Asia based cruise consolidator Int2Cruises has been appointed preferred sales partner in India for Saudi Arabia’s Aroya Cruises, opening up a new portfolio of Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean sailings to one of the world’s fastest growing outbound travel markets. The agreement, announced on February 13, 2026, signals a strategic push to court Indian holidaymakers with short haul, culturally familiar cruise itineraries that combine regional convenience with a fresh sense of discovery at sea.
A Strategic Partnership Targeting India’s Booming Cruise Market
The designation of Int2Cruises as preferred sales partner for Aroya Cruises in India is more than a standard agency appointment. It reflects a deliberate strategy by the Saudi cruise brand to capture demand from an Indian outbound segment that has become increasingly sophisticated and experience driven. For Aroya, which was created by Cruise Saudi as the first homegrown Arabian cruise line, India represents a natural next step in its regional expansion.
Int2Cruises brings to the table a strong distribution network spanning major Indian cities, along with a deep understanding of how first time and repeat cruise guests in the country research, plan and purchase their holidays. The company will be responsible for promoting, packaging and selling Aroya’s Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Mediterranean sailings to Indian travellers, working with travel agencies, online partners and direct customers.
The collaboration is also notable for its timing. Aroya has now moved from its initial Red Sea deployment into a three season calendar that includes the Arabian Gulf and a summer program in the Eastern Mediterranean. For Indian holidaymakers, this means a year round menu of itineraries that are closer to home than most traditional cruise options in Europe or North America, yet still deliver the aspirational appeal of international travel.
Shorter Cruises, Closer To Home: Matching New Indian Travel Preferences
Central to the new partnership is a shared understanding of how Indian cruise preferences are evolving. Int2Cruises data shows that Indian travellers increasingly prefer shorter three to five night sailings that are easy to plan around work schedules and family commitments. These compact holidays are long enough to feel like a meaningful break, but short enough to be slotted into school vacations or long weekends without complex logistics.
Aroya’s deployment model aligns closely with this trend. In the Red Sea, the line operates three to five night itineraries from Jeddah that visit a mix of Saudi and Egyptian ports, including resort destinations and heritage rich coastal cities. In the Red Sea season, which runs in the cooler months from January to February and again from September to November, Indian guests can access coral reefs, desert landscapes and historic shoreline towns in a single compact voyage.
Similarly, the Arabian Gulf season, concentrated between February and April, features three to seven night sailings that link regional hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and key ports in Oman. For Indian travellers used to flying to Dubai for a city break, the possibility of combining familiar Gulf city experiences with a cruise, without dramatically increasing travel time, is expected to be a strong draw.
Red Sea Season: New Horizons for Indian Holidaymakers
Aroya Cruises’ Red Sea program forms the backbone of its year round operation and will likely be a major focus for the Indian market. Sailing primarily from Jeddah, these cruises are designed around nature, heritage and coastal leisure. Guests can visit private island beaches, snorkel in coral rich waters and explore port cities that blend centuries of maritime trade history with emerging tourism infrastructure.
The Red Sea itineraries typically range from three to five nights, appealing to Indian guests who may be taking their first cruise and prefer shorter commitments. Ports of call include destinations in Saudi Arabia, such as Jabal Al Sabaya Island and coastal resort areas, as well as Egyptian ports that serve classic Red Sea dive and beach resorts. Some itineraries also reach Jordan, offering access to gateways for inland excursions.
For Indian travellers already familiar with Red Sea resort names from land based tours, Aroya’s itineraries offer a different way to experience the region. Instead of a single beach stay, guests can sample several destinations in one trip, all while returning to the comfort of the same ship each night. The cruise format also simplifies logistics, as accommodation, main dining and entertainment are bundled into a single booking.
Arabian Gulf Deployment From Dubai and Dammam
From early 2026, Aroya is expanding into the Arabian Gulf, with a season that is particularly well suited to India. The line is scheduling sailings from both Dubai and Dammam, offering flexibility in embarkation points and multiple itineraries within the February to April window. These deployments bring the ship into familiar territory for Indian travellers, many of whom already have strong ties to Gulf cities through business, family and leisure travel.
From Dubai, Aroya operates a series of weeklong cruises that call at Muscat and Khasab in Oman, Doha in Qatar, and Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas in the United Arab Emirates. These itineraries layer coastal scenery and desert landscapes with headline attractions such as grand mosques, waterfront skylines and purpose built resort islands. For Indian guests, the appeal lies in pairing marquee Gulf cities with lesser known ports that might not feature on a typical land itinerary.
In late March and April, the ship repositions to Dammam, on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast, to operate additional Gulf cruises. These sailings expand access for travellers who may wish to combine Saudi experiences with a cruise, or who are curious about exploring beyond the well known Dubai Abu Dhabi axis. The season culminates in a repositioning voyage back to Jeddah, effectively linking the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea programs.
