AROYA Cruises reveals shoulder season 2025/26 Red Sea itineraries

AROYA Cruises has announced itineraries for when it returns to the Red Sea for the 2025/26 season, following the conclusion of its inaugural deployment in the Mediterranean. 

The move reinforces the company’s commitment to alternating between regional and international itineraries as it builds its presence in the global cruise market.

During the summer, Aroya operated from Galataport Istanbul, carrying more than 20,000 passengers on a series of voyages that combined Turkish ports, the Greek Islands, and Alexandria. 

The season represented the line’s first expansion outside its home region since launching in 2023, and will conclude on September 12th with an eight-night repositioning cruise from Istanbul to Jeddah, calling at Kuşadası, Bodrum, the Suez Canal, and Sharm El Sheikh.

Aroya will then resume sailing in the Red Sea from its homeport at Jeddah Islamic Port.

The new Red Sea season begins on September 20th and will run through the shoulder months into 2026. 

Itineraries of three, four, and five nights will be offered, visiting Jabal Al Sabaya, the Egyptian ports of Safaga and Sharm El Sheikh, and, for the first time, Marsa Alam. 

The addition of Marsa Alam broadens the choice of Red Sea destinations while Safaga has been given added significance as a secondary embarkation port, allowing passengers to join certain sailings directly from Egypt.

According to AROYA, the deployment is intended to serve both regional travellers seeking short-break holidays and international visitors interested in exploring Red Sea destinations as part of a longer trip. 

“Our first Mediterranean season has been a significant milestone for AROYA Cruises, attracting guests from across the region and internationally,” said Dr. Joerg Rudolph, President of AROYA Cruises. 

“As we return to the Red Sea, we are building on this success with new itineraries that highlight the region’s culture, stunning landscapes, and renowned Arabian hospitality,” he added. “With the new season, we continue our commitment to creating memorable journeys for both first-time cruisers and returning guests.”

AROYA Cruises was launched in June 2023 as a subsidiary of Cruise Saudi, a company fully owned by the Public Investment Fund. Its creation forms part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which places tourism development at the centre of national economic diversification efforts. 

The line’s sole vessel, Aroya, offers 1,678 cabins and was refitted to serve the Arabian market, with adaptations for regional tastes in dining and entertainment, including halal food options, Arabic-language services, and family-focused facilities.

The return to Jeddah marks the start of the company’s second full year of operations and comes as Saudi Arabia continues to develop its cruise sector, with investments in port infrastructure and destination access designed to position the Red Sea as a competitive international cruise region.