The Aroya arrived in Taranto, Italy, earlier this week to serve as a floating hotel during the 20th edition of the Mediterranean Games.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the 3,500-passenger vessel will remain docked in Taranto for the sports event, which runs through early September.

In a social media update, Aroya Cruises celebrated the ship’s arrival in Italy, noting that more than 4,000 athletes from 26 nations will be hosted onboard.

“Bringing together people and cultures from across the Mediterranean through sport, the games reflect a spirit of connection that also lies at the heart of every Aroya voyage,” the company added.

After completing a final cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aroya arrived in Taranto on August 16.

The ship is now docked at the Italian Navy’s Chiapparo Naval Base, where it is serving as accommodation along with the Romantika, a cruise ferry operated by Tallink.

The Romantika will welcome an additional 1,200 attendees, who will also use the Aroya for meals and other services.

Aroya Cruises recently completed its second consecutive summer season in the Eastern Mediterranean, which included itineraries to Turkey, Greece and Egypt.

After repositioning to Galataport Istanbul in early June, the 2017-built vessel offered a series of seven-night cruises to destinations such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Piraeus, Mykonos and Alexandria.

The ship is scheduled to offer a two-part repositioning voyage to the Red Sea upon completing its operations in Italy.

The first cruise sails from Marmaris to Istanbul and includes visits to Alexandria and Kas, while the second sails from Istanbul to Saudi Arabia.

Before arriving in Jeddah, the eight-night voyage will feature stops in Bodrum and Marmaris, as well as Port Suez and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

The Aroya will then offer itineraries in the Red Sea before returning to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2027.