Bodrum Cruise Port opens the 2026 season with Astoria Grande, targeting 140,000 cruise passengers and 150,000 ferry passengers this year.
Bodrum Cruise Port, which is part of Global Ports Holding's portfolio, opened the 2026 cruise season with the Astoria Grande ship. The port aims to host 140,000 passengers with 119 cruise ships throughout the season and will also serve 150,000 passengers for ferry services to the Greek Islands.
Aziz Güngör, Director of Eastern Mediterranean Ports at Global Ports Holding, explained that Bodrum Cruise Port is increasingly hosting more luxury segment ships each year. He stated, 'Considering both the ships that will visit our port for the first time and the interest from luxury segment ships, we see that the recognition and preference rate of Bodrum Cruise Port within international cruise routes is increasing every season.'
Bodrum Cruise Port, which is part of the world's largest cruise port operator Global Ports Holding, opened the cruise season this year with the Palau-flagged Astoria Grande ship, just as it did last year. The ship docked at Bodrum Cruise Port on April 3 with 909 passengers and 445 crew members, having departed from Ege Port Kuşadası. Throughout the season, which will continue until November, 19 ships will visit Bodrum Cruise Port for the first time. The port aims to host 140,000 cruise passengers with a planned total of 119 ships throughout the year and will also serve 150,000 passengers through ferry services operated by five different companies to the Greek islands.
19 ships will visit Bodrum for the first time.
Bodrum Cruise Port will host more ships from the luxury category this year. In addition to the three voyages of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection that visited the port last season, Four Seasons will have four voyages, Ponant will bring three different ships for four voyages, and Emerald Cruises will make two voyages with its two new ships to Bodrum.
The ships that will frequently visit Bodrum Cruise Port during the 2026 season have also been identified. Throughout the season, Aroya Cruises' Aroya will make 16 voyages, Marella Cruises will have 13 voyages, and two separate ships from Holland America Line will each make two voyages to Bodrum. The Aidablu ship will also add Bodrum to its itinerary for the first time this year, making five voyages to the port throughout the season. Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady will visit Bodrum Cruise Port seven times this year. In total, 19 ships will come to the city for the first time in 2026.
The port management will continue its social responsibility projects and maritime promotions aimed at students with the ships it hosts.
‘Preference is increasing every season’
Aziz Güngör, Director of Eastern Mediterranean Ports at Global Ports Holding, explained that Bodrum Cruise Port is hosting more luxury segment ships each year. He stated, 'This year we will host 19 new ships. Many ships will visit Bodrum multiple times. By the 2026 season, Bodrum will become a leading port for luxury segment cruise ships in our country. Considering both the ships that will visit our port for the first time and the interest from luxury segment ships, we see that the recognition and preference rate of Bodrum Cruise Port within international cruise routes is increasing every season.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
