Türkiye Logs Busiest March for Cruise Tourism Since 2010

Türkiye posted its strongest March for cruise passenger traffic in 16 years, welcoming 41,039 cruise travelers last month, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said. The March total was up 4.9% from March 2025, and 26 cruise ships called at Turkish ports during the month, according to the ministry’s statement.

March passenger arrivals reach a 16-year high

Uraloğlu said March 2026 marked the highest March cruise passenger figure since 2010. “March 2026 was recorded as the highest March cruise passenger figure of the last 16 years, with 41,039 passengers,” he said.

The March increase came alongside steady ship activity, with 26 cruise ship calls recorded nationwide during the month.

Where cruise passengers arrived in March

The ministry’s breakdown showed Istanbul as the leading gateway by passenger volume in March, with Kuşadası and İzmir Alsancak also handling large totals. Smaller ports together accounted for several thousand additional passengers and ship calls.

• Istanbul ports: Eight cruise ships brought 13,307 passengers in March. This was the highest passenger total among Turkish ports for the month.
• Kuşadası Port: Seven ships carried 12,191 passengers to Kuşadası during March. The port finished close behind Istanbul by passenger volume.
• İzmir Alsancak Port: Five cruise ships delivered 9,723 passengers to İzmir Alsancak in March. The monthly total placed it third among the country’s busiest ports.
• Other Turkish ports combined: Six cruise ships brought 5,818 passengers to other ports in March. Together, these calls made up the remaining share of the national total for the month.

In March, Istanbul and Kuşadası were separated by just over a thousand passengers, while İzmir Alsancak approached the 10,000 mark, highlighting how closely the top ports clustered for the month.

First-quarter totals show early-year cruise activity

For the first quarter of 2026, Türkiye recorded 56 cruise ship arrivals and a total of 93,787 cruise passengers from January through March, according to the ministry’s update.

First-quarter ship calls (January to March 2026)

• Istanbul ports: Istanbul recorded 18 cruise ship calls in the first quarter. That was the highest number of ship arrivals among Turkish ports over the period.
• Kuşadası Port: Kuşadası logged 17 cruise ship calls from January to March. The total placed it narrowly behind Istanbul for ship traffic.
• İzmir Alsancak Port: İzmir Alsancak recorded 13 cruise ship calls in the first quarter. Despite fewer calls than Istanbul and Kuşadası, it remained one of the country’s main cruise gateways.

First-quarter passenger totals (January to March 2026)

• Istanbul ports: Istanbul handled 35,800 cruise passengers in the first quarter. The passenger total put Istanbul clearly in front nationally.
• İzmir Alsancak Port: İzmir Alsancak recorded 27,467 cruise passengers from January through March. It ranked second by passengers despite ranking third for ship calls in the same period.
• Kuşadası Port: Kuşadası welcomed 22,682 cruise passengers during the first quarter. The port ranked second in ship calls while placing third in passenger volume.

The first-quarter rankings showed that ship-call volume and passenger volume did not align perfectly among the leading ports, with İzmir Alsancak drawing the second-highest passenger total despite fewer calls than Kuşadası.

2025 set a recent benchmark above 2 million passengers

The ministry’s March and first-quarter figures follow a strong year for cruise tourism in 2025. Uraloğlu said cruise passenger numbers rose 13.2% to nearly 2.14 million last year, the highest annual figure in more than a decade.

He also noted that 2025 marked the first time since 2013 that Türkiye’s annual cruise traffic exceeded 2 million passengers.

With March delivering a 16-year high for the month and the first quarter totaling 93,787 passengers, the latest breakdown points to Istanbul, Kuşadası, and İzmir Alsancak continuing to anchor Türkiye’s cruise passenger arrivals and ship calls early in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many cruise passengers visited Türkiye in March 2026?

Türkiye welcomed 41,039 cruise passengers in March 2026, according to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. The figure was 4.9% higher than March 2025.

How many cruise ships called at Turkish ports in March 2026?

The ministry reported 26 cruise ship calls at Turkish ports during March 2026.

Which port handled the most cruise passengers in March 2026?

Istanbul ports ranked first in March 2026, welcoming 13,307 passengers from eight cruise ships.

What were Türkiye’s cruise totals for the first quarter of 2026?

From January through March 2026, 56 cruise ships arrived at Turkish ports, bringing total cruise passenger numbers to 93,787.

How many cruise passengers did Türkiye record in 2025?

In 2025, cruise passenger numbers rose 13.2% to nearly 2.14 million, the highest level in more than a decade and the first year above 2 million since 2013, Uraloğlu said.