The Astoria Grande made its first visit to Port Said on August 17, 2026, according to the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

The Egyptian government agency said that the Russian-operated vessel arrived at the port with 414 passengers and 409 crew members onboard.

Now offering itineraries from Turkey, the former AIDAcara visited Port Said as part of a cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The 1,186-passenger ship arrived from Kusadasi before setting sail for its new homeport in Antalya.

According to the Suez Canal Economic Zone, guests spent the day in Egypt exploring Port Said and other destinations, including Cairo and Giza.

The agency noted that the reception of the Astoria Grande is part of its efforts to promote cruise tourism in its ports.

Work is also underway to enhance its readiness to welcome cruise ships and provide the necessary services and facilities for guests, the Suez Canal Economic Zone added.

The agency also highlighted Port Said’s strategic location at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal.

“This location enhances the port’s ability to receive tourist ships and support the movement of incoming tourism to Egypt,” it said.

After sailing from the Russian port of Sochi since entering service, the Astoria Grande recently moved its homeport to Antalya.

The vessel is now offering a series of itineraries to additional destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Port Said, Piraeus and Valletta.

In related news, the Aroya recently completed an interporting season in Alexandria as part of its second summer season in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The 3,500-passenger vessel visited the Egyptian port 10 times in 2026. Eight of the calls also included embarking or disembarking operations.

Now serving as a floating hotel in Italy for the 20th Mediterranean Games, the Aroya Cruises ship visited Alexandria regularly between June and August 2026.