Eastern Mediterranean Summer Voyages With Arabian Flair
Beyond the Middle East, Aroya has also ventured into the Eastern Mediterranean, and these itineraries are part of the portfolio now available to Indian travellers through Int2Cruises. Operating from late June through mid September, the Mediterranean season is centered on roundtrip sailings from Istanbul’s Galataport, visiting a mix of Greek and Turkish ports and selected Egyptian destinations.
Typical seven night itineraries feature stops at well known Greek islands such as Mykonos and Rhodes, along with ports like Chania in Crete and the gateway city of Piraeus for Athens. On the Turkish side, guests may visit resort towns such as Bodrum, Kusadasi or Marmaris, where coastal promenades and beaches are backed by centuries of Aegean and Anatolian history. Certain sailings extend farther south to Alexandria or other Egyptian ports, adding a North African dimension.
For Indian holidaymakers dreaming of Europe, these cruises offer a way to sample several classic Mediterranean destinations with the comfort of a ship that retains a distinctly Arabian identity. Aroya’s onboard experience is rooted in Saudi and wider Gulf hospitality, with Arabic design elements, regional cuisine and entertainment alongside international amenities. This blend may be particularly attractive to Indian guests seeking something different from the traditional Western cruise brands that dominate Mediterranean waters.
Onboard Experience: Arabian Hospitality Meets International Comfort
The ship at the heart of Aroya’s operation began life as a large, resort style vessel built for the Asian market and has since been extensively refurbished to reflect its new Arabian positioning. Today, it offers capacity for several thousand guests, spread across a range of cabin categories from interior rooms to balcony staterooms and higher end suites. The refurbishment has focused on infusing the interiors with Arabian motifs while upgrading dining, retail and leisure spaces.
A standout feature is a souq inspired retail district, billed as one of the largest shopping areas at sea, which invites guests to stroll through a series of boutiques reminiscent of an upscale Arabian marketplace. Dining spans both international and regionally influenced options, with restaurants and casual outlets offering Middle Eastern flavors alongside global favorites. For Indian guests, this mix of cuisines is likely to feel both familiar and exploratory, especially as many palates in the region are accustomed to aromatic spices and shared family style meals.
Recreational facilities include multiple entertainment venues, a water park area, pools, a spa and dedicated spaces for children and teenagers. Evening entertainment blends shows, live music and cultural performances that aim to showcase Arabian storytelling and music traditions without sacrificing the cosmopolitan feel expected on a contemporary cruise ship. The brand positions its service philosophy around the concept of warm, generous hospitality that has long been associated with the region.
What the Partnership Means for Indian Travellers and the Region
For Indian travellers, the appointment of Int2Cruises as preferred sales partner removes several barriers that have historically limited cruise adoption. A local consolidator with an India focused support team can provide tailored guidance on visas, flight connections, pre and post cruise stays, and special needs such as vegetarian or Jain meals, multigenerational travel arrangements and group bookings for weddings or incentive trips.
The collaboration also underlines how the geography of cruising is changing for India. For years, most aspirational cruise itineraries were centered on Europe, Alaska or the Caribbean, requiring long haul flights and extended vacation time. With Aroya’s regional deployment, a growing portion of the cruise calendar is now accessible within shorter flying distances, whether from Mumbai and Delhi to Jeddah and Dubai, or via Istanbul for Mediterranean sailings.
On a broader level, the partnership reinforces the emerging cruise triangle between India, the Gulf and the Red Sea. As Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 tourism agenda, cruise lines like Aroya are key to showcasing new destinations along the kingdom’s coasts. Indian guests arriving on these ships become some of the earliest international visitors to nascent seaside resorts and heritage ports, helping to shape the future narrative of regional tourism.
Looking Ahead: Year Round Options and Increasing Connectivity
With Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean seasons now mapped out, Aroya Cruises is effectively offering a year round platform for Indian travellers seeking cruise holidays that bridge Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The partnership with Int2Cruises is expected to evolve as new itineraries are added, including possible refinements in duration and embarkation options based on feedback from the Indian market.
Improving air connectivity will further support this growth. Direct and one stop flights from major Indian gateways to Jeddah, Dubai, Dammam and Istanbul are already well established, and the addition of cruise traffic gives airlines another reason to sustain and expand these routes. For travellers, this means greater flexibility in combining cruises with city stays, religious tourism, shopping trips or visits to friends and relatives around the region.
As more Indian guests step aboard Aroya’s ships, the line’s promise of a remarkably Arabian experience at sea will be tested by a demographic known for its exacting expectations around food, service and value. If the partnership with Int2Cruises delivers on its early promise, it could mark a significant shift in how Indian travellers think about cruising, repositioning the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean not as distant, exotic waters, but as an accessible extension of their broader regional travel map.