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Istanbul is gaining ground as a major homeport for international cruise tourism, with global operators increasingly using the city as the starting and ending point for Mediterranean routes.
Türkiye’s cruise traffic continued to grow in the January-May period, according to data from the Maritime Affairs Directorate General.
Cruise ship arrivals at Turkish ports rose 2.2% year-on-year to 324, while passenger numbers climbed 3.9% to 455,580.
The growth was stronger in May, when 169 cruise ships called at Turkish ports, up 14.2% from the same month last year. Passenger numbers also rose 10.8% in May to 257,897.
Kusadasi remained Türkiye’s busiest cruise port, but Istanbul followed closely, handling 66 cruise ships in the first five months of the year.
A growing share of these ships used Istanbul not only as a transit stop but also as a homeport, a city where passengers begin or end their voyage.
Industry data shows that the number of cruise operators using Istanbul as a homeport rose 50% between 2023 and 2025. Companies including MSC Cruises, Costa Crociere and AROYA Cruises have expanded their operations from the city.
Experts link Istanbul’s growing role to its international airport connections, modern port infrastructure, efficient border procedures and strong appeal as a tourism destination.
Galataport Istanbul, the city’s modern cruise terminal, has also helped strengthen passenger handling and turnaround operations, which are essential for homeport services.
Cruise operators say homeport destinations create a stronger economic impact than transit stops because passengers often spend extra time in the city before or after their voyage.
This usually means more hotel stays, restaurant visits and shopping. Industry representatives estimate that homeport passengers can spend between $1,500 and $2,000 per person, up to seven times more than transit passengers.
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