5 SEPTEMBER 2026: AROYA Cruises will add 25 winter sailings from Galataport Istanbul between 10 October 2026 and 24 April 2027, extending cruise activity at the Turkish port through the winter months, according to an official LinkedIn announcement from Galataport İstanbul.
The programme will connect Istanbul with destinations including Bodrum, Marmaris and Kuşadası in Türkiye, as well as Alexandria in Egypt. Galataport said the additional departures are expected to support year-round cruise activity and strengthen Istanbul’s role as a homeport.
Winter Cruise Activity Expands at Galataport
Galataport said winter cruise operations in Istanbul began in 2024, when 25 sailings carried 55,000 passengers during what it described as the city’s first winter cruise season.
With AROYA Cruises adding 25 new winter sailings, the port expects the number of sailings to increase by 143% compared with the previous year. Passenger traffic is targeted to reach 150,000, representing an anticipated increase of 188%.
The figures refer to Galataport’s wider winter cruise activity rather than passenger numbers attributed solely to AROYA Cruises.
Istanbul Links with Türkiye and Alexandria
AROYA Cruises’ winter programme will operate from Istanbul from 10 October 2026 until 24 April 2027. Galataport named Bodrum, Marmaris, Kuşadası and Alexandria among the ports included across the season. The announcement does not provide a voyage-by-voyage breakdown of all 25 sailings, so no additional itinerary calls have been included.
The winter schedule follows AROYA Cruises’ 2026 Mediterranean season from Galataport İstanbul. Earlier official Saudi Press Agency material confirmed that Istanbul was serving as the cruise line’s main Mediterranean homeport for its summer 2026 programme, with seven-night itineraries visiting destinations in Türkiye, Greece and Egypt.
That summer programme marked AROYA Cruises’ return to the Mediterranean after its first season in the region. The new winter deployment will extend the line’s use of Galataport beyond the summer operating period.
Galataport Targets Year-Round Cruise Operations
Galataport said the winter deployment supports its objective of maintaining cruise tourism throughout the year. The port highlighted Istanbul’s position on the Bosphorus, its cruise facilities and international connections as factors supporting the city’s homeport role. The port also linked the expanded winter programme to Türkiye’s wider cruise-tourism development, citing infrastructure and route planning as elements supporting continued growth.
AROYA Cruises is a subsidiary of Cruise Saudi, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The cruise line has used Galataport İstanbul as its Mediterranean homeport while operating itineraries linking Türkiye with other destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. The 25 newly announced winter sailings are scheduled to begin on 10 October 2026 and continue through 24 April 2027.
Source: Official annoucement by Galataport on their LinkedIn company page 5 September 2026.
