Aroya Cruises Marks First Visit to Rhodes with Ceremony

Aroya Cruises recently commemorated its inaugural visit to the Greek island of Rhodes with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony held onboard its flagship vessel.

The event took place on the bridge of the Aroya, where Captain Jan Gelinder and Aroya Cruises’ Executive Director of Marketing, Turky Kari, welcomed local dignitaries. Among the attendees were Georgios Pattas, Deputy Mayor of Tourism for Rhodes, and Harbor Master Kiposoglou Maria.

The visit, which occurred on July 15, 2025, was part of a seven-night itinerary that included stops in various Greek and Turkish ports, including Bodrum, Mykonos, and Piraeus.

As part of its inaugural Mediterranean season, the Aroya is currently sailing a series of weeklong cruises departing from Galataport Istanbul. These itineraries feature a diverse mix of destinations in Greece, Turkey, and Egypt, with ports of call such as Souda Bay, Marmaris, Kas, and Alexandria.

After making its debut in Rhodes, the Aroya is scheduled to return to the island four more times over the next two months. The ship will continue operating in the region until mid-September, after which it will reposition to the Red Sea.

The repositioning cruise back to Saudi Arabia spans eight nights and includes a transit through the Suez Canal, along with visits to select ports in Turkey and Egypt.

Originally launched as the World Dream for Dream Cruises, the 150,000-gross-ton vessel was acquired by Cruise Saudi in a 2023 auction. Following a comprehensive refurbishment, the 3,400-passenger ship began sailing for Aroya Cruises in late 2024.

The ship’s initial deployment featured short voyages from Jeddah to destinations across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt between December 2024 and June 2025, setting the stage for its Mediterranean debut.