Istanbul targets 150,000 cruise passengers in winter season expansion

Istanbul is strengthening its position as a major Mediterranean cruise hub, transitioning from a mere stopover destination to a primary homeport. During the first seven months of 2026, the city led Turkey in cruise passenger traffic, hosting 128,908 homeport passengers.

A significant driver of this growth is AROYA Cruises, which has announced a new program running from October 10, 2026, to April 24, 2027. The company will utilize Galataport Istanbul as a homeport for voyages to destinations including Bodrum, Marmaris, Kusadasi, and Alexandria. This move is expected to extend the city's cruise season beyond the traditional summer months.

For the period between November 2026 and April 2027, Galataport Istanbul aims to host 51 cruises and 150,000 passengers. AROYA Cruises is projected to account for 26 of these cruises and 78,000 passengers. This represents a projected increase of 143 percent in the number of cruises and 188 percent in passenger volume compared to the previous year, supporting the goal of a 12-month cruise season.