What AROYA Cruises does

AROYA Cruises is Saudi Arabia's first homegrown cruise line and the flagship brand of Cruise Saudi, a wholly Public Investment Fund (PIF)-owned entity. Incorporated in June 2023 and headquartered in Jeddah, the company commenced commercial sailings in December 2024 with Red Sea itineraries and has since expanded into the Arabian Gulf (February 2026) and Mediterranean (from Istanbul) markets. AROYA operates a single 151,000-gross-ton purpose-built vessel measuring 335 meters with 18 decks, 1,678 cabins (including 145 suites/villas and 32 ADA-accessible), a maximum guest capacity of 3,362, and an onboard crew of more than 1,600 personnel. The ship carries 15 restaurants (5 included, 10 specialty), 13 lounges, the 1,818 sqm Aroya Bliss Spa, the 1,858 sqm Sailors' Cove children's entertainment zone, a 1,018-seat theater, and a 100+ brand retail area called Aroya Souk.

The business model is a multi-revenue-stream cruise and onboard-spending operation. The primary revenue line is cruise ticket sales for 3- to 14-night itineraries departing Jeddah, Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam, priced by cabin category from Interior (12-14 sqm) to Royal Villa (395 sqm). Secondary revenue is generated by per-cruise subscription-style add-on packages — AROYA ULTRA and AROYA MAX beverage packages, Young Sailor packages for children, AROYA Net Browse and AROYA Net Browse & Stream internet packages, spa and specialty-dining credits, and in-cabin celebration packages. Onboard spending is captured via the AroyaPass smart-card (with optional AroyaBand wristband) and settled at voyage end. Distribution combines a direct-to-consumer channel (aroya.com, mobile app, 24/7 Saudi call center 920022277, Tabby installment payments) with channel partnerships — Lufthansa City Center International for European/global markets and Int2Cruises for India — plus a B2B travel trade partner portal.

Customer segments are predominantly leisure consumers: (1) primary target is Saudi and GCC nationals and residents seeking Arabic-language, halal-compliant, culturally authentic cruise experiences; (2) Indian outbound tourists accessed via Int2Cruises for 3-7 night Red Sea and Mediterranean sailings; (3) families and luxury travelers (Khuzama VIP villas and suites with butler service, large children's facilities); and (4) international cruise tourists served through European travel-trade partners. AROYA's core differentiators are first-mover status in the Arabic cruise category, sovereign PIF/Cruise Saudi backing aligned with Vision 2030, and a culturally tailored Arabian hospitality product (prayer facilities, Arabic restaurants such as Irth and Dallah, ladies-only pool and spa hours, and halal-certified dining) that Western cruise brands cannot authentically replicate.

Name

AROYA Cruises

Legal name

شركة البحر الأحمر للسفن السياحية (Red Sea Cruise Ships Company)

Website

https://aroya.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AROYA Cruises is Saudi Arabia's first homegrown cruise line, operating a single 151,000-ton luxury vessel (3,362 passengers, 1,678 cabins) on Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Mediterranean itineraries under PIF-owned Cruise Saudi, serving Saudi/GCC, Indian, and European leisure travelers with Arabic-tailored hospitality.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jeddah

