Aroya Cruises Welcomes Guests from Over 100 Nationalities

Various flags of the world strung up as bunting
Cruise Industry
by Sam Hamilton

Aroya Cruises welcomed passengers representing more than 100 nationalities aboard the Aroya during its second summer season in the Mediterranean.

The cruise line said the milestone demonstrates the ship’s increasing appeal among international travelers with demand coming from markets across the CIS, Turkey, Egypt, the GCC and the wider Middle East, as well as European countries including Germany and the United Kingdom.

Aroya began its second consecutive Mediterranean summer season in early June, operating a series of seven-night cruises visiting Turkey, Greece and Egypt. The itineraries featured destinations including Bodrum, Marmaris, Kas, Piraeus, Mykonos, Rhodes, Souda Bay and Alexandria.

The 2017-built ship was also used as a floating hotel during the 20th Mediterranean Games in Italy and was was berthed at Taranto Naval Base alongside the cruise ferry Romantika for the event, which took place between August 21 and September 3, 2026. Approximately 3,500 athletes representing 26 countries were accommodated onboard as part of the Athletes’ Village.

According to Aroya Cruises, the operation in Italy also demonstrated the vessel’s suitability for group and charter business, highlighting its ability to accommodate large international groups.

The 150,000-ton ship completed its Mediterranean season earlier this month before beginning a repositioning voyage to the Red Sea. Sailing between Istanbul and Jeddah, the voyage included calls at destinations in Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, including Bodrum, Marmaris and Sharm El Sheikh.

Aroya is now scheduled to operate cruises from its homeport in Jeddah before heading back to the Mediterranean in October. The ship will then begin Aroya Cruises’ first winter season in the region, operating voyages between Istanbul and Alexandria.

Further expansion is planned for 2027, with new itineraries departing from Istanbul beginning in May. These will include 14-night cruises visiting destinations in the Western Mediterranean and Adriatic.