsive earthworks, sculptures, and installations will engage in a powerful dialogue with the awe-inspiring landscapes and layered heritage of AlUla.
As a premier destination rich in ancient history and breathtaking nature, AlUla, located in Northwest Saudi Arabia, solidifies its position on the global stage as a dynamic, emerging land art destination with Desert X AlUla, the region's first public art biennale, and a key highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival.
The 2026 edition of Desert X AlUla brings together 11 acclaimed artists whose diverse works reflect a wide spectrum of ideas, materials, and traditions. From monumental kinetic sculpture to sound-based explorations above and below ground, each commission is deeply rooted in relationships to AlUla's distinctive environment, further cementing Desert X AlUla's reputation as a globally significant platform for site-responsive land art.
Desert X AlUla runs until February 28, 2026, as a cornerstone of the annual AlUla Arts Festival. Curated by Wejdan Reda, Zoé Whitley, with artistic direction by Neville Wakefield, and Raneem Farsi, its fourth edition explores 'Space Without Measure.' Inspired by Kahlil Gibran, the theme fosters contemplation of imagination within AlUla's natural settings. The exhibition, set in the desert canyons of AlUla, serves as a pre-opening programme for Wadi AlFann, offering a pivotal glimpse into AlUla's plans to create a permanent land art 'Valley of the Arts.'
Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said: "At Desert X AlUla 2026, audiences will engage with art that deeply converses with AlUla's unique landscapes and rich heritage. These compelling commissions highlight AlUla's dynamic transformation into a major global destination, where ancient and contemporary expressions converge. This exhibition is part of our broader revitalisation of AlUla as a culturally rich destination to live, work and visit and integral to positioning AlUla in the global dialogue of contemporary art and as a precursor to monumental projects like Wadi AlFann."
Participating artist/artworks are:
- Sara Abdu, A Kingdom Where No One Dies: Contours of Resonance
- Mohammad Alfaraj, What was the Question Again?
- Mohammed AlSaleem, The Thorn, AlShuruf Unit, The Triangles, Flower Bud, and Al Ahilla (courtesy of Royal Commission for Riyadh City)
- Tarek Atoui, The Water Song
- Bahraini-Danish, Bloom
- Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Imole Red
- Agnes Denes, The Living Pyramid
- Ibrahim El-Salahi, Haraza Tree
- Basmah Felemban, Murmur of Pebbles
- Vibha Galhotra, Future Fables
- Héctor Zamora, Tar HyPar
For further information, please contact:
Sabrine.Shaw@bursonglobal.com
AlUlaArtsFestival@bursonglobal.com
Multimedia gallery:
High-resolution photos of all 11 artists and their artworks can be found here.
About AlUla and Arts AlUla
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages. AlUla Old Town Village, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes was developed from at least the 12th century and has been revitalised as the vibrant hub for visitors and residents.
The creation of Arts AlUla within The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is a commitment to crafting the next chapters in a millennia of artistic creation – celebrating cultural inheritance and shaping a future inspired by artists built be artists. The work of Arts AlUla seeks to preserve this legacy: fuse the old with the new; the local with the international, keeping the arts central to the spirit of AlUla as a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage.
Wadi AlFann, meaning 'Valley of the Arts,' will be a global cultural destination for land art, unveiling from 2028 onwards, where era-defining works by artists from around the world will be permanently sited in the monumental landscape of AlUla, the extraordinary desert region of north-west Saudi Arabia.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Desert X AlUla 2026: monumental land art exhibition opens in the ancient oasis of AlUla
