The Aroya ship will return to the Red Sea for its 2025-2026 season following the conclusion of its inaugural summer deployment in the Mediterranean.
The rotational deployment between regional and international waters underscores the brand’s ambition to strengthen its presence in the global market and build upon its initial successes in both home and foreign seas.
Over the summer months, the Aroya sailed from Galataport Istanbul, conveying over 20,000 passengers on voyages that united the harbors of Turkey, the Greek Isles, and Alexandria.
The Mediterranean debut marked Aroya’s first expansion beyond its regional roots since launching in 2023.
That season will conclude on September 12th with an 8-night repositioning passage from Istanbul to Jeddah, charting a course through Kusadası, Bodrum, the Suez Canal, and Sharm El Sheikh. Following arrival in homeport Jeddah, the vessel will resume operations from its homeport to inaugurate a new season of Red Sea cruises.
The Red Sea campaign—beginning September 20th and extending into the shoulder months of 2026—will offer voyages of 3, 4, and 5 nights. Ports of call will include the private island Jabal Al Sabaya Island, Safaga in Egypt (now designated as a secondary homeport/embarkation point), Sharm El Sheikh, and for the first time, Marsa Alam. This new addition expands the line’s Red Sea itinerary and gives passengers alternate embarkation options directly from Egypt’s coast.
AROYA's 2026 schedule also lists 7-night roundtrips from the new homeports Doha (Qatar), Dubai (UAE) and Dammam (Saudi Arabia).
AROYA positions these sailings to serve both regional travelers seeking short sea escapes and international guests exploring the Red Sea as part of broader expeditionary voyages. President Dr. Joerg Rudolph noted that the Mediterranean season was a defining milestone, drawing guests from across the region and beyond. He added that the forthcoming Red Sea season will build on that accomplishment with voyages rich in culture, landscape, and Arabian hospitality—delivering memorable journeys for both first-time and returning voyagers.
AROYA Cruises, launched in June 2023 under Cruise Saudi—a full subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund—circles the core of Vision 2030’s tourism diversification initiative.
Its sole vessel, the Aroya, was extensively refitted to meet regional preferences, with 1,678 cabins, Arabic-language services, halal dining, and family-style amenities designed for Arabian hospitality.