Turkey cruise passenger numbers hit 16‑year high in first half of 2026

According to data from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, 756,455 cruise passengers visited Turkish ports in the first six months of 2026, the highest figure recorded in the past 16 years. The number of cruise ships docking at Turkish ports during this period totaled 488.

Kuşadası remained the leading port, accommodating 204 cruise vessels, followed by Istanbul with 93 ships. Other popular destinations included Bodrum (36 ships), Çeşme (27 ships) and Marmaris (20 ships). After the pandemic‑induced lows of 2020‑21, when passenger numbers were only in the low‑thousands, the sector has more than tripled its 2022 figures, reinforcing Turkey’s role as a major hub in global cruise tourism.