In line with Galataport Istanbul's main port vision, winter season cruise mobility started in 2024 with 25 voyages and 55 thousand passengers for the first time in Istanbul's history. With the addition of Aroya Cruises' new voyages, there will be a 143% increase in the number of voyages and a 188% increase in the number of passengers compared to last year, with a target of 150 thousand passengers.
AROYA Cruises will bring together the prominent destinations of Türkiye and the Mediterranean with its guests with its voyages that will depart from Galataport Istanbul between 10 October 2026 and 24 April 2027. Within the scope of the program, he will visit destinations such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Kuşadası and Alexandria. The program, covering the winter period, will be a strong indicator of Istanbul's long-term potential in terms of international cruise tourism.
Galataport Istanbul Port Operations Director Tolga Tuncay shared the following about the new program: "AROYA Cruises' choice of Istanbul as the main port in the October-April period is a very strong indicator of the trust in our city. We started regular winter sailings at Galataport Istanbul with MSC in November 2024. This operation, which we continue with MSC in 2025, reaches a new scale with the participation of AROYA in 2026. November We aim to host 55,000 passengers on 25 trips in the 2024-April 2025 period, and 52,000 passengers on 21 trips in the November 2025-April 2026 period, and 150,000 passengers on 51 trips in the November 2026-April 2027 period; AROYA's share in this total will be 26 trips and 78,000 passengers. The addition of AROYA to the winter period confirms that Istanbul's cruise season has spread to 12 months, while further strengthening our city's position as the main port in the Mediterranean basin. The impact of choosing Istanbul as the main port is not limited to our city alone. With the 25 new voyages planned by AROYA for Istanbul, AROYA's contribution to the Turkish cruise industry reaches 76 additional voyages in the first six months of 2026. "Considering that it is 488, the scale of the impact this hub port decision will create is seen much more clearly. This table is a concrete indicator of how effectively Türkiye manages its cruise potential with the right infrastructure, strong collaborations and holistic route planning."
Cruise Saudi Deputy CEO Taha Nazer stated the following on the subject: "With the pride of having hosted guests from more than 100 different nationalities after two successful seasons, we are launching AROYA's 2026-27 Mediterranean program at Galataport Istanbul on October 10. Galataport Istanbul's privileged location on the Bosphorus, world-class facilities and strong international connections, combined with the rich culture and energy of Istanbul, create an ideal Mediterranean home port for AROYA. At the same time, Istanbul "It stands out as an important destination in the travel experience of our international guests. We look forward to offering our guests an uninterrupted travel experience, from exploring Istanbul's vibrant coastline and rich culture to visiting the unique destinations of the Mediterranean with AROYA. We complete this entire experience with our unique Arab hospitality."
AROYA Cruises' new program from Galataport Istanbul will bring together guests from different countries with Istanbul, while also strengthening Türkiye's visibility and regional connections in cruise tourism.
