Aroya Cruises confirmed that all guests who were onboard the Aroya when operations in the Arabian Gulf were suspended have safely disembarked the Aroya.
In a statement shared on its website, the company said that it completed the debarkation operations on March 7, 2026.
“I am incredibly proud of the professionalism and care shown by our onboard and shoreside teams, who have worked tirelessly to ensure our guests are safe and supported,” said Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi and interim president of Aroya Cruises.
“I would also like to thank the local authorities for their close coordination and assistance during this time, as well as our guests for their patience and understanding,” he added.
Cruise Industry News, the company cancelled planned itineraries in the Arabian Gulf this season.
After debuting in the region in late February, Aroya was set to offer cruises to destinations in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman through early May.
The itineraries were highlighted by a range of departure ports, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Dammam.
“The safety, security, and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority and continue to guide our operational decisions,” Aroya stated at the time.
The company is now set to return to the region in early 2027, with planned itineraries in the Arabian Gulf extending from February to March.
Other cruise lines have cancelled the remainder of their seasons in the area, including MSC, which was set to offer itineraries to the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar through early April.
While TUI and Celestyal also cancelled their plans in the Arabian Gulf for 2025-26, Costa and AIDA decided they will no longer sail to the region in 2026-27.
The Carnival-owned brands were set to deploy some of their largest ships in itineraries in the Middle East between later this year and early 2027.