The Saudi shipping company is strengthening its international strategy with seven-night cruises from Istanbul and expanding its passenger capacity with a new embarkation port in Alexandria.
AROYA Cruises has successfully completed its second consecutive season in the Mediterranean, consolidating this region as one of the main markets within the company's international expansion strategy, supported by Cruise Saudi.
Following its Mediterranean debut in 2015, the AROYA returned to the region this summer with a seven-night cruise itinerary departing from Galataport Istanbul, combining stops in Turkey, Greece, and Egypt. The season, which began in early June, has allowed the company to strengthen its presence in a highly competitive market and expand its international customer base.
More international passengers and new boarding markets
One of the main developments of the 2026 season has been the launch of AROYA's first interporting, allowing passengers to board on certain routes from Alexandria, Egypt.
The addition of this port provides the company with a new gateway to the Mediterranean product and facilitates access to AROYA cruises for customers from Egypt and other markets in the region.
The Mediterranean program featured two main types of itineraries. On the one hand, cruises combining Turkey and the Greek islands, with stops in destinations such as Bodrum, Rhodes, Mykonos, Piraeus, and Souda Bay. On the other hand, itineraries linking the Turkish coast with Egypt, including Marmaris, Bodrum, Kaş, and Alexandria.
The source market has also diversified. Although Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries remain important for the company, AROYA is increasingly attracting passengers from Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and other international markets.
A product adapted to the international market
The growth of its international presence has also led AROYA to partially adapt its product for passengers embarking in the Mediterranean. Changes include a wider variety of languages in onboard programs, adjustments to entertainment, and other modifications aimed at catering to a more international clientele.
The company, however, maintains the elements that define its identity as the first cruise line of Arab origin. The ship retains its halal, its spaces inspired by Saudi culture, and certain features specific to its product, such as women-only spa hours. The absence of alcoholic beverages on board is also one of the distinctive elements of its positioning.
The AROYA, with a capacity for 3,362 passengers and 150,695 gross registered tons, has 12 gastronomic spaces and is committed to a differentiated proposal based on Arab hospitality and culture.
The Mediterranean, a growth platform for AROYA
The company believes its presence in the Mediterranean has strategic value that extends beyond simply operating during the summer season. The region is serving as a platform to raise awareness of the AROYA brand among international passengers and develop new sales channels.
The success of this second season thus reinforces the internationalization strategy of a company that seeks to position itself as a differentiated alternative within the global cruise market.
After completing its Mediterranean program, the AROYA is scheduled to return to the Red Sea in mid-September via a repositioning cruise from Istanbul to Jeddah.
Before leaving the Mediterranean for good, the ship will also have a very different function than usual: it will become a floating hotel during the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto (Italy).
The AROYA will remain docked in the Italian city between the end of August and the beginning of September and will accommodate thousands of participants, including athletes, coaches, technicians, and delegates from the 26 participating countries. The charter agreement also includes catering, entertainment, and meeting spaces related to the event.
This operation is another example of the growing use of large cruise ships as temporary hotel infrastructure for major events and allows AROYA to extend its activity in the Mediterranean after its regular cruise season.
