AD Ports Begins Egypt Red Sea Cruise Terminal Services
The 335.2-meter Aroya made a direct docking at Sharm El Sheikh after docking upgrades. AD Ports described it as the cruise port’s largest ship call.
AD Ports Group has begun cruise and ferry terminal services at Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Safaga under a 15-year concession agreement with Egypt's Red Sea Ports Authority. The company will manage, develop and operate the three Egyptian Red Sea cruise terminals, with related ferry operations also included in the mandate.
The terminals have already handled calls by Aroya Cruises' 335.2-meter, 150,695-GT Aroya, including a direct docking at Sharm El Sheikh that AD Ports Group described as the largest by a ship at the cruise port.
Egyptian concession extends Red Sea cruise operations
"The launch of AD Ports Group's cruise and ferry terminal services in Egypt underscores our commitment to advancing cruise tourism across the Red Sea," said Noura R. Al Dhaheri, CEO of Cruise Business at AD Ports Group.
AD Ports Group's wider portfolio spans ports, logistics and maritime services and lists 34 terminals across operations in more than 50 countries. The Egyptian concession places the group in three ports with distinct cruise roles: Sharm El Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula, Hurghada on the Red Sea coast, and Safaga, about 60 km south of Hurghada and used by cruise passengers traveling onward to Luxor and the Nile Valley.
Aroya calls follow Sharm El Sheikh berth upgrades
Aroya sailed from its homeport of Jeddah to Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Safaga between early May and early June. AD Ports Group said it worked with Egypt's Ministry of Transport and the Red Sea Ports Authority to upgrade Sharm El Sheikh's docking capabilities for the operation.
Eastern Mediterranean season before September return
Aroya has since started an eight-night repositioning voyage from Jeddah to Istanbul via Egypt and Turkey, with a full Suez Canal transit and calls at Sharm El Sheikh, Port Sokhna, Port Suez, Antalya and Bodrum. The sailing was scheduled to arrive at Istanbul's Galataport Cruise Terminal on June 6.
The ship's summer deployment includes nearly 15 roundtrip Istanbul departures through mid-September, with seven-night itineraries to Egypt, Turkey and Greece. Announced ports include Alexandria, Marmaris, Mykonos, Piraeus and Rhodes.
After returning to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, Aroya is scheduled to begin additional calls at AD Ports Group's Egyptian terminals from September and to add Aqaba in Jordan to the same regional program. The short-cruise schedule from Jeddah is slated to continue through the end of 2026.
