Ege Port Kuşadası, operated by Global Ports Holding, concluded the 2025 cruise season with the highest cruise and passenger volumes recorded in its history, reinforcing its position as Türkiye’s leading cruise port and a key hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.
By December 29th, 2025, the port had accommodated 617 cruise ship calls and welcomed 995,303 cruise passengers. Over the same period, ferry activity totaled 1,016 calls with 187,077 ferry passengers. Combined, these figures represent the highest overall level of vessel calls and passenger movements ever handled at the port. The transition into the next cruise season is scheduled to begin immediately, with the first arrival planned for January 1st, 2026.
Ranked as the busiest cruise port in Türkiye and the fourth busiest in the Eastern Mediterranean by cruise traffic, Kuşadası continued to attract sustained demand across multiple cruise market segments throughout 2025. Nine vessels included the port in their itineraries for the first time during the season, reflecting ongoing interest from both mainstream and expedition-style operators. The port’s location, providing efficient access to regional cultural landmarks such as the ancient city of Ephesus, remained a central factor in its continued appeal.
Port management attributed the year’s results to long-term planning, operational consistency, and coordinated engagement with cruise lines, local authorities, and service providers. Ongoing investments in infrastructure have focused on maintaining safe and efficient operations while accommodating increasing vessel size and passenger volumes, further strengthening Kuşadası’s role as a primary port of call in the Eastern Mediterranean cruise network.
Alongside operational growth, Ege Port Kuşadası advanced its environmental strategy during 2025 with the commissioning of a solar power installation on the roof of the passenger terminal. The system, which became operational in June, consists of 426 solar panels supported by five inverters and is designed to generate approximately 312,552 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This capacity is sufficient to meet the full energy requirements of the passenger terminal and associated operational areas, marking a significant step in the port’s transition toward renewable energy sources.
Beyond vessel operations, the port continued to develop its destination offering through a wide range of shore-based experiences. These included extended visits and evening programs at Ephesus, along with cultural, culinary, and coastal activities across the wider region. The diversity of excursions has allowed cruise passengers to tailor their time ashore to varying interests, supporting Kuşadası’s role not only as a transit port but also as a destination in its own right.