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cruise Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling cruise packages including cabin accommodation, meals at included restaurants, onboard activities, and entertainment. Packages range from 3-night to 14-night itineraries across Red Sea, Mediterranean, and Arabian Gulf routes departing from Jeddah, Istanbul, and other ports.
2. Specialty Dining and Beverages: Revenue from 10 specialty restaurants (in addition to 5 included dining venues), premium drink packages (AROYA ULTRA, AROYA MAX), and on-demand beverage service. Cabin service available for suites and villas; paid service for standard cabins.
3. Add-on Packages and Upgrades: Revenue from optional packages including internet (AROYA Net Browse & Stream, AROYA Net Browse), drink packages for adults and children, thermal suite access, spa massages, entertainment credits, specialty dining experiences, and romantic/celebration in-cabin packages.
4. Onboard Spending: Revenue from onboard spending charged to cabin accounts including specialty dining, spa treatments, retail shops (Aroya Souk with over 100 brands), shore excursions, photography, medical services, laundry, and communications. Processed via AroyaPass card with credit card settlement.
5. Cruise and Fly Packages: Package revenue combining cruise tickets with airfare from Jeddah or Riyadh to Istanbul, including airport transfers. Provides bundled pricing for international routes.
6. Internet Services: Revenue from AROYANet internet packages: AROYA Net Browse & Stream (10GB max, high-quality streaming, complimentary for Royal Villa guests and two packages for Khuzama guests) and AROYA Net Browse (5GB, no streaming support, complimentary for Royal Villa guests).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AROYA Cruises operates a single 151,000-gross-ton luxury cruise ship (1,678 cabins, capacity for 3,362 guests plus 1,600+ crew) offering multi-destination voyages across the Red Sea, Mediterranean, and Arabian Gulf. The company sells cruise-only and cruise-plus-flight packages ranging from 3 to 14 nights, with onboard amenities including 15 restaurants, 13 lounges, a 1,818 sqm spa, a 1,858 sqm children's zone, entertainment venues, and retail outlets.

Product overview

AROYA Cruises is Saudi Arabia's first homegrown cruise line and flagship brand of Cruise Saudi (100% owned by the Public Investment Fund). The company operates a single luxury cruise ship offering multi-destination itineraries across three regions: the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Arabian Gulf. The product portfolio centers on the Aroya cruise ship (151,000 tons, 1,678 cabins) as the core offering, supplemented by the Khuzama VIP experience (luxury suite and villa accommodations with butler service), and various add-on packages (internet, drinks, entertainment, spa, dining). The company provides a comprehensive cruise experience with multiple restaurants, entertainment venues, children's facilities, and spa services, positioned as a culturally authentic Arabian cruise experience aligned with Vision 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Khuzama (خزامى): VIP/concierge luxury experience featuring exclusive villas, suites, private restaurants, and personalized butler service for high-end passengers.

