Aroya Cruises — the first Arab cruise line in Saudi Arabia, wholly owned by Cruise Saudi, itself fully owned by the Public Investment Fund — has announced that its luxury ship Aroya will set sail for the Mediterranean Sea, marking the start of its first season in this strategic region, beginning June 28.

The ship is scheduled to dock at Galataport in Istanbul on June 20, which will serve as its main home port for the summer season. From there, cruises will run from late June through mid-September 2025, covering some of the finest tourist destinations in the eastern Mediterranean.

This season's itineraries include historic and coastal cities such as Kas, Bodrum and Marmaris in Turkey, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Souda Bay in Greece, and Alexandria in Egypt. The destinations will be presented through authentic tourism experiences blended with elements of Arab culture and hospitality — a defining feature of the Aroya Cruises identity.

Aroya's expansion into the Mediterranean builds on the strong success of its first Red Sea season, which launched in December 2024 and drew more than 70,000 guests through cruises calling at ports in Egypt and Jordan, in addition to a dedicated stop at Sabah Beach on Sabah Island.

The move reinforces Saudi Arabia's role in leading the region's maritime tourism sector and reflects the Public Investment Fund's strategy of backing new tourism industries and expanding leisure options for citizens and visitors, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.