A Strong Start to the Year for Turkey’s Cruise Industry
Cruise tourism in Turkey is riding a wave of growth in 2025. According to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, 490 cruise ships anchored at Turkish ports during the first six months of the year—a significant increase of over 18% compared to the same period in 2024. He emphasized that Turkey’s strategic geographical position continues to make it a sought-after destination for maritime tourism.
June Brings a Surge in Arrivals
June alone saw 173 cruise ships visit Turkish ports, compared to 151 in June last year. That’s a 14.56% year-on-year increase. Passenger numbers followed a similar upward trend: nearly 294,000 cruise passengers came ashore in June 2025, up more than 20% from the same month in 2024.
Over the first half of the year, total cruise passenger numbers reached 732,302, marking a 27.46% jump from the previous year’s 574,509. These figures reflect growing global interest in Turkey as a cruise destination, supported by ongoing investment in maritime infrastructure and tourism.
Kuşadası Remains the Top Cruise Destination
Kuşadası continued to lead as Turkey’s busiest cruise port, welcoming 227 ships and nearly 340,000 passengers in just six months. Istanbul followed with 96 ships and over 220,000 passengers, highlighting the city’s appeal both as a cultural capital and cruise hub.
Other notable ports included Bodrum with 29 cruise calls, Çeşme with 24, and Çanakkale with 15. Smaller ports also played a part, collectively hosting nearly 100 ships and over 119,000 passengers. Fethiye, Göcek, and Sinop each welcomed a cruise ship during this period, showing that even lesser-known ports are beginning to make their mark on the cruise map.
Looking Ahead: Eyes on the 2-Million Mark
Minister Uraloğlu expressed confidence that Turkey would surpass 2 million cruise passengers by the end of the year, citing ongoing infrastructure development across all transportation modes. He highlighted that the government’s investment strategy extended beyond land and air transport, with a clear focus on strengthening the maritime sector as well.
With its unique mix of historical heritage, cultural richness, and natural beauty, Turkey is rapidly establishing itself as a leading global cruise destination. And with 2025 already showing such strong momentum, the future of Turkish cruise tourism looks bright.
