Aroya Cruises Adds 25 Winter Sailings From Galataport
Galataport's terminal can accommodate three ships at once and handle up to fifteen thousand passengers per day.
Aroya Cruises has added 25 winter itineraries from Galataport Istanbul for the 2026-27 season, extending cruise operations at the Turkish port across the calendar year. Galataport expects the additional sailings to increase departures by 143% and passenger traffic by 188% compared with the prior year, with a target of 150,000 passengers.
The port said Istanbul’s first winter cruise activity began in 2024, when 25 voyages handled 55,000 passengers.
The winter itineraries will connect Istanbul with Turkish ports including Bodrum, Marmaris and Kusadasi, as well as Alexandria in Egypt.
“Istanbul’s prime location on the Bosphorus, world-class port facilities, and strong international connections, combined with the city’s rich culture, create an ideal Mediterranean home port for cruise lines,” Galataport said.
The cruise terminal can accommodate three ships simultaneously and handle as many as 15,000 passengers per day. Its projected annual capacity is approximately 1.5 million cruise passengers.
Aroya builds on its second Mediterranean season
Aroya, the former World Dream, began its second Istanbul homeporting season in early June 2026, operating 15 cruises that include seven-night voyages to destinations in Turkey, Greece and Egypt. The ship debuted in the region in 2025 and entered service for the Cruise Saudi-backed brand in 2024.
Ala Tashkandi, commercial executive director at Aroya Cruises, said the 2026 Mediterranean season was intended to strengthen distribution. Select sailings also introduced the line’s first interporting operation, allowing passengers to embark in Alexandria.
“It strengthened the overall itinerary, created another embarkation gateway and enabled us to serve demand from Egypt and surrounding markets more effectively,” Tashkandi said.
The cruise line has adjusted its onboard product for Mediterranean passengers by adding languages to its programming and modifying entertainment and menus according to the itinerary and guest mix. The ship continues to operate with halal food and beverage service and does not serve alcohol.
Captain Roland Polic identified windy conditions around the Greek islands and high-speed transits to Egypt among the operational considerations for the regional program. He also noted that the proximity of the ports enables the ship to combine the three countries within its seven-night schedule.
Winter operations begin in October
Aroya’s current Istanbul series is scheduled to end Sept. 12. A charter operation in Italy follows. The new Galataport winter schedule will operate from Oct. 10, 2026, through April 24, 2027.
