Cruise line For Holland America guests
Holland America at Kusadasi: Where You Dock, What Fits
- Calls in the next 12 months
- 9
- Typical time in port
- 11 hours
- Most common times
- 07:00-18:00
- Tour that usually fits
- The Road of Paul and John
Holland America's calls run long, and the extra hours change what fits into one Ephesus day.
The short answer
Holland America's ships, mainly Oosterdam and occasionally Volendam, dock at Kusadasi's Ege Port along with every other line. Most calls run about eleven hours, typically a morning arrival and a late-afternoon or evening departure. That is enough time for the full Ephesus site, the Terrace Houses, and a second stop such as the Basilica of St. John or the House of the Virgin Mary, without rushing the walk.
The ships you might be on
Two Holland America ships have called at Kusadasi in our schedule window: Oosterdam, a Vista-class ship built in 2003, on most of the calls, and Volendam, an older Rotterdam-class ship, on one longer voyage. Both dock at Kusadasi's Ege Port pier and use the same terminal exit and meeting point as every other ship: your guide waits right outside the exit with a sign, so it takes about a minute to meet up.
An eleven-hour day, most of the time
Holland America's Kusadasi calls run long by this port's standards, a median of about eleven hours, with a typical pattern of a morning arrival and a late departure. That is enough for The Road of Paul and John, our tour that adds the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John to the ancient city, or for Marble, Mosaics and Artemis at an easier pace with time to spare.
The tour that fits a typical Holland America call
Holland America ships usually spend about 11 hours in Kuşadası. The highlighted row is where most of their guests land.
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Time in port: Under 5 hours ashore
The Open-Air Circle
No tickets and almost no walking: Artemis, Selcuk and a drive past the ruins.
Tour length: 3-4 hours
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Time in port: 5 to 8 hours
Just Ephesus
Ephesus from the Upper Gate down to the Lower Gate, and back with time to spare.
Tour length: 3-3.5 hours
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Time in port: 8 to 9 hours
Marble, Mosaics and Artemis
All of Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and the Temple of Artemis.
Tour length: 5.5-6.5 hours
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Where most guests on this line land
Time in port: 9 hours or more
The Road of Paul and John
Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, St. John and Artemis.
Tour length: 6-7 hours
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Time in port: Late arrival, tender or tight call
All-Aboard Ephesus
We plan backward from all-aboard and fit in only what fits.
Tour length: Fits your call
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Time in port: You have your own list
Your Ship, Your Day
Tell us your ship and your wishes; we build the day around both.
Tour length: Fits your call
Every tour is private and priced from €33 per person for groups of 8 or more; smaller groups get a private quote. Any group size: 1 to 52 people per coach, and more coaches for larger groups. Entrance tickets are extra, at the official price.
If you already have a shore excursion credit
Guests on Holland America's Have It All fare arrive with a prepaid shore excursion credit, and Holland America runs its own named tours to Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, the House of the Virgin Mary and a panoramic drive through Kusadasi. Using that credit on the ship's own tour is a good option, especially if you would rather not plan the day yourself.
A private day with us suits guests who want their own pace, their own vehicle, and a route built around your own interests rather than a set group itinerary.
Comfort and mobility on the downhill walk
Holland America is upfront that its main Ephesus tour is not suited to guests using a wheelchair, since the site's marble streets, slopes and steps make it a genuinely physical walk. We plan the same route at whatever pace your group needs, with rest stops built in, and our wheelchair guide covers the one route into Ephesus that works for a wheelchair, entering and leaving through the Lower Gate.
The months Holland America calls
In our current schedule, Holland America's calls cluster in the shoulder months rather than midsummer: September, October and November on one side of the year, May, June and July on the other. If your cruise falls outside those windows, send us the date anyway, since schedules are added throughout the year.
What to tell us when you inquire
Send your ship name, the date, your all-aboard time and your group's mobility needs through the inquiry form. We plan the day backward from your ship's own schedule, and nothing is paid in advance.
Holland America ships in Kuşadası, next 12 months
Ships: Oosterdam (10), Volendam (1).
October 2026 1 call
| Date | Ship | Arrives | Departs | In port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Oct | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 19:00 | 12 h |
November 2026 1 call
| Date | Ship | Arrives | Departs | In port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2 Nov | Volendam | 08:00 | 21:00 | 13 h |
May 2027 2 calls
| Date | Ship | Arrives | Departs | In port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 3 May | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 18:00 | 11 h |
| Wed 5 May | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 19:00 | 12 h |
June 2027 1 call
| Date | Ship | Arrives | Departs | In port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 11 Jun | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 18:00 | 11 h |
July 2027 2 calls
| Date | Ship | Arrives | Departs | In port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 2 Jul | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 18:00 | 11 h |
| Fri 23 Jul | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 18:00 | 11 h |
September 2027 2 calls
| Date | Ship | Arrives | Departs | In port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 3 Sep | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 18:00 | 11 h |
| Tue 28 Sep | Oosterdam | 07:00 | 16:00 | 9 h |
From the published port schedules, checked September 28, 2026. Times can change; your ship's program always wins.
Questions cruise guests ask us
Where does Holland America dock in Kusadasi?
At Kusadasi's Ege Port, the same pier every big ship uses. Tendering is possible at this port but rare, and Holland America's ships normally berth alongside like everyone else; you leave through the regular terminal exit, and we meet you at the port: our guide waits right outside with a sign carrying your name, so it takes about a minute to meet up.
How much are Holland America's own shore excursions to Ephesus?
That is set by Holland America, not by us, so check your ship's excursion desk or app for the current price. Our own private tours are priced separately, starting from €33 per person for groups of 8 or more; smaller groups get a private quote, with the exact total for your group in our reply.
Is Holland America's Ephesus tour wheelchair accessible?
Holland America's own flagship Ephesus tour is not recommended for wheelchair users, since the site has uneven marble streets, slopes and stairs. A private day lets us choose the route and the pace, and the one path that works for a wheelchair enters and leaves through the Lower Gate rather than crossing the whole site.
When does Holland America call at Kusadasi?
Mostly in the shoulder months: September through November, and again from May through July, based on our current schedule. Oosterdam carries most of these calls; Volendam appears on one longer voyage. If your sailing falls outside those months, tell us your date and we will confirm what fits.
How long does a Holland America call at Kusadasi usually last?
About eleven hours on the typical call, though it has run as short as nine and as long as thirteen in our data. Eleven hours comfortably covers Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, and one more stop such as the Basilica of St. John.
Info Ephesus is an independent, TÜRSAB-licensed local operator. We are not affiliated with Holland America; the name is used only to show which ships call at Kuşadası.
On a Holland America ship to Kuşadası?
Send the ship, the date and your all-aboard time. We reply within 24 hours with a plan and an exact price.
Get My QuoteNo prepayment · Reply within 24 hours · TÜRSAB 15746
Prefer email? info@infoephesus.com
