Galataport Istanbul is extending its regular cruise operation across the full year after AROYA Cruises added a substantial programme of winter sailings from the Turkish city.
AROYA is scheduled to operate from Istanbul between 10 October 2026 and 24 April 2027. Its itineraries will connect the Bosphorus homeport with destinations including Bodrum, Marmaris and Kuşadası in Turkey, as well as Alexandria in Egypt.
The deployment adds approximately 25 new winter itineraries to AROYA's programme and is expected to make a significant contribution to Galataport's 2026–27 winter traffic.
Galataport targets 150,000 winter passengers
Galataport is targeting 51 cruise sailings and approximately 150,000 passengers between November 2026 and April 2027.
If achieved, those figures would represent a 143% increase in sailings and a 188% rise in passenger numbers compared with the previous winter season.
AROYA is expected to account for 26 cruise movements and approximately 78,000 passengers within the overall total. The difference between the 25 newly added itineraries and 26 projected movements appears to reflect the wider operational programme rather than 26 separate newly announced cruises.
The figures underline the scale of Galataport's move beyond the traditional summer cruise season. They also strengthen Istanbul's position as an embarkation and disembarkation point, rather than solely a port of call.
Regular winter cruising began with MSC
Regular winter cruise activity at Galataport began with MSC Cruises in November 2024.
The port handled 25 winter sailings and approximately 55,000 passengers between November 2024 and April 2025. During the following winter, it received 21 sailings and around 52,000 passengers.
The addition of AROYA is therefore expected to more than double the port's winter cruise traffic. It will also help maintain activity for terminal staff, ground handlers, transport providers, hotels and tourism businesses outside Istanbul's main summer season.
Galataport combines its underground cruise terminal with direct access to Istanbul's waterfront visitor district. The facility's location, international air connections and proximity to the city's principal attractions have helped establish it as an eastern Mediterranean homeport.
Additional calls for Turkish ports
AROYA's Istanbul programme should also benefit other Turkish cruise destinations. Its new routes include calls at Bodrum, Marmaris and Kuşadası, alongside Alexandria in Egypt.
When the additional Turkish port calls generated by the programme are included, AROYA's contribution to the country's cruise sector is expected to reach 76 extra movements.
The deployment follows AROYA's summer 2026 season from Galataport, during which the ship operated 15 Istanbul departures through 12 September. Those itineraries combined ports in Turkey with destinations in Greece and Egypt.
AROYA Cruises is owned by Cruise Saudi, a company backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Its ship, AROYA, was extensively rebuilt for the Saudi and wider Middle Eastern cruise market before entering service in December 2024.
Istanbul strengthens its homeport role
The new winter schedule gives Galataport a year-round cruise calendar and provides Istanbul with a stronger role in eastern Mediterranean deployment planning.
Homeport calls generally generate greater local economic activity than transit visits because passengers may use airports, hotels and local transport before or after their cruise. Ships also require provisioning, baggage handling and other turnaround services.
Galataport said Istanbul's position on the Bosphorus, international connections, cruise infrastructure and cultural attractions make the city well suited to year-round homeport operations.
AROYA's first sailing in the new programme is scheduled for 10 October 2026, with the winter deployment continuing until 24 April 2027.