Turkish Ports Welcome 490 Cruise Ships in First Half of 2025

Turkey

Türkiye welcomed a total of 490 cruise ships in the first six months of 2025, marking an 18.07% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.

The sharp rise reflects the growing demand for the country’s thriving maritime tourism sector.

“Rising interest in cruise tourism clearly reflects the growing appeal of Türkiye’s maritime travel, bolstered by the country’s strategic geographical location,” Uraloglu told Anadolu Agency.

Between January and June, the number of cruise passengers reached 732,302, representing a 27.46% increase year-on-year. In June alone, 173 cruise ships docked at Turkish ports—up 14.56% compared to last year—bringing 293,766 passengers, a 20.61% increase.

Kusadasi Leads in Cruise Arrivals

Uraloglu highlighted that Türkiye has become a global tourism hub, attracting international visitors with its historical, cultural, and natural treasures. He added that the government continues to invest in cruise infrastructure alongside broader transportation developments across all sectors.

“We expect to easily surpass 2 million cruise passengers by the end of the year,” he stated.

In the first half of 2025:

Kusadasi Port received the most traffic, with 227 cruise ships and 339,922 passengers.
Istanbul’s ports followed, welcoming 96 ships and 220,720 passengers.
Bodrum hosted 29 ships with 31,761 passengers.
Çeşme saw 24 cruise calls and 11,183 passengers.
Çanakkale welcomed 15 ships.

Additionally, other ports across the country hosted a combined 99 cruise ships and 119,743 passengers.

Finally, the ports of Fethiye, Göcek, and Sinop each received one cruise ship during the same period.