Aroya Cruises, Saudi Arabia’s inaugural homegrown cruise line, has made its maiden arrival at Galataport Istanbul as it prepares for its extended Eastern Mediterranean season. This call marks the line’s first venture into European waters following its successful debut in the Red Sea.
The Aroya ship berthed at Galataport, now designated Aroya Cruises’ official homeport for the summer, with weekly sailings scheduled on Saturdays through mid-September.
Cruise Saudi’s head of marketing described the occasion as historic, noting that Istanbul was chosen to deepen tourism links between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, with ambitions to bring 90,000 passengers to the city during the season.
Having arrived in Istanbul on June 20 after sailing along the south-west Anatolian coast—including stops in Bodrum and Kas—the vessel is set to commence its first commercial voyage on June 28 following routine maintenance.
Galataport Istanbul, already cementing its status as a Mediterranean cruise hub, projects a passenger throughput of approximately 600,000 in 2025—an increase of 134% year-on-year.
According to a port board member, homeport passengers significantly bolster the local economy, spending six to seven times more than transit tourists, with average per capita expenditures ranging between US$450 and US$500.
With its entry into Mediterranean cruising, Aroya Cruises embarks on a strategic expansion—beginning its season from Galataport Istanbul, visiting destinations across Turkey, Greece, and Egypt, and bringing a distinctly Arabian hospitality to European shores.