Aroya Cruise from Istanbul 2026 — Sea, Halal and No Compromises

Oleg Filatov
May 30
8 min read

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Aroya Cruise from Istanbul 2026 — from a cabin to a villa in Khuzama

Aroya 5★ is a 7-night Mediterranean cruise departing from Istanbul — the world's first fully halal-certified cruise ship. From $743 per person. No Schengen visa required. Departures from Galataport, Istanbul.

Route: Istanbul → Marmaris → Bodrum → Kas → Alexandria → Istanbul.

On board: 15 halal restaurants, zero alcohol, prayer rooms for men and women, private women-only hours in the pool and spa, children's zone of 1,858 m² (the largest at sea), Blossom Spa 1,818 m², Russian-speaking service on board, and Khuzama — the premium ship-within-a-ship experience with personal butler service and villas from 163 m².

Booking for citizens of Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, UAE, UK and other countries — through BIOHACTOUR, official La Voyage partner, licence TÜRSAB A-14433, Istanbul. Online check-in via the Aroya Cruises app opens 2 weeks before departure.

🌊 Alcohol-Free Travel Is the New Normal

Not long ago, a "good holiday" automatically meant a bar by the pool and cocktails at sunset. That's changing — fast.

More and more people, not only Muslims, are choosing alcohol-free travel. Some for religious reasons, some for health, some simply because they're tired of losing half their holiday recovering. Sober tourism is growing worldwide — and the industry is noticing.

Aroya wasn't built as a compromise. It was built as a full alternative — where everything is designed around a different way of life. No one offering you "just a beer," no loud parties in the corridor at 3am.

Calm atmosphere. Families. Couples who want real time together. People who travel to recharge — not to add more stress to their body.

Aroya is not about restrictions. It's about choice.

🕌 Halal on Board — What It Actually Means

Aroya is the only cruise ship in the world with full halal certification. This isn't a special menu on request — it's the entire ship.

🍽 Food. All 15 restaurants serve 100% halal food. IRTH is the world's first Saudi restaurant at sea. Italian, Lebanese, seafood, Sea Shisha. Non-alcoholic cocktails included in the fare.

🕌 Prayer. Prayer rooms for men and women on Deck 5. Prayer mat in every cabin. Use the Qibla App to find the direction — the ship's heading changes along the route.

🏊 Women-only zones. Separate hours in the pool, gym and spa — fully closed sessions, women only. Nothing like this exists on any other ship in the region.

🎭 Atmosphere. No casino. No alcohol in any form. Arabian Night themed evening included in the programme.

Visa information:

🇷🇺 Russian citizens — Egyptian entry permit is issued free of charge at boarding in Istanbul. Passports are collected and stamped on board. You can go ashore in Alexandria.

🇺🇿🇹🇯 Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other CIS citizens — we recommend obtaining an Egyptian visa in advance to go ashore in Alexandria. If you didn't manage to get one — no problem, you simply stay on board that day. The ship stays in port and all facilities are fully operational. Contact us in advance — we'll help with the visa process.

🇬🇧🇦🇪 UK, UAE and other international citizens — please check Egyptian visa requirements for your specific passport. Contact us and we'll advise.

🇬🇷 Greek island routes (Rhodes, Mykonos, Athens) — a valid Schengen visa is required. Without one, you cannot go ashore in Greece.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kids on Aroya — While They Play, You Actually Rest

Family holidays at sea often mean parents never really relax. On Aroya it works differently.

The children's zone is 1,858 m² — the largest kids' territory on any cruise ship in the world. Age-specific clubs run free of charge from 10:00 to 18:00:

👶 6 months – 2 years — nursery with carers 🌍 3–6 years — Discoverers zone ⚓ 7–12 years — Captains zone 🎭 13–17 years — Teen zone with its own programme

After 18:00 — professional babysitter available at $10/hour/child.

