The CDF L’Horizon and the MSC Lirica made their maiden calls at Marmaris Cruise Port on Saturday the 8th of June.

Once again Marmaris Cruise Port welcomed maiden guests with Turkish hospitality.

Both ships’ guests were greeted with the music and shows of the Ottoman military marching band, also known as the “janissary band of musicians”.

Marmaris Cruise Port kept the traditional style welcome with a complimentary mini Turkish bazaar on the pier. The guests had the chance to walk through the mini bazaar as they disembarked their ship, where they were presented with baklava (traditional desert of Turkey) and Turkish ice-cream. Guests were also presented with souvenirs and gifts on behalf of Marmaris Cruise Port such as, shopping bags, flowers and blue beads famous with their spiritual protective eyes in the centre.

The warm Marmaris weather kept guests happy as they enjoyed the various Turkish tastes and the music from the janissary band of musicians. The passengers then had the opportunity to discover Marmaris or go onto excursions of their choices.

The captains of both ships were presented with commemorative crests, made of a traditional Turkish handcrafted ceramic plate with Ottoman Galleon motives by Marmaris Cruise Port’s Managing Director, Sukru Tugay.

Horizon will be calling 3 times in Marmaris this year and the Lirica is scheduled to visit Marmaris with another 10 calls throughout the season.

A record of 135 Cruise ship calls  and 150 000 Cruise Passengers along with 120 000 ferry passengers from the Marmaris – Rhodes ferry line are expected in Marmaris this year.

Thomson celebration is home ported in Marmaris with 26 weekly turnaround calls where the ship exchanges 1300 passengers from May to October since 2010.

In Marmaris 2013 saw the introduction of Complimentary WIFI for passengers and crew at the pier, and the terminal building, a development which was welcomed with a great deal of interest by all visitors.