The cruise ship Aroya, launched by the Cruise Saudi initiative, recently completed a notable transit of the Suez Canal, a rare event for passenger vessels. Since 2024, most cruise ships have avoided the Red Sea due to ongoing security threats from the Houthis. The Suez Canal Authority reported that Aroya, a 151,000 gross ton vessel, made its transit on September 17, carrying around 2,300 passengers and 1,500 crew members from Istanbul. The ship is scheduled to stop in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, before concluding its journey in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Following its initial winter operations from Jeddah, Aroya is set to transit the Red Sea in February 2026, heading to Dubai, with a return trip planned for the spring. Although registered in the Marshall Islands, the ship’s ties to Saudi Arabia are significant, particularly given the adversarial relationship with the Houthis. Previously, Aroya transited the Suez Canal in December 2024 and June 2025 during its repositioning efforts.
The Suez Canal Authority is actively promoting its services to restore cruise traffic, having seen a decline in recent years. Chairman Admiral Ossama Rabiee emphasized marketing initiatives, including toll reductions and flexible policies for cruise ships. Despite these efforts, many cruise lines, such as Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, have opted to cancel or reroute their planned itineraries due to safety concerns in the region. The Suez Canal Authority remains hopeful about revitalizing the cruise segment of its operations.
