Developed by Cruise Saudi, the Malta-flagged Aroya ship belonging to AROYA Cruises has anchored at Bodrum Cruise Port for the first time. The ship is anchored with 1646 passengers and 1472 crew, and is planning a total of 12 trips to Bodrum this year.

Speaking about Aroya's first voyage to Bodrum Cruise Port, Aziz Güngör, Global Ports Holding Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director“Being on AROYA’s route is a strong indication that Bodrum’s unique energy and cultural richness are being appreciated internationally. We believe that this first visit will be the beginning of a long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation. Aroya’s arrival in Bodrum not only enriches the diversity of cruise tourism, but also highlights the unique charm and hospitality of our destination once again. This time, it should also be evaluated as a concrete result of the marketing and promotional activities we have been meticulously carrying out for a long time. We wholeheartedly believe that Bodrum will host many more cruise ships and passengers in the coming period.”

Operated by Global Ports Holding Bodrum Cruise Port, witnessed an important first in the 2025 season. The Malta-flagged Aroya ship, which blends the luxury cruise experience with Middle Eastern hospitality and was developed by Cruise Saudi and belongs to AROYA Cruises, has started to show its way in Turkish waters. Aroya anchored in Bodrum for the first time today. The ship, which arrived from Kaş Port at 08.00:02.00 in the morning and will depart for Istanbul Port at around 1646:1472 midnight, has XNUMX passengers and XNUMX crew members. The port atmosphere was also prepared for this special visit on Aroya's first Bodrum voyage. Passengers were welcomed with a red carpet and various treats such as tangerine Turkish delight, tangerine chips and lemonade, while a band playing Turkish tunes and a local folk dance team accompanied the welcoming moment.

Inviting passengers to discover the enchanting shores of the Mediterranean in its promotions, AROYA Cruises will also visit prominent coastal cities in Türkiye such as Istanbul, Kusadasi, Kas, Marmaris, Fethiye and Izmir, in addition to Bodrum. In 2025 of the 12 voyages planned for Bodrum in the company's 4 program, the ship will depart from the port at around 02.00:XNUMX midnight.

After the welcome, the passengers dispersed to the streets of Bodrum and took a pleasant walk, especially from the Kumbahçe coast to the marina. While the activity in the bazaar increased visibly, it was observed that many guests took the time to shop and showed interest in local products. It was also noted that the visitors asked questions about Turkish cuisine and especially wanted to get information about local flavors.

Exciting for Regional Tourism

Aroya, consisting of a total of 19 decks, can accommodate 335 passengers with a length of 1678 meters and a cabin capacity of 3362. The ship was designed to make the time spent at sea unforgettable with 15 different restaurants, a theater hall with a capacity of 1018 people, 20 entertainment points including VR experience areas, a children's area of ​​1858 square meters, a water park with 5 water slides and a SPA of 1818 square meters. The ship, which especially targets families, stands out with its connecting cabin options and comfort-oriented services. Combining the historical richness and turquoise shores of the Mediterranean with elegance, Aroya's arrival in Bodrum also stands out as an exciting development in terms of regional tourism. This unique experience, where luxury and discovery meet, once again reveals the importance Bodrum Cruise Port attaches to diversified destinations and its contribution to tourism.

'Aroya's arrival in Bodrum is a tangible result of our long-term marketing efforts.'

Speaking about Aroya’s first voyage to Bodrum Cruise Port, Aziz Güngör, Global Ports Holding Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director, said, “Global Ports Holding Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director and Bodrum Cruise Port General Manager Aziz Güngör made the following assessment about Aroya’s first voyage to Bodrum:

“Being on AROYA’s route is a strong indication that Bodrum’s unique energy and cultural richness are being appreciated internationally. We believe that this first visit will be the beginning of a long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation. Aroya’s arrival in Bodrum not only enriches the diversity of cruise tourism, but also highlights the unique charm and hospitality of our destination once again. This time, it should also be evaluated as a concrete result of the marketing and promotional activities we have been meticulously carrying out for a long time. We wholeheartedly believe that Bodrum will host many more cruise ships and passengers in the coming period.”

Source: HORECA TREND and Global Ports Holding

While climate change, increasing pollution and ecosystem destruction have become a life-threatening crisis all over the world, our seas have become one of the most sensitive and most damaged areas of this process. Plastic waste, chemical leaks and uncontrolled waste disposal threaten not only marine life but also human health and economic sustainability. According to the 2024 report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), sea water temperatures have reached record levels, glaciers are melting rapidly and sea levels are rising. Stating that ocean acidification and pollution are destroying the habitats of marine life, Çavuşoğlu said, “The marine ecosystem is at risk of collapse.”

Cruise Tourism Exists with Clean Seas

Stating that they support the “Zero Waste Blue” project of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Çavuşoğlu said, “Cruise tourism is one of the sectors that needs sea cleaning the most. Our ports becoming centers of attraction is possible with our clear seas. If sea pollution increases, the attractiveness of Turkey’s coasts for cruise tourism will decrease. If we, as a sector, do not invest in cleanliness and sustainability, we will fall behind in sea tourism.”

In addition, the shift towards environmentally friendly ship technologies in the Mediterranean basin in 2024 and the efforts to transform ports into “green ports” are also considered as an indication that the sector is acting with this awareness.

Green Ports and Clean Ship Technologies Should Become More Common

Stating that within the scope of Camelot Maritime's environmentally friendly practices, they have minimized the use of plastic, separated waste at source and put into operation new generation systems that reduce carbon emissions, Çavuşoğlu said that this awareness should also be increased in ports:

“Maritime is a sector that is in direct contact with nature. Therefore, our responsibility is great. As Camelot Maritime, we see environmentally friendly practices not only as a preference but also as a fundamental duty. We minimize the use of plastic on our ships, separate waste at source and put into operation new generation systems that provide energy efficiency. We are constantly improving ourselves and investing in technologies that comply with international standards to reduce our carbon footprint. Green port transformation projects should be accelerated even more by the state.”

