AROYA Cruises is expanding its Mediterranean programme for the 2026-27 season, introducing Alexandria as a second embarkation gateway, adding new ports of call and launching the first 14-night voyages in the company’s history.
The expanded deployment will continue to use Galataport Istanbul as the cruise line’s main Mediterranean homeport, while offering greater flexibility for guests and travel partners through additional embarkation points and a wider range of itinerary lengths. The new season will begin on October 10, 2026, with six-, seven- and eight-night cruises through Türkiye and Egypt aboard AROYA, the flagship vessel of the first Arabian cruise line. Alexandria will take on a more important role within the programme, serving as an alternative embarkation and disembarkation port on selected sailings. Some itineraries will also include AROYA’s first overnight calls in the Egyptian city, giving guests more time to explore Alexandria itself and creating opportunities for longer excursions to Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza.
From May 2027, the Mediterranean offering will expand further with six-, seven- and eight-night itineraries through Türkiye and Egypt or Türkiye and Greece. The programme will also introduce maiden calls at Antalya and Nafplion, broadening the range of destinations available to guests and strengthening AROYA’s presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. One of the most significant developments will be the introduction of the cruise line’s first two 14-night voyages. The first will depart Istanbul on June 5, 2027 and travel across the Mediterranean from east to west, with calls in Türkiye, Greece, Italy, Tunisia and Malta. The itinerary will include Catania, Salerno, Civitavecchia, Cagliari, La Goulette and Valletta, offering a wide-ranging journey through some of the region’s most important cultural and historic destinations.
The second 14-night voyage will depart Istanbul on July 17, 2027 and sail from the Aegean into the Adriatic, visiting Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Italy and Croatia. Calls will include Katakolon, Sarandë, Bar, Trieste, Zadar, Korčula and Bari. Interporting will also be available in Civitavecchia on the June sailing and in Trieste on the July departure, allowing guests to begin or end their cruise in Italy. The expanded programme is designed to provide travel partners with greater flexibility in developing fly-cruise packages, combining cruises with pre- and post-cruise stays and appealing to a broader range of travellers. The variety of voyage lengths and embarkation options gives the programme a stronger international dimension and makes it easier to adapt itineraries to different markets.
“Our partners are central to AROYA’s international growth. The breadth and flexibility of this programme will help us respond to the needs of different markets and introduce more guests to our distinctly Arabian cruise experience,” said Ala Tashkandi, Commercial Executive Director at AROYA Cruises. “By working closely with our partners, we can strengthen demand for cruising, create new opportunities across the wider tourism sector and deliver lasting value to the destinations we visit.”
AROYA’s Mediterranean proposition combines destination-focused itineraries with an onboard experience shaped by Arabian hospitality. The ship’s food, beverage and entertainment offering blends regional influences with a broad international selection, while its facilities are designed to appeal to families, wellness travellers and premium guests. Family facilities are a major part of the onboard experience, with ten dedicated venues for children and teenagers. The ship also features a 1,818-square-metre wellness area, including dedicated hours for female guests. For the premium market, the Khuzama experience includes 145 suites and nine villas, among them one Royal Villa and two Presidential Villas. The largest accommodation measures 395 square metres, while guests benefit from dedicated butler service, private reception and exclusive dining and lounge areas.
The programme also builds on AROYA’s growing international demand. During the 2026 Mediterranean summer season, the cruise line welcomed guests from more than 100 nationalities, with strong demand from CIS markets, Türkiye, Egypt, the GCC and the wider Middle East, as well as European countries including Germany and the United Kingdom. AROYA has also attracted a comparatively young international audience. The company reports an average guest age of 36.7 years for its Mediterranean clientele, compared with a global cruise industry average of 46.7 years cited in CLIA’s 2026 State of the Cruise Industry Report. This younger demographic underlines the brand’s ability to appeal to a new generation of cruise travellers.
The ship’s large-capacity public spaces also make it suitable for groups and charter business. These include the 1,018-seat AROYA Theatre, while the vessel also demonstrated its ability to host major international groups during the Mediterranean Games 2026, accommodating around 3,500 athletes from 26 nations as part of the Athletes’ Village at Taranto Naval Base. With Alexandria becoming a second embarkation gateway, new ports joining the schedule and the introduction of longer voyages reaching the western Mediterranean and Adriatic, the 2026-27 programme marks an important step in AROYA Cruises’ international expansion. It also strengthens the brand’s positioning as a distinctive Mediterranean cruise product, combining a wider choice of destinations with an onboard experience rooted in Arabian hospitality.
Gabriele Bassi
