Waterpark aboard Aroya
Saudi Arabia’s homegrown cruise line AROYA Cruises has been integrated into the Cruisehost booking platform, providing travel agents worldwide with access to the line’s current Mediterranean sailings.
The move makes AROYA available as part of Europe’s largest cruise distribution system, which includes more than 50 operators and over 600 ocean, river, and sailing vessels.
Through the Cruisehost system, Aroya’s itineraries, pricing and real-time availability are now accessible to more than 10,000 travel agencies across 28 European countries, as well as to global online travel agents (OTAs).
The Cruisehost API also enables OTAs to integrate Aroya Cruises directly into their own platforms, allowing for automated content management and booking processes.
“We are proud to be one of the first technology partners to fully integrate Aroya Cruises,” said Akhil Kapur, CEO and Founder of Cruisehost. “This new cruise line represents modern cruise experiences with a strong regional character. For Cruisehost, this is a significant step toward greater diversity and market growth.”
AROYA Cruises, operated by government-backed Cruise Saudi, launched in December 2024 with sailings in the Red Sea roundtrip out of Jeddah.
It is currently operating its first Mediterranean season, homeporting in Istanbul until September 2025 during the height of the Middle Eastern summer, when local cruises are not feasible.
The itineraries include 6- and 7-night cruises to destinations in Türkiye and Greece, including Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Bodrum, Marmaris, Kaş and Alexandria.
The line’s first ship, Aroya, features 19 decks, 1,678 cabins, and capacity for up to 3,362 passengers. The former World Dream, she was extensively refitted in Europe prior to launch by AROYA.
Onboard facilities include two swimming pools, 29 dining outlets, a 1,018-seat theatre, spa and salon services, a shopping souk, and a children’s zone with water slides and splash areas.
After completing her summer Mediterranean programme, Aroya is scheduled to return to the Red Sea for a series of voyages, before transitioning to the Arabian Gulf for winter 2025/26, sailing roundtrip from Dammam.
These three- and four-night sailings will feature regional ports including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Oman and Bahrain, but final itineraries have yet to be confirmed.
The expansion of Aroya Cruises aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader cruise tourism ambitions. Cruise Saudi, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, aims to develop 10 cruise destinations and attract 1.33 million cruise passengers annually by 2037.
Its first destination, Saba Beach on Jabal Al-Sabaya island near Jeddah, is already operational, with a second island destination north of the city currently under development.
The growth of cruise tourism in the Middle East is being supported by upcoming events such as Connections Cruise Arabia, which will take place in March 2026 and convene more than 300 global cruise leaders to discuss the future of the regional cruise sector.
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