AROYA Cruises presents its itineraries for the return to the Red Sea in the 2025/26 season, after completing its first inaugural deployment in the Mediterranean.
During the summer, Aroya operated from Galataport Istanbul, with more than 20,000 passengers sailing on a series of trips that combined Turkish ports, the Greek Islands and Alexandria.
The season marked the cruise line's first expansion outside its home region since its launch in 2023, and will conclude on September 12 with an eight-night repositioning cruise from Istanbul to Jeddah, with stops in Kuşadası, Bodrum, the Suez Canal and Sharm El Sheikh.
Subsequently, Aroya will resume its Red Sea voyages from its home port in the Islamic Port of Jeddah, starting the season on September 20 and extending through the intervening months until 2026.
Itineraries of three, four, and five nights will be offered, with stops in Jabal Al Sabaya, the Egyptian ports of Safaga and Sharm El Sheikh, and, for the first time, Marsa Alam. The addition of Marsa Alam expands the range of destinations in the Red Sea, while Safaga gains greater importance as a secondary embarkation port, allowing passengers to begin certain journeys directly from Egypt.
According to AROYA, this deployment is designed for both regional travelers looking for short breaks and international visitors interested in exploring Red Sea destinations as part of a longer trip.
“Our first season in the Mediterranean has been a significant milestone for AROYA Cruises, attracting both regional and international guests,” commented Dr. Joerg Rudolph, President of AROYA Cruises. “As we return to the Red Sea, we are building on this success with new itineraries that highlight the region’s culture, stunning landscapes, and renowned Arabian hospitality,” he added. “With the new season, we reaffirm our commitment to creating memorable journeys for both first-timers and our returning guests.”
AROYA Cruises was launched in June 2023 as a subsidiary of Cruise Saudi, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund. Its creation is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, which places tourism development at the heart of the country's economic diversification efforts.
The company's only ship, Aroya, has 1,678 cabins and was renovated to suit the Arab market, with improvements in gastronomy and entertainment that include halal food options, Arabic services and family-oriented facilities.
The return to Jeddah marks the start of the shipping company's second full year of operations and coincides with Saudi Arabia's continued investment in developing the cruise industry, including improvements to port infrastructure and access to destinations, with the aim of positioning the Red Sea as an internationally competitive cruise region.
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