Aroya Launches First 2026 Cruises to Greece and Turkey

Aerial view of the Greek island of Rhodes
Cruise Industry Europe
by Eve Church

The *Aroya *departed Istanbul on Saturday to begin Aroya Cruises’ first voyages to the Greek Islands and Turkey for the 2026 season.

The ship repositioned to the Eastern Mediterranean earlier this month and has since been operating cruises to destinations in Turkey and Egypt. Sailing roundtrip from Istanbul’s Galataport Cruise Terminal, the inaugural Greece itinerary includes calls at four ports across Greece and Turkey.

Alongside a visit to Bodrum on Turkey’s Riviera coast, the itinerary features stops in Rhodes, Mykonos, and Piraeus. One of the highlights of the cruise is the extended time spent in port, with departures from most destinations scheduled between 10 PM and 11 PM, allowing guests more time ashore.

The *Aroya *is expected to remain in the Eastern Mediterranean until late September before returning to the Red Sea.

During its deployment in the region, the vessel is also operating a second seven-night itinerary focused on Turkey and Egypt. Created to provide a visa-free experience for travelers from several markets, this itinerary avoids Schengen destinations and instead visits Kas, Marmaris, Bodrum, and Alexandria. On selected departures, guests can also embark in Alexandria, giving passengers the option of sailing on a roundtrip cruise from the Egyptian port.

Following its Mediterranean season, the ship will embark on a repositioning cruise to Jeddah in mid-September ahead of its winter program in the Red Sea. The eight-night voyage includes ports in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, with scheduled calls at Bodrum, Marmaris, Port Suez, and Sharm El Sheikh.

Once in the Red Sea, the vessel will begin operating a series of two- to five-night cruises to regional destinations, including Cruise Saudi’s private island destination, Jabal Al-Sabaya. Additional ports on the program include Aqaba in Jordan, Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

The *Aroya *is then set to return to the Mediterranean in June 2027 for its third consecutive summer season in the region.