The cruise season has begun in Turkey with increased activity at the three cruise ports operated by Global Ports Holding (GPH): Antalya Cruise Port, Ege Port – Kusadasi, and Bodrum. This improvement is reflected in the latest data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (Turkstat), which indicated that the number of tourists during the first quarter of 2018 increased by 26.4% compared to the same period last year.
Antalya Cruise Port welcomed its first cruise ship of the season, the Serenissima, on March 26, and a few days later, on March 30, received the Mein Schiff 1. The port is located near Antalya International Airport and boasts beach resorts and hotels. Passengers can take shore excursions to nearby towns and historical sites, such as Aspendos, Perge, and Side.
On Turkey's western coast, the Serenissima visited Age Port – Kuşadası on March 30, followed by the Celestyal Majesty on March 31. Oceania and Regent Seven Seas ships will soon return this season. Azamara Cruises will visit Kuşadası in 2018 with the Azamara Journey on May 15. The port is close to historical sites such as Ephesus, where passengers can experience the completely renovated Scala Nuova Village, offering exotic and colorful shops, elegant cafes, bars, and restaurants, all tailored for cruise passengers.
The Bodrum cruise port, located in the heart of the popular holiday town, will also see increased traffic this year with several inaugural calls. These include Thomson Cruises' TUI Discovery 2 on May 22, TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 4 in the first week of October, and Ponant's La Pérouse in the second half of October. All will be welcomed with plaque presentation ceremonies and warm greetings.
On April 29, the Bodrum Cruise Port hosted the fifth edition of Global Run Bodrum. Global Run is a popular race held annually in GPH ports for runners who travel to different countries to experience new cultures, destinations, and cuisine while staying fit.
