Astoria Grande Makes First Call at Aqaba with 670 Tourists, Mostly Russians

The cruise ship docks overnight after arriving from Sharm El Sheikh before continuing to Hurghada, with excursions to Petra and Wadi Rum included in the tourism programme.

The Port of Aqaba welcomed the cruise ship Astoria Grande on Saturday, November 14, 2026, marking its first visit to the Jordanian city. The vessel arrived with approximately 670 tourists, most of them Russian nationals, along with 354 crew members.

The ship is scheduled to remain in Aqaba until the evening of Sunday, November 15, as part of a regional cruise itinerary covering several Red Sea ports. The visit offers Aqaba an opportunity to attract a new segment of international cruise passengers.

The vessel arrived in Aqaba from Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh and is scheduled to depart for Hurghada before continuing its itinerary towards Antalya, Türkiye.

Murad Shehadeh, Head of Tourism Data and Services at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), said the ship’s inaugural visit forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Aqaba’s position on international cruise itineraries and diversify its tourism source markets.

He also indicated that the vessel may return to Aqaba in 2027, although no confirmed schedule for future calls has been announced.

Dr. Thabet Al-Nabulsi, Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs at ASEZA, explained that arrangements for receiving passengers include providing tourist buses to transport visitors from the cruise terminal to Aqaba’s city centre, allowing them to explore local markets, tourist attractions and commercial facilities.

The tourism programme also includes excursions to Petra and Wadi Rum, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the historical and natural attractions of Jordan’s renowned Golden Triangle tourism region.

Al-Nabulsi emphasised that cruise ship arrivals create opportunities for tourism establishments, local businesses and service providers to benefit from visitor activity.

The inaugural call of Astoria Grande highlights Aqaba’s strategic importance as a maritime gateway connecting cruise passengers with some of Jordan’s most celebrated destinations, particularly Petra and Wadi Rum.

Short port calls create commercial opportunities for transport companies, tour operators and local businesses. However, assessing their actual economic contribution requires reliable data on passenger spending and the services used during each visit.

The ship’s first visit should not be interpreted as the launch of a regular cruise service, as no confirmed recurring schedule for calls at Aqaba has yet been announced.