Additional paid themed zones: Bridge Academy (captain's bridge simulation), Culinary Academy (pizza, wooden boat building), costume room for shows and games.

🎁 Kids Sail Free — children up to 12 years old sail free when sharing a cabin with 2 full-fare adults. Taxes and port fees apply to all guests. Not applicable to Khuzama villas (Signature Suite, Presidential Villa, Royal Villa). Check availability at time of booking.

Example: departure 27 June – 4 July 2026, 7 nights. Balcony cabin for 2 adults + 1 child — from $1,177 / cabin. Suite for 2 adults + 1 child — from $1,590 / cabin.

💆 Blossom Spa — Wellness at Sea

1,818 m² of wellness space right on board. Massage, hammam, sauna, facial and body treatments, relaxation zones.

Women-only sessions — pool, gym and spa operate in fully closed mode during designated hours. No exceptions, no outsiders. Nothing like this on any other ship in the region.

An Aroya cruise works particularly well as a reset — no alcohol around, no casino, a calm rhythm, sea air, good food and spa on demand. Ideal for couples, women's trips, and anyone who simply needs to breathe.

👑 Khuzama (Хузама) — When a Regular Cruise Isn't Enough

Some guests want every detail exactly right. No queues, no compromises, a personal butler and a sea view from a 39 m² suite. For them, Aroya has Khuzama.

Khuzama is a world within the ship. The name means "lavender" in Arabic — a flower that symbolises luxury and hospitality in Saudi Arabia. The same spirit defines the concept: you are a guest, and everything has been prepared for you in advance.

What's included in Khuzama Experience:

🛎 Personal butler — from boarding to disembarkation. Not "call reception" — a person who knows your name and resolves things before you ask.

🚢 Priority boarding and disembarkation — separate VIP desk at the terminal, no general queues. While others wait in line, you're already being served drinks and processed.

🧳 Luggage delivery — your bags arrive in the cabin. You carry nothing.

🍽 Khuzama Restaurant — exclusive, Khuzama guests only. Menu combines Saudi and French cuisine, rotates daily. This is not a buffet — this is dinner.

🥂 Khuzama Lounge — 24-hour lounge on Deck 16. Coffee, drinks, light snacks. Concierge here handles spa bookings, excursions, restaurant reservations — one call.

📶 Free Wi-Fi included.

Accommodation types:

Suites from 25 to 58 m² — balcony, dressing room, luxury bathroom, sea view. Family Premier Suite available.
Khuzama Villas from 163 to 392 m² — 9 villas and one Royal Villa. Larger than most Moscow apartments.

In short: Khuzama is business class at sea, with an Arabian character. Not cold European restraint — warm Eastern hospitality at the highest level. For those who fly business class and expect service to begin at the airport — here it's the same, only for seven days with a Mediterranean view.

Availability and pricing for Khuzama suites and villas — contact us directly, this level books separately. 👉 https://wa.me/905326799057

📱 Online Check-In via the Aroya App

Boarding at Galataport runs from 14:00 to 20:00, departure at 22:00. To skip the queue — register in advance.

📍 Port address: Galataport Istanbul, Kilicali Pasa Mah., Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No: 8, Ic Kapi No: 102, 34433 Beyoglu/Istanbul. Gates 102, 34433.

Aroya Cruises app — free download on App Store and Google Play. Check-in opens 2 weeks before departure.

How it works: 🔹 Download app → log in → your cruise loads automatically from booking data 🔹 Fill in the form: passport details, photo 🔹 Link a foreign bank card → receive QR boarding pass

No foreign bank card? No problem — go to the port and check in at the desk: booking confirmation + passport.

Important about the onboard deposit. Russian bank cards are not accepted on board. All payments via AROYA Pass — your boarding card. Best to deposit cash at reception (Deck 6) — card deposits block double the amount, with a release period of up to 6 weeks after the cruise ends.

🗓 Routes and Prices — Summer 2026

All departures from Galataport, Istanbul. Two route types — choose based on your visa situation.

