Aroya Cruises resumes short Red Sea sailings from Jeddah
The Saudi-focused cruise line continues carrying passengers in the region as several international operators cancel or reposition ships.
Aroya Cruises resumed short passenger voyages from Jeddah in mid-May, operating mostly three- to five-night itineraries with calls including Sharm El Sheikh, Aqaba and Yanbu. The restart followed a period in which Aroya and five other cruise ships were reportedly unable to leave the Persian Gulf for almost 50 days.
The other affected vessels were MSC Euribia, Celestyal Discovery, Celestyal Journey, Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5. Aroya was the last of the six to pass through the Strait of Hormuz before returning to its main homeport in Jeddah.
Elsewhere, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line canceled sailings or repositioned vessels to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Communications to affected guests cited safety concerns and uncertainty. Celestyal also canceled sailings, while Explora Journeys dropped its 2026/27 Middle East winter program and reassigned the ship to Europe. Norwegian canceled Norwegian Sky’s planned farewell voyage through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, and AIDA and Costa withdrew their Middle East seasons.
Launched by Cruise Saudi, Aroya Cruises emphasizes Arabian hospitality and primarily serves Saudi and Gulf travelers while accepting international guests. Its sole ship, Aroya, is a 150,000-gross-ton vessel with combined capacity for nearly 5,000 passengers and crew. Built in 2017 as Dream Cruises’ World Dream, it was later purchased, refurbished and placed into service under its current identity in late 2024.