Bodrum: Record Number of Cruise Passengers in 2025
Bodrum, one of Turkey’s leading cruise destinations, has successfully concluded another extraordinary cruise season, hosting 116 port calls with 138,149 passengers—a record number of visitors for the city.
Several cruise lines contributed to this success, including AROYA Cruises with overnight calls, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, and Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery 2. Bodrum also confirmed its position in the luxury segment, welcoming Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, as well as Silversea’s Silver Muse and Silver Whisper.
The Bodrum Cruise Port features a cantilevered pier that can accommodate two large cruise ships or four smaller cruise ships simultaneously. Thanks to the pier’s expansion in 2011, even the world’s largest cruise ships can dock with ease. In addition to the cruise pier, the port also offers berths for up to 30 mega-yachts and three ferry ramps.
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Managed by Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator, Bodrum Cruise Port has also received recognition for its commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
For Aziz Güngör, East Med Regional Director at Global Ports Holding, 2025 was an exceptional season for Bodrum, both operationally and socially. He highlighted the pride in Bodrum’s international recognition for sustainability efforts, thanks to ongoing projects benefiting both the community and the environment.
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In 2025, the social responsibility initiative “One Day. One Ship. One Future”, launched in collaboration with Marella Cruises, came to a successful conclusion. Throughout the year, high school students were welcomed to the port for exploration activities, beach clean-ups, port tours, and ship visits. Supported by Bodrum Sea Rescue, the program aimed to raise awareness of marine conservation and inspire young people to pursue maritime careers.
Mausoleo Alicarnasso
Once the ancient city of Halicarnassus, with its Mausoleum being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Bodrum today blends its rich history with modern sophistication, attracting visitors from all over the world. It has become one of Turkey’s main cruise destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Nestled on a truly spectacular peninsula, Bodrum has recently been nicknamed the “New St. Tropez,” with its charming villages featuring whitewashed houses adorned with characteristic purple bougainvillea, thanks to the turquoise waters of the Aegean and its kilometers of sandy beaches.
The city center is just a short walk from Bodrum Cruise Port, and Bodrum Milas International Airport is also nearby. This allows easy access to the city’s iconic landmarks, vibrant markets, and beautiful beaches, playing a key role in supporting local tourism with tangible economic benefits.
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