 Norwegian Spirit, Kusadasi (Ephesus) Today Friday December 6 2019, Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian Spirit) docked in Kusadasi Cruise Port with 2500 cruise passengers. It is not an ordinary winter day in Kusadasi as we are used to quiet winters when shops being closed. Shops near the Cruise port hybernate for all winter until late March when they will be reopened. Today all the shops near Kusadasi Cruise Port will be awake from their hybernation for 1 day only with the hope that they will make their dime for the day  Norwegian Cruise Line, Pigeon Island Kusadasi Turkey As I walk towards the Port passing through old neighborhoods of Kusadasi watching bakers getting ready from that early 4 am in the morning. I wonder how it was once Ephesus Ancient city was still an active port 2000 years ago. According to an inscription found at Basilica of St. John, the text tells us that Ephesus Ancient city use to receive 65-70 ships a day. Yes, that's true, 2 Millennia ago, Ephesus Harbor was a major trade hub and received 65-70 ships a day for trade. Now I wonder How were they getting ready for a trade day at the Port of Ephesus.  Norwegian Spirit cruise ship is built in 1998 and has Bahaman flag. She is 269meters (883) feet long and has 912 crew. The ship started on December 2nd in Civitavecchia Port in Rome Italy and will follow a 9 day itinerary on the Mediterranean visiting Greek Islands, Israel and will finally end on December 15 in Italy. The port call for Kusadasi comes to the 4th day of the Cruise Journey. Most cruisers got off the Ship with the plan of visiting Ephesus Ancient City and the top tourist attractions around Kusadasi and Ephesus.
 Gate of Arrivals Kusadasi Cruise Port Early in the morning starting around 6.00am there was a huge organizational rush hour at Kusadasi Cruise Port. Bus drivers gettting ready parking their spots at the Parking Lot, maneuvering their huge toys with such mastership. Then around 6.30-7.00 the tour guides started arriving at the Cruise Port. Passing from 2 security checkpoints before they arrive at the Welcoming Point. Once they gathered for the briefing by the tour operator, to discuss various ephesus tours with different itineraries, and timing arrangements, admission arrangements and the rest of the paperwork is done and they are ready for the cruisers to get on the bus.  Travel Agent / Guide Tugrul Sokmen in Kusadasi Cruise Port There will be different tours for example Biblical Ephesus for Cruisers who want to visit Ephesus with a Christian emphasize. There probably will be an Easy Ephesus tour for cruisers with less mobility, elders, handicapped and wheelchair user travelers. There will probably be a Village Tour for Cruisers who enjoy the Pastoral and Rustic local village life. So all these tour types and itineraries will require separate planning.  NCL in Kusadasi, December 6, 2019 It's another brilliant day, new faces, new stories to go home with. And around 8.00 cruisers start disembarking and walking towards the Port's Customs Premises. First bus left around 8.20 and then one after another all left by 9.00pm After the tour of Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary the passengers returned around 3pm and started walking around the shops in Kusadasi town, spice stores and turkish delights are the most popular among all the other leather, jewelry and carpet stores.  Kusadasi Cruise Port Parking Lot There were totally 35 Busses ready for the Cruisers to get off.
Norwegian Spirit will have 2 more departures this year in 2019 being on on December 15 and the last one on December 22. But these last two itineraries will not include Kusadasi (Ephesus) or any other stops in Turkey. To see the arrival schedule of Norwegian Cruise Line for 2020 for Kusadasi Cruise Port please click here. |
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