Cruises
Ephesus from Norwegian Cruise Line: Viva and Gem in Kusadasi
Norwegian has the most varied schedule in Kusadasi. The Norwegian Viva comes ten times between June and October: some calls from 07:00 to 16:00 or 14:00, others from 13:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. Morning calls and afternoon calls that ask for different tours. The Norwegian Gem makes two very early calls, 06:00 to 13:00, in May and October.
Whatever your hours, the meeting point is the same: the Ada Pier Lounge, inside the port’s Cruise Plaza, two minutes from the ship. And so is the rule: back at least one hour before sailing.
Your ships in Kusadasi in 2027
| Ship | 2027 calls | Usual hours | Months | Which tour fits | See my date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Viva | 3 | 07:00–16:00 | Jun–Oct | All tours | See my date |
All dates20.06 · 07:00–16:00 · 15.08 · 07:00–16:00 · 10.10 · 07:00–16:00 | |||||
| Norwegian Viva | 3 | 13:00–21:00 | Jun–Oct | All tours; the Virgin Mary only on a private tour | See my date |
All dates24.06 · 13:00–21:00 · 19.08 · 13:00–21:00 · 14.10 · 13:00–21:00 | |||||
| Norwegian Viva | 2 | 07:00–14:00 | Jul–Sep | Ephesus group tour and private essential | See my date |
All dates09.07 · 07:00–14:00 · 03.09 · 07:00–14:00 | |||||
| Norwegian Viva | 2 | 13:00–22:00 | Jul–Sep | All tours; the Virgin Mary only on a private tour | See my date |
All dates12.07 · 13:00–22:00 · 06.09 · 13:00–22:00 | |||||
| Norwegian Gem | 2 | 06:00–13:00 | May–Oct | Ephesus group tour and private essential | See my date |
All dates06.05 · 06:00–13:00 · 07.10 · 06:00–13:00 | |||||
Which tour fits your schedule
Norwegian Viva, 07:00 to 16:00. Nine hours. Everything fits, including the full day with the House of the Virgin Mary, which the group visits in the afternoon.
Norwegian Viva 07:00 to 14:00 and Norwegian Gem 06:00 to 13:00. Seven hours. The group tour to Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis fits, and so does the private essential tour; the House of the Virgin Mary does not. With the Gem, departure is aligned with the site’s opening time.
Norwegian Viva 13:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. An afternoon call of eight or nine hours. Ephesus in the afternoon has the best light and fewer people; the group tour fits and so do the private tours. The House of the Virgin Mary only on a private tour that day, because we visit it first.
On the booking page choose your date: you will see your ship’s real hours and only the tours that make it back in time.
See the full 2027 calendar, all cruise lines
Frequently asked questions
The Viva arrives at 13:00. Can we visit Ephesus in the afternoon?
Yes, and it is a good time: softer light and fewer visitors. An eight or nine hour call fits the group tour to Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis and any private tour. You are back at least one hour before sailing.
What about the House of the Virgin Mary on the afternoon call?
Not on the group tour that day: we visit it at the end of the route and by then it would be closed. On a private tour, yes, because we visit it first, straight from the port, and then come down to Ephesus.
The Gem arrives at 06:00. Do we leave right away?
We leave as soon as Ephesus opens; you lose nothing by arriving so early. A seven-hour call fits the group tour to Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis and the private essential tour. The House of the Virgin Mary does not fit that day.