• 7 min de lectura
• 7 min de lectura
Aroya Cruises told UK media and trade at its first London event that it will build its own ships for a planned three-ship fleet, with a second vessel due in 2032/33.
Taha Nazer, acting CEO of Cruise Saudi, addressing media and travel trade in London on Oct. 2. PHOTO: HOLLY PAYNE
Aroya Cruises confirmed plans to grow to a three-ship fleet with its own newbuilds, working closely with shipyards on the designs.
The cruise line's leadership outlined this strategy during its inaugural London event, which marked its launch into the UK market.
The event took place at London's 1 Hotel in Mayfair on October 2, and brought together media and travel trade. The evening opened with welcome drinks, Saudi coffee and networking, before moving on to presentations on Aroya's vision and history, UK market opportunities, the onboard experience and the 2026/27 Mediterranean season. A Q&A with Aroya leadership followed.
Asked during the Q&A whether Aroya would add more ships in the next five years, Taha Nazer, acting CEO of Cruise Saudi, Aroya's parent company, said: "Our strategy is clear. We are planning three ships... We are working very closely with different shipyards on different designs, and we are planning to have a second ship in the market in 2032/33."
Nazer explained that Aroya reached the market quickly with its current ship. "We moved very fast to the market with this one because we bought a ship and refitted it, so we cut the time to market by nearly three and a half years."
Asked whether that meant Aroya was looking at building its own ships, Nazer replied: "For sure."
Ala Tashkandi, commercial executive director of Aroya Cruises, added: "We are owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and they are super ambitious as well. I believe that sets the strategy of having more than one Aroya ship."
Ala Tashkandi PHOTO: HOLLY PAYNE
Nazer said that, according to Cruise Lines International Association's latest annual report, the UK produced 2.5 million cruisers, and one third of them went to the Mediterranean, where Aroya operates for more than nine months of the year.
"Now we are looking forward to welcoming the UK as one of our major source markets," Nazer said. "Our aim is always win-win. We never think that we can succeed alone. You will win, we will win, our customers will win and, in the end, Aroya will get part of the benefits."
Tashkandi described Aroya as "the first and only cruise line that combines Saudi hospitality, Saudi generosity and Saudi culture with a world-class cruise experience." He said the line had been operating for almost two years and had hosted passengers of more than 100 nationalities from 25 source markets.
He pointed to CLIA research showing that travel advisors play a central role in cruise bookings: "Travel advisors play a big role in conversion when it comes to cruise, and that is exactly why we are here: to build a relationship with the UK market and the UK trade."
Responding to Seatrade Cruise News about the timing of Aroya's UK entry, Nazer said the move followed a deliberate, step-by-step expansion that began in the Red Sea on December 18, 2024.
"There is no shift in strategy. Our strategy was to expand, but to expand correctly," he said. "We built success and confidence internally." The line first grew into the Gulf and Arabian markets, then homeported at Galataport in Istanbul, and then entered Germany as its first European market. "When we succeeded with the German market and received great feedback, we said, 'Let's go to the UK.' The numbers say the UK is number three. We are following our strategy."
Tashkandi added: "It is the natural progression for us. Now we believe we are ready." He said Aroya has a dedicated resource overseeing the UK and Ireland market and will exhibit at WTM in London. "We're here for the first time, and I don't think this is going to be the last time."
Aroya's senior manager and head of international and corporate sales, Ahmed Saeed, who presented the itineraries, said Istanbul is Aroya's Mediterranean homeport. The winter programme from Istanbul opens on October 18 with a six-night sailing to Alexandria, with an overnight call, and Marmaris. Seven-night sailings from October 2026 to March 2027 call at Alexandria, again overnight, Marmaris and Bodrum or Kuşadası. Saeed said the overnight call in Alexandria gives passengers the chance to visit Cairo, the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Alexandria also serves as an interporting port, so passengers can start and end their cruise in Egypt. A six-night itinerary from Alexandria departs on October 21 and calls at Marmaris and Istanbul. Seven-night Alexandria departures from October 2026 to May 2027 visit Kuşadası and Istanbul.
From April to August 2027, seven-night itineraries from Istanbul call at Bodrum, Marmaris and Alexandria; from May, Antalya replaces Marmaris on alternate weeks.
The 2027 Greek programme includes an eight-night May sailing to Bodrum, Souda Bay, Nafplion, Mykonos and Piraeus, and a six-night May sailing to Rhodes, Mykonos and Piraeus. A seven-night sailing in August calls at Bodrum, Piraeus, Mykonos and Nafplion.
For the first time, Aroya will offer 14-night itineraries and call in the Western Mediterranean. The June 2027 voyage sails from Istanbul to Kuşadası, Rhodes, Catania, Salerno, Civitavecchia, Cagliari, La Goulette in Tunisia, Valletta in Malta and Mykonos. The July voyage calls at Piraeus, Katakolon, Sarande in Albania, Kotor in Montenegro, Trieste, Zadar and Korčula in Croatia, Bari and Mykonos.
Civitavecchia and Trieste are interporting ports, and Saeed said the voyages can be sold either as one 14-night cruise or as two seven-night segments.
Each September, an eight-night "grand voyage" repositions the ship from Istanbul to Jeddah. The 2027 sailing departs on September 11 and calls at Bodrum and Marmaris before transiting the Suez Canal from Port Said, then calls at Sharm El Sheikh and arrives in Jeddah. Tashkandi said this year's grand voyage, which left Istanbul on September 11, sold out well before departure and carried approximately 3,500 passengers.
In winter, the ship returns to the Red Sea with five itinerary themes, all of which can be combined. They are seven-night cruises from Sharm El Sheikh and a mix of seven-, three- and four-night cruises from Jeddah. Three-night weekend cruises embark in Jeddah on Thursday, call at Yanbu, the gateway to Medina, and return on Sunday.
Seven-night itineraries can begin in either Sharm El Sheikh or Jeddah. The 'Journey Beyond the Horizon' calls at Jeddah for Mecca (for Muslim passengers performing Umrah), and Yanbu, for Medina. The 'Ancient Wonders' itinerary visits Jeddah, Aqaba for Petra and Ain Sukhna for Giza. 'Journeys That Inspire' calls at Jeddah, Al Wajh for AlUla, Safaga for Luxor and Hurghada, and Aqaba for Petra. Tashkandi said Red Sea port calls last up to 15 hours allowing passengers ample time for shore excursions.
"You will not find many cruise lines offering these alternatives, except Aroya," Saeed asserted. He said the line plans to return to the Mediterranean in April 2028.
Asked about the conflict in the Middle East, Nazer said rising insurance and fuel costs had impacted the line. However, Aroya "did not get one passenger cancellation" on its recent Saudi National Day sailings, each of which carried around 3,400 to 3,500 passengers.
Asked whether LGBTQ+ passengers would feel welcome, Sara Amro, Aroya's head of business development, UK & EU, said: "We're open for everybody to join us on a cruise." She added that 70% of passengers are non-Muslim, many from Europe.
