AROYA Cruise Ship Visits Sokhna Port With 1,327 Tourists
Shipping Arabia, October 10, 2026 – The AROYA cruise ship visited Egypt’s Sokhna Port on Sunday, October 4, carrying 1,327 tourists of various nationalities. The vessel arrived from Sharm El Sheikh and berthed at the DP World terminal within Sokhna Port, which operates under the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE).
The cruise ship is owned by Cruise Saudi, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Its visit formed part of an Egyptian itinerary that included Sharm El Sheikh, Sokhna and Alexandria.
During the Sokhna port call, passengers were scheduled to travel to Cairo for sightseeing excursions before returning to the vessel on the same day. The visit highlighted the port’s role in accommodating international cruise ships and facilitating access to Egypt’s tourism destinations.
AROYA Cruise Ship Specifications and Sokhna Port Call
The Malta-flagged AROYA measures 303 meters in length, with a beam of 39.2 meters and a draft of 8.2 meters. Rhapsody served as the vessel’s shipping agent during the visit.
Following its arrival from Sharm El Sheikh, the cruise ship berthed at the terminal operated by DP World at Sokhna Port. The vessel was scheduled to depart later that evening for Alexandria Port, continuing its cruise itinerary along Egypt’s coastline.
The port call brought 1,327 international tourists to Sokhna, with Cairo included in the planned shore excursion program. Passengers were expected to return aboard before the ship’s scheduled evening departure.
SCZONE Highlights Sokhna Port’s Cruise Handling Capabilities
According to the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the arrival of AROYA demonstrated Sokhna Port’s operational readiness and its ability to accommodate different types of vessels.
SCZONE emphasized that the port maintains the operational capabilities required to handle vessel calls in accordance with high standards of efficiency and safety. The cruise ship’s visit also reflected the port’s role in supporting maritime tourism alongside its wider shipping activities.
The economic zone continues to work on improving the efficiency and operational readiness of its ports. These efforts aim to strengthen their ability to receive vessels and support maritime traffic, international trade and tourism.
Supporting Egypt’s Maritime and Cruise Tourism Activities
SCZONE considers the development of its port infrastructure and operational capabilities an important component of strengthening Egypt’s position within regional and international maritime transport networks.
The authority’s ongoing efforts focus on enhancing port readiness and improving services for different vessel categories, including cruise ships.
AROYΑ’s visit to Sokhna Port formed part of these maritime activities, connecting a Red Sea port call with planned tourism excursions to Cairo and an onward voyage to Alexandria.
By continuing to improve port capabilities and operational efficiency, SCZONE aims to support shipping, trade and tourism while reinforcing the position of its ports within the regional and international maritime industry.
Source: Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE)
