AROYA Cruises celebrates maiden European calls across Eastern Mediterranean

AROYA Cruises has marked a milestone in its debut Mediterranean season, with its flagship vessel Aroya making maiden visits to three key Greek ports on her inaugural 7‑night Eastern Mediterranean voyage.

The ship, which departed Galataport Istanbul on June 28th, docked in Piraeus on July 2nd, marking the cruise line’s first-ever call in Greece. The arrival was commemorated with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony aboard, underscoring the significance of Aroya’s entry into the European cruise market.

Aroya then made her first visit to the iconic island of Mykonos on July 4th. Docking for around 14 hours, the vessel allowed guests ample time to experience the island’s famed nightlife, beaches and cultural landmarks.

Most recently, Aroya arrived at Souda Bay Port on Crete for its maiden call at the Cretan harbour, where another plaque ceremony was held to commemorate the occasion.

Representatives from Aroya and port officials gathered onboard, including Captain Roland Polic, Hotel Director Stefan Antonescu, and marketing and communications leaders, alongside local coastguard and port delegates.

These inaugural visits are part of Aroya’s first Eastern Mediterranean season, which runs through mid‑September and includes itineraries featuring Piraeus, Mykonos, Souda Bay, Rhodes, Marmaris, Bodrum, Kas and Alexandria.

Owned by Saudi‑based Cruise Saudi, AROYA Cruises is the Arab world’s first homegrown cruise line. Aroya, originally built as World Dream in 2017, accommodates up to 3,400 guests across 18 decks and has undergone an extensive refit that saw 95 percent of its public spaces redesigned to reflect a more Arabian theme.

There are no alcohol services or casino amenities and the onboard experience relies on family‑friendly entertainment, a two‑deck shopping complex, libraries, spa and wellness areas.

Dr. Joerg Rudolph, President of Aroya Cruises, said the Mediterranean debut is “a new era for Arabian cruising,” expecting around 70 percent of guests on this season to hail from international markets such as Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.

The cruises are designed to offer a “remarkably Arabian” experience in Europe, which mainly caters to Aroya’s core audiences across the Middle East.

However, the cruise line has stressed that international guests are welcomed onboard to experience the culture, hospitality, and foods of Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.