Win-Win Model with Tourism and Environment

Stating that zero waste awareness is a “win-win model” that will both protect the environment and provide economic benefits in the tourism sector, Çavuşoğlu concluded his words as follows;

“A clean environment is the key to quality tourism. Not only holidays, but also the future of health, culture and sea tourism is possible with clean nature. If we want to leave a livable Türkiye to future generations, we should start by protecting the seas.”

Source: HORECA TREND and Camelot Maritime

Flights Departing from Istanbul Will Continue Throughout the Summer Season

MSC Fantasia, a ship belonging to MSC Cruises, one of the world's leading cruise companies, is in Istanbul for summer season voyages in Türkiye. The ship offers its guests comfort, adventure and unforgettable experiences together within the scope of the Aegean & Adriatic program, which appeals to the increasing interest of Turkish cruise passengers with its affordable price options and rich discovery routes.

Rich Routes with Special Privileges for Turkish Guests

MSC Cruises aims to make cruise tourism accessible to everyone with its affordable price options, early booking campaigns and easily accessible embarkation ports in the Turkish market. MSC Fantasia promises an experience that appeals to all age groups and holiday expectations with its route covering the popular ports of the Aegean and Adriatic. The ship, which will depart from Istanbul, will stop at Kuşadası/Ephesus after its program that includes the ports of Corfu, Katakolon, Piraeus/Athens in Greece; Bari and Trieste/Venice in Italy, and the ship will return to Istanbul.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, MSC Cruises Türkiye Continues to Grow

MSC Cruises has maintained its strong position in the market as the only cruise company with an office in Türkiye since 2005. Speaking at the company's 20th anniversary celebration in Türkiye, MSC Cruises Turkey Country Manager Işın Hekimoğlu:

“We are the market leader in Europe, South America, the Middle East and South Africa. With our strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East, MSC Cruises stands out as the fastest growing global brand in cruise tourism. We continue our investments to popularize this travel model in the Turkish market. We aim to increase the number of Turkish passengers with special price advantages for our Turkish guests by increasing the number of our ships, passenger capacity and embarkation ports every year. Our approach for our Turkish guests is to raise awareness that cruise travel is an affordable, accessible journey of discovery. Last year, we hosted approximately 15 thousand Turkish guests on our ships. Most of these guests were repeat passengers who had previously traveled with MSC. Research conducted specifically for cruise travel shows that 85% of our guests are repeat passengers. This is an indication of how high the satisfaction rate is. Therefore, our goal is to introduce cruise travel to young couples and families with children who have not yet experienced this experience in Türkiye and to “We believe that their perspective on holidays will change completely and they will become one of our repeat passengers.”

 Speaking at the event, MSC Cruises Managing Director Norbert Stiekema said: 

"As MSC Cruises, the increasing interest of our Turkish guests allows us to improve our plans every year. With our goal of hosting 3 thousand Turkish passengers in 35 years, we are positioning more of our ships in Türkiye and aiming to replace the traditional holiday concept with cruise travel. Turkey is one of the regions that our foreign guests demand the most, as it is surrounded by sea on three sides, its ports are close to attraction centers and it offers more than just a destination. For this reason, it is among the indispensable parts of our programs. However, our aim is to ensure that Turkish guests also benefit from this privilege that is one step away from home. 73% of our guests consist of families that include more than one generation. We offer a unique experience on our ships with facilities suitable for all ages and tastes. In addition, on all of our ships operating in Turkey, many details are planned for our guests, from Turkish employees in different departments to Turkish Coffee, with the services we customize for our Turkish guests. We invite our Turkish guests to meet this world by offering special opportunities every year." dedicate. 

MSC Fantasia: Exceptional Comfort and Entertainment Together

As the only cruise company with an office in Türkiye, MSC Cruises has been operating for 20 years and continues to offer unique experiences to thousands of passengers every year with its fleet of 23 ships offering high standards of service and destinations covering all corners of the world. Operating in Türkiye during the summer and winter seasons, MSC Cruises promises its guests unique experiences.

Joining the fleet in 2008, MSC Fantasia is the first ship to implement the “ship within a ship” concept created by MSC Cruises with its premium service approach. The ship’s exclusive MSC Yacht Club area offers a privileged experience with luxury suites, personal butler service, private restaurants and lounges..

MSC Fantasia has been designed to offer a comfortable travel experience in every detail. There are a total of 1.637 cabins on the ship and can accommodate 4.363 passengers. In addition to the experienced crew of 1.370 serving the guests, there are 6 different restaurants and 13 bars on the ship. Passengers can benefit from a total of 5 indoor and outdoor swimming pools and 12 jacuzzis, while entertainment options include a 4D cinema and a Formula 1 simulator. In addition, a squash court, MSC Aurea Spa, special playgrounds for children and various activities for young guests offer rich opportunities for all age groups.

Aesthetic and Experience-Oriented Travel

With its Swarovski crystal staircase, Murano glass skylights and elegant interior decoration, MSC Fantasia makes travel not just a form of transport but also a visual experience. A selection of world cuisine, live shows and personalised service offer passengers an unforgettable summer holiday.

Bringing together comfort, discovery and quality in every detail, MSC Fantasia is ready to offer Turkish passengers an unforgettable holiday experience on the sea this summer.

Source: HORECA TREND and MSC Cruises Türkiye