Aroya Cruises’ first ship, the Aroya, has been repositioned to the Mediterranean ahead of its inaugural season in the region.
Expectations are high as the vessel is slated to dock at Galataport Istanbul on June 20, 2025, where it will undergo routine preparations. Passenger boarding is scheduled to commence on June 28, launching voyages of 6 and 7 nights that call in ports within Turkey, Greece, and Egypt until mid‑September.
The vessel, which originally commenced operations in December 2024, spent its maiden season navigating the Red Sea—recording more than 70,000 passengers on itineraries that included Egypt, Jordan, and Cruise Saudi’s private island destination, Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya.
Aroya Cruises’ president, Dr Joerg Rudolph, reflected on the expansion, noting the vessel’s swift transition from its initial season to Mediterranean waters and underscoring the strong performance in the Red Sea, where bookings exceeded initial forecasts.
The newly initiated Mediterranean offerings will operate out of Galataport Istanbul, a choice made possible by the port’s modern facilities and its position within the broader context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism initiatives.
These itineraries will follow two main patterns: routes confined to Turkish coastal cities and those combining both Turkish and Greek destinations—ports of call will include Bodrum, Marmaris, Kas, Kusadası, Athens, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Izmir, and Fethiye.
The move marks a significant elevation in Aroya’s operational reach—from its Red Sea origins to new waters in the Eastern Mediterranean—cementing its position as the first Arabian‑owned cruise line to deploy on these routes.