AROYA looks to source majority of guests from international market for debut Med season

Aroya Cruises is aiming to attract the majority of its guests from overseas markets as it launches its Remarkably Arabian product in the Mediterranean for the first time.

After repositioning from the Red Sea, the Saudi-based cruise line’s ship, Aroya, arrived in Istanbul in June. The Galataport cruise terminal in the city will serve as its homeport for the summer season.

Speaking to Cruise Industry News onboard, Joerg Rudolph, President of AROYA Cruises, said the company expects 70 to 80 percent of its guests this season to come from international markets, with interest from Turkey, Central and Eastern Europe, the Far East and Singapore. 

The remaining passengers will be sourced from the wider Arabian region, including Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, as well as Egypt and Jordan.

These guests will experience the same core product offered during Aroya’s inaugural season in the Red Sea, according to Executive Director of Marketing, Turky Kari. 

“The main idea for guests onboard is to experience the Arabian culture that we are trying to provide,” said Kari. “We’re looking into hospitality, respect for our guests, and doing everything our way. That is what makes us different from any other cruise line.”

While some onboard timings have been adjusted, Rudolph noted that the product remains unchanged: “The DNA of the product is the same, an experience based on Arabian culture in a modern way.”

As in the Red Sea, the onboard offering in Europe does not include alcohol and there is no casino. “We are a halal ship. It means there is no pork and no alcohol onboard,” said Hotel Director Stefan Antonescu. “The shows are in line with Islamic principles, meaning they adhere to the decency required by the Saudi Kingdom.”

Antonescu noted another differentiator is the availability of hookahs onboard. “We are the only cruise line that has a shisha (hookah) operation onboard,” he said. “That requires thorough safety assessments, certifications, and the implications that come from it.”

Aroya is scheduled to remain in the Mediterranean through mid-September, offering seven-night cruises to destinations in Greece, Turkey and Egypt. 

Departing Istanbul every Saturday, the itineraries include ports such as Rhodes, Souda Bay, Piraeus, Mykonos, Marmaris, Bodrum and Alexandria. Some sailings avoid Schengen ports, Kari said, enabling visa-free travel for guests from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey.