cruise tourism

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)

Shipping Arabia, October 7, 2026 – Alexandria Port cruise activity included two consecutive cruise ship calls on September 28 and 29, bringing a combined 3,359 passengers to the Egyptian port. The two vessels, Astoria Grande and Aurora, carried 2,197 tourists and 1,162 crew members.

The calls form part of the growing cruise traffic handled by Alexandria Port, which continues to receive international cruise vessels and large numbers of passengers through its maritime passenger facilities.

Astoria Grande Arrives From Antalya

On September 28, Alexandria Port received the Palau-flagged Astoria Grande from Antalya, Türkiye. The cruise ship arrived with 374 tourists and 352 crew members, bringing the total number of people on board to 726.

The vessel completed its call at Alexandria and departed later the same day for Türkiye.

The following day, September 29, the Bermuda-flagged Aurora arrived at Alexandria Port from Limassol, Cyprus. It carried 1,823 tourists and 810 crew members, for a total of 2,633 passengers and crew.

Aurora was scheduled to leave Alexandria later that evening for Tunisia, completing the second cruise call handled by the port in two consecutive days.

Alexandria Port Cruise Activity Supported by Coordinated Passenger Handling

Representatives of Alexandria Port Authority received the two vessels in coordination with the relevant authorities. These included Egypt’s Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, tourism promotion bodies, Alexandria Governorate and the Ministry of Interior through the Alexandria Port Police.

Passenger reception and processing took place through the port’s General Department for Passenger Movement at the maritime passenger terminal. According to the authority, the required procedures were completed smoothly to facilitate the movement of arriving cruise passengers.

The authority said the two calls reflect the continued growth of marine tourism activity at Alexandria Port. It also highlighted the port’s ability to receive different types of cruise ships and handle large passenger volumes.

Port Authority Reaffirms Support for Cruise Tourism

Alexandria Port Authority said it will continue supporting and promoting marine tourism while strengthening coordination with the government and tourism bodies involved in cruise operations.

The authority said these efforts are aimed at providing high-quality services to visiting tourists while increasing the benefits generated from Alexandria’s tourism and historical attractions, as well as other destinations across Egypt.

The two cruise calls also underline the role of Alexandria Port cruise activity within Egypt’s broader marine tourism sector, with the port continuing to handle international vessels arriving from Mediterranean destinations.

Source: Alexandria Port Authority

Shipping Arabia, October 4, 2026 – Alexandria Port received the cruise ship Mein Schiff 5 with 3,502 passengers and crew on board, as Alexandria cruise tourism continues to generate calls linking the Egyptian Mediterranean port with regional destinations.

The vessel arrived at dawn on September 27 from Heraklion, Greece. Those on board included 2,560 tourists, mainly German nationals alongside visitors of other nationalities, as well as 942 crew members.

Mein Schiff 5 was scheduled to depart Alexandria later the same day for Rhodes, Greece.

Alexandria Cruise Tourism Connects Visitors with Egyptian Destinations

Passengers were offered a tourism program covering archaeological and historical attractions in Alexandria, Cairo and Giza.

The itinerary included ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Islamic landmarks, giving passengers access to a range of cultural and historical sites during the port call.

A cycling tour was also organized for a number of passengers within Alexandria, providing another way to explore the city and its attractions.

The visit formed part of the cruise ship activity handled by Alexandria Port, which the Alexandria Port Authority said reflects the port’s ability to receive different types of cruise vessels and provide the required passenger services.

Authorities Coordinate Passenger Handling

Representatives of the Alexandria Port Authority received the vessel in coordination with several government and tourism entities involved in the call.

These included the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority and Alexandria Governorate through the Regional Authority for Tourism Promotion. The Ministry of Interior was also represented through the General Administration of Alexandria Port Police.

The General Administration for Passenger Movement at the marine passenger terminal handled passenger reception and coordinated entry and exit procedures with the various entities operating at the port.

According to the authority, the arrangements were intended to ensure smooth passenger movement and speed up the completion of formalities during the vessel’s stay.

Alexandria Port Targets Stronger Mediterranean Cruise Role

The Alexandria Port Authority said it will continue supporting and promoting maritime tourism while strengthening cooperation with relevant government and tourism bodies.

These efforts are aimed at reinforcing the role of Alexandria cruise tourism and consolidating the port’s position as an important destination on the Mediterranean cruise map.

The authority is also seeking to build on Alexandria’s tourism and historical assets, together with other Egyptian destinations included in cruise passenger programs.

The Mein Schiff 5 call illustrates how cruise visits to Alexandria can connect port operations with tourism activity across Alexandria, Cairo and Giza while serving wider Mediterranean itineraries.

Source: Alexandria Port Authority

Shipping Arabia, October 4, 2026 – Aqaba Port welcomed the AROYA cruise ship from Jeddah with approximately 3,400 tourists and around 1,200 crew members on board, supporting the continued growth of Aqaba cruise tourism and the city’s position within the regional cruise network.

The ship’s arrival forms part of growing cruise activity connecting destinations across the Red Sea region. AROYA operates a regular itinerary beginning in Jeddah, calling at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Aqaba before returning to Jeddah.

The route enhances tourism connectivity between regional ports and creates additional opportunities for the development of cruise tourism across the region.

Aqaba Cruise Tourism Connects Regional Destinations

AROYA’s regular itinerary links Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan through a multi-destination cruise route. The ship’s Aqaba call gives passengers access to some of Jordan’s major tourism attractions while strengthening Aqaba’s role as a cruise destination.

During the visit, passengers joined tourism programs covering key attractions in Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum. Relevant authorities provided the required facilities and coordinated transportation services and guided tours to support smooth operations throughout the call.

The arrangements were designed to facilitate passenger movements and provide visitors with access to the destinations included in the tourism program.

ASEZA Seeks to Attract More Cruise Calls

Dr. Thabet Al-Nabulsi, Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), said welcoming cruise ships forms part of the authority’s efforts to strengthen the cruise tourism sector and attract additional cruise voyages.

According to Al-Nabulsi, increased cruise activity also contributes to commercial and service sectors linked to tourism and supports the local economy.

ASEZA continues to develop the Aqaba cruise tourism ecosystem by improving the readiness of facilities and services. These efforts are intended to reinforce Aqaba’s position as an integrated tourism destination and strengthen its role within the regional cruise network.

Regional Cruise Activity Supports Aqaba’s Tourism Position

The AROYA call highlights Aqaba’s role within a regional cruise itinerary connecting Jeddah, Sharm El Sheikh and Aqaba. The route provides cruise passengers with access to destinations across the three countries while strengthening tourism connectivity between their ports.

For Aqaba, cruise calls also connect maritime tourism activity with the wider tourism offering in Petra and Wadi Rum. ASEZA’s continued focus on facilities, services and operational coordination supports its efforts to attract more cruise voyages and expand Aqaba’s participation in regional cruise tourism.

Source: Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority

Shipping Arabia, October 3, 2026 – Egypt’s Red Sea Ports Authority plans to offer private-sector investment opportunities to develop infrastructure and services at Nuweiba and Sharm El Sheikh ports, with the projects forming part of a development plan targeted for implementation by the end of the current fiscal year.

The planned opportunities include upgrading, rehabilitating and improving passenger terminals at Nuweiba Port. The works form part of a longer-term program to renew and enhance tourism-related facilities under the authority. At Sharm El Sheikh Port, the plans include the implementation of a sewage network as part of the port’s infrastructure development.

Nuweiba Development to Support Aqaba Maritime Route

The planned upgrades at Nuweiba Port are intended to improve the efficiency of passenger terminals while supporting road freight, transit traffic and workforce movements on the Nuweiba–Aqaba maritime route. The authority’s investment approach also seeks to balance infrastructure development with improvements to tourism and logistics services.

According to the source, the wider program is designed to support trade with neighboring countries while strengthening tourism activity across ports operated by the authority. The Nuweiba projects are also expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities in maritime services, logistics and construction connected with the planned developments.

Sharm El Sheikh Infrastructure Targets Cruise and Yacht Tourism

At Sharm El Sheikh Port, the infrastructure program is aimed at supporting yacht and cruise ship tourism by completing the facilities required for these activities. Modern sewage networks for the port’s terminals and marinas are among the main components identified for development.

The authority is seeking to strengthen environmental sustainability at the port and comply with recognized international port standards. According to government sources cited by Al Borsa News, implementing an approved sewage network is an essential requirement for the port’s inclusion on international cruise itineraries.

The planned infrastructure improvements are also intended to help protect the marine environment and coral reefs around Sharm El Sheikh. At the same time, they would prepare the port to receive more yachts and large cruise ships as its tourism infrastructure develops.

Source: Al Borsa News