One of the world’s largest cruise ships, the “Sun Princess” docks in Kuşadası, Turkey

The tourists who disembarked from the ship were greeted by a folk dance team. Passengers photographed the folk dance team, who were dressed in traditional costumes and performing.

Some tourists visited the House of the Virgin Mary and the ancient city of Ephesus in the Selçuk district of Izmir, while others preferred to shop in the city center.

John Padgett, the chairman of the cruise company’s board of directors, also hosted the city protocol on board for the inaugural voyage.

Kuşadası District Governor İbrahim Keklik, Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, and Yusuf Öztürk, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Shipping, toured the ship.

Aziz Güngör, the General Manager of Ege Port, told journalists that the Sun Princess ship was launched last week and is considered one of the newest and largest ships in the world, adding that this is the ship’s first visit to Turkey.

Güngör also added that the ship, carrying approximately 4,000 tourists, will make four more trips to Kuşadası during the 2024 cruise season.