🇹🇷🇪🇬 Turkey + Egypt — No Schengen Required Istanbul → Marmaris → Bodrum → Kas → Alexandria → Istanbul

Date	Nights	Interior	Sea View	Balcony	Suite
6, 13, 27 Jun	7	$879	$1,147	$1,177	$1,590
6, 13, 27 Jun	5	$743	$1,011	$834	—
11, 25 Jul	7	$799	$1,121	$1,177	$1,590
27 Jun 🧒	7	$799	$1,147	$1,177	$1,590

🧒 — Kids Sail Free applies (children up to 12, taxes and port fees apply, not valid on Khuzama villas)

🇬🇷 Greek Islands — Schengen Visa Required Istanbul → Bodrum → Rhodes → Mykonos → Piraeus/Athens → Istanbul

Date	Nights	Interior	Sea View	Balcony	Suite
4 Jul	7	$799	$987	$990	$1,402
18 Jul	7	$799	$987	$1,008	$1,402
20 Jun	7	$1,074	$1,255	$990	$1,402

Prices per person including port taxes. Exchange rate 30.05.2026: $1 = 74.57 RUB.

Included: accommodation, full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner), non-alcoholic beverages, children's clubs (10:00–18:00), basic Wi-Fi, port fees, taxes and service charge.

Excursions — Marmaris, Bodrum, Kas, Alexandria, Greek islands. Walking tour of Rhodes from $34, Kekova Island by boat from $169, Alexandria catacombs from $59, Acropolis Athens from $79. Book and browse at biohactour.com — in English, no prepayment, pay on the day.

❓ FAQ

Is there alcohol on board Aroya? No. None whatsoever. Not in bars, not at events, not in the mini-bar. Aroya is the only cruise ship in the world with full halal certification.

Can I bring alcohol on board? No. Luggage goes through security screening at the port. Some try to disguise it in soft drink bottles — but it's not worth testing the security team's skills. They'll confiscate it and you'll start the cruise on a sour note.

Do I need a visa for the Istanbul — Marmaris — Bodrum — Kas — Alexandria route? No Schengen required. Russian citizens — Egyptian permit issued free at boarding in Istanbul. Citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — we recommend obtaining an Egyptian visa in advance. Without one, you stay on board in Alexandria.

Do I need a visa for Greek island routes? Yes — a valid Schengen visa is required. No Schengen, no going ashore in Greece.

Do kids sail free? Kids Sail Free: children up to 12 years old — 100% off the cruise fare when sharing a cabin with 2 full-fare adults. Port taxes and fees still apply. Not valid on Khuzama villas. Check current dates at booking.

What is the minimum age for the cruise? 6 months. For itineraries with 3 or more consecutive sea days — 12 months.

Are there prayer rooms on board? Yes — Deck 5, separate rooms for men and women. Prayer mat in every cabin.

Are Russian bank cards accepted on board? No. All payments via AROYA Pass boarding card. Deposit in cash recommended — card deposits block double the amount for up to 6 weeks after the cruise.

How do I check in online for Aroya? Download the AROYA Cruises app (App Store / Google Play). Check-in opens 2 weeks before departure. A foreign bank card is required for online check-in. No card — check in at the port desk with passport and booking confirmation.

Where is the departure port in Istanbul? Galataport Istanbul, Kilicali Pasa Mah., Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No: 8, Ic Kapi No: 102, 34433 Beyoglu. Boarding 14:00–20:00, departure 22:00.

What is included in the cruise price? Accommodation, full board, non-alcoholic beverages, children's clubs (10:00–18:00), basic Wi-Fi, port fees, taxes and service charge.

How do I book an Aroya cruise from Istanbul? Message us on WhatsApp +90 532 679 90 57. Tell us your dates, number of guests and whether you have a Schengen visa — we'll show you current options and prices straight from the booking portal.