JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – 4 June 2026: Aroya Cruises’ vessel Aroya has departed its homeport in Saudi Arabia on an eight-night repositioning voyage to the Eastern Mediterranean. The sailing marks the ship’s move from Jeddah to Istanbul ahead of its second consecutive summer season in the region.
The voyage is scheduled to include calls in Egypt and Turkey before the ship reaches Galataport Cruise Terminal in Istanbul. The itinerary began in Jeddah and includes Sharm el-Sheikh, Port Sokhna, Port Suez, Antalya and Bodrum.
Aroya Repositions for Summer Operations
The Aroya is relocating to the Eastern Mediterranean for a summer deployment built around weeklong cruises from Istanbul. Once the repositioning voyage is complete, the ship is expected to begin a programme of seven-night roundtrip itineraries to ports in Egypt, Turkey and Greece.
The Mediterranean deployment follows Aroya Cruises’ first season in the region in 2025. That earlier programme included itineraries to Greece, Turkey and Egypt and represented the line’s first operation of its Arabian-inspired cruise experience outside the Middle East.
For the 2026 summer season, the Aroya is scheduled to sail from Istanbul on a series of Eastern Mediterranean cruises. Ports listed for the deployment include Alexandria, Marmaris, Mykonos, Piraeus and Rhodes. The first regional sailing is scheduled to include calls in Egypt and Turkey, with visits to Kas, Marmaris, Bodrum and Alexandria.
The ship’s arrival in Istanbul will set up the start of its Mediterranean programme, which is planned to run through mid-September. The season is expected to include nearly 15 departures before the Aroya returns to the Red Sea.
Istanbul Roundtrip Cruises to Follow
During the Eastern Mediterranean season, the Aroya will operate roundtrip sailings from Istanbul. The seven-night voyages are scheduled to visit ports across Egypt, Turkey and Greece, forming the core of the line’s summer deployment.
The programme includes a range of destinations in the three countries. The ports named for the season include Alexandria in Egypt, Marmaris in Turkey, and Mykonos, Piraeus and Rhodes in Greece. The ship is also scheduled to visit Kas and Bodrum on its first itinerary in the region.
The AROYA Cruises Mediterranean offer page lists select sailings departing between 29 May 2026 and 12 September 2026. It also states that repositioning sailings between Jeddah and Istanbul include a one-way flight to or from Riyadh or Jeddah for eligible bookings under the stated offer conditions.
Return Voyage Planned for September
After completing its summer programme, the Aroya is scheduled to reposition back to the Red Sea in mid-September. The ship will return to its homeport of Jeddah through the Suez Canal on another eight-night repositioning voyage.
The return sailing is scheduled to include calls in Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Highlighted ports for the voyage include Bodrum, Marmaris, Port Suez and Sharm el-Sheikh. Following the return to Jeddah, the ship is expected to operate a series of short cruises from Saudi Arabia through the end of 2026.
The Aroya is listed as a 3,400-passenger ship with a tonnage of 150,000 tons. Its 2026 Mediterranean deployment continues the line’s operation beyond the Red Sea, following the 2025 season in the Eastern Mediterranean.
