Aroya Cruises recently completed its second consecutive summer deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Having spent most of the season offering seven-night cruises to Greece, Turkey and Egypt, the Aroya embarked on a repositioning voyage to the Red Sea on September 12, 2026.

The eight-night cruise includes visits to destinations in Turkey and Egypt before arriving at the vessel’s homeport in Saudi Arabia.

After departing from Istanbul, the 3,500-passenger ship is scheduled to sail to Bodrum, Marmaris, Port Suez and Sharm el-Sheikh en route to Jeddah.

The Aroya is then scheduled to kick off a short fall season in the Red Sea, which will include two- to five-night cruises sailing to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.

In addition to operating cruises, the Aroya served as a floating hotel during its stint in the Mediterranean in 2026.

Chartered by the event organizers, the 150,000-ton vessel welcomed athletes and other participants of the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy.

Docked at the city’s port between late August and early September, the Aroya hosted more than 4,000 guests from 26 nations.

Other ports that welcomed the ship during its 2026 summer deployment included Mykonos, Rhodes, Souda Bay and Piraeus in Greece, as well as Bodrum and Antalya in Turkey.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, Aroya Cruises is planning its first winter season in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2026-27.

The Aroya is scheduled to return to Galataport Istanbul in October for itineraries to Turkey and Egypt.

Extending through April, the deployment includes a series of seven-night cruises highlighted by overnight visits to Alexandria, as well as stops in Kusadasi and Marmaris.

As part of the company’s new interporting strategy, passengers will also be able to board the 2017-built ship in Alexandria.

Aroya Cruises is also planning a third summer season in the Mediterranean in 2027, with additional cruises departing from Istanbul.