Products and services

• Aroya Cruise Ship A 151,000-gross-ton, 335-meter luxury cruise ship with 18 decks (including a water park deck), 1,678 cabins, capacity for 3,362 guests and 1,600+ crew, featuring 15 restaurants, 13 lounges, a 1,018-seat theater, retail souk, and water park.
• Khuzama VIP Experience Premium VIP experience for suite and villa guests including butler service, priority embarkation/disembarkation, dedicated restaurants and lounges, private concierge, and complimentary internet and beverage entitlements. Covers 145 suites and villas including the 395 sqm Royal Villa.
• Red Sea Itineraries Cruise itineraries in the Red Sea visiting destinations including Jeddah, Ain Sokhna (Cairo), Sharm El Sheikh, the Private Island (Jabal Sapya), Safaga/Hurghada, Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib), and Yanbu, featuring 3-5 night and 7-night sailings.
• Mediterranean Itineraries 7-night Mediterranean cruise itineraries departing from Istanbul, visiting Turkish coastal cities (Bodrum, Kas, Marmaris), Greek islands (Mykonos, Souda Bay, Rhodes), Athens/Piraeus, Kusadasi, and Alexandria.
• Arabian Gulf Itineraries Arabian Gulf cruise itineraries visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dammam, Muscat, Salalah, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Khasab.
• Aroya Blossom Spa 1,818 sqm wellness facility offering spa treatments, medi-spa beauty clinic, thermal suite (sauna, steam room, salt room, ice room, jacuzzis), fitness center, barber services, and beauty salon.
• Aroya Packages Optional add-on packages including AROYA ULTRA and AROYA MAX drink packages, Young Sailor children's drink packages, AROYA Net Browse and AROYA Net Browse & Stream internet packages, specialty dining packages, spa packages, in-cabin celebration packages, and entertainment credit packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Saudi Arabian cruise line launched December 2024 with inaugural Red Sea sailings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Lufthansa City Center InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 June 2026Strategic partnership signed June 2026 to expand AROYA's global distribution network through Lufthansa City Center's global agency network, positioning AROYA as an international cruise brand rather than a purely regional operator. The partnership supports broader Saudi ambitions to position the Kingdom as both a cruise destination and source market, leveraging the travel agency's established international presence across Europe and beyond.
• Int2CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 February 2026AROYA Cruises appointed Int2Cruises as its preferred sales agent in India, providing Indian travelers access to short-haul cruise itineraries spanning Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Eastern Mediterranean, covering 3-5 night and 7-night sailings across seasonal routes. The partnership targets India's rapidly growing outbound tourism market where demand for convenient, culturally immersive cruise holidays is rising.
• Cruise Saudi (Cruise Saudi for Maritime Services)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023AROYA Cruises was launched in June 2023 as a separate business unit of Cruise Saudi, which is 100% owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). AROYA serves as the flagship brand of Cruise Saudi, operating as a separate unit with a stable professional operations team based in Jeddah. The company aligns with Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia's plan to become a top global tourism destination by 2030.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MSC Cruises: MSC Cruises is a privately held global cruise operator with comparable large-ship capacity and overlapping Mediterranean and Red Sea itineraries. Like AROYA, MSC emphasizes European/Mediterranean source markets and family-friendly onboard amenities, making it the closest scale peer for AROYA's launch trajectory.
• Royal Caribbean International: Royal Caribbean operates mega-class cruise ships (3,000+ passengers) with extensive family amenities, multiple specialty restaurants, and entertainment venues. Its fleet scale, family positioning, and global itineraries directly overlap with AROYA's product, customer segments, and distribution ambitions.
• Costa Cruises: Costa Cruises is an Italy-based mainstream cruise line specializing in Mediterranean and Red Sea/Arabian itineraries with strong brand recognition in European source markets. Comparable to AROYA in route mix, ship size class, and appeal to multi-generational Mediterranean leisure travelers.
• Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian operates a fleet of large resort-style cruise ships with diverse dining, entertainment, and family facilities, targeting similar international leisure travelers across multiple regions. Comparable in vessel scale, premium-but-not-ultra-luxury positioning, and multi-region deployment.
• Celestyal Cruises: Celestyal Cruises operates smaller ships focused on Greek Islands and Arabian Gulf itineraries including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Muscat. It is the most direct overlap with AROYA's Arabian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean route structure, though AROYA is materially larger.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Regent Seven Seas operates luxury all-suite ships with high-end dining and personalized service, providing a benchmark for AROYA's Khuzama VIP offering. Comparable in luxury tier aspiration, but operates smaller vessels targeting a different (older, higher-spend) guest profile.
• Disney Cruise Line: Disney Cruise Line sets the industry benchmark for family-focused cruise experiences with extensive children's facilities, themed entertainment, and premium pricing. AROYA's 1,858 sqm Sailors' Cove and family positioning directly compete for the multi-generational family cruise segment.
• TUI Cruises: TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff fleet) is a German/European mass-premium cruise brand emphasizing modern design, wellness, and family-friendly facilities. Comparable in targeting European source markets (Lufthansa City Center distribution channel) and in offering all-inclusive-style amenities with a regional cultural identity.
• Fred Olsen Cruise Lines: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines operates smaller, traditionally-styled cruise ships emphasizing themed itineraries, cultural immersion, and personalized service. Comparable to AROYA's Khuzama luxury experience in spirit, though Fred Olsen targets an older British/Nordic demographic and operates much smaller vessels.

Broad incumbents

• Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line is the flagship mass-market brand of Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise operator. It competes for budget-to-mid-tier cruise guests in overlapping geographies, but AROYA sits at a higher price point with more cultural customization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AROYACRUISES
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AroyaCruises/about
• Facebookfacebook.com/AROYACRUISES
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aroyacruises
• Instagraminstagram.com/aroyacruises
• TikToktiktok.com/@aroyacruises?lang=ar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AROYA Cruises