Emerald Azzurra and Ephesus: a private-car plan for busy port days

Published 4 October 2026

Emerald Azzurra never has Kusadasi to itself. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) shows three calls in 2027, and on every one of them at least two other ships are listed. For a private-car day to Ephesus, that makes the order of your stops the main decision.

Who else is in port

• Monday 31 May 2027: National Geographic Orion and Rhapsody of the Seas. Three ships.
• Saturday 10 July 2027: Celestyal Discovery and Explorer of the Seas. Three ships.
• Saturday 21 August 2027: Celestyal Discovery, MSC Splendida and Wind Surf. Four ships, the busiest of the three.

Celestyal Discovery is the repeat companion, on both summer Saturdays. Arrival and departure times for Emerald Azzurra have not been announced yet; when they are, they may still change. Check the ship’s daily programme for the all-aboard time.

Turn the usual route around

On multi-ship days, many groups head for Ephesus at similar times in the morning. You cannot empty the site, but with your own car you can arrive when the first wave is leaving. The simplest way:

1. Start at the House of the Virgin Mary, up the mountain road.
2. Come down to the upper gate of Ephesus and walk downhill through the site; the driver collects you at the lower gate.
3. Stop briefly at the Temple of Artemis on the edge of Selcuk.
4. If time allows, finish in Sirince.

If you prefer the ruins first, that works too. Tell us when you book and we will set the route.

How many stops your call can hold

Since the hours are still open, use these guides, always keeping a 60-minute margin before the published departure:

• Stay of 5 to 6 hours: Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis if there is time. Here the reversed order does not pay off; go straight to the ruins.
• Stay of 7 to 8.5 hours: Mary’s House, Ephesus and Artemis, as above. Skip Sirince.
• Stay of 9 hours or more: the full route including Sirince, roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door.

Example: a long summer Saturday

This uses a hypothetical call of 08:00 to 17:00, for illustration only.

On 21 August, with four ships listed, getting off the ship and out of the port may take longer than usual. If you leave later than planned, shorten Sirince rather than Ephesus.

The four sites with a summer eye

House of the Virgin Mary. Starting here has a second benefit in July and August: it sits higher, among trees, and usually feels cooler. It is a working place of devotion, visited by three popes between 1967 and 2006; quiet inside and covered shoulders are appreciated.

Ephesus. One of the great cities of the Roman Mediterranean and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. By late morning in summer the marble reflects the heat and shade is scarce, so carry water. The Terrace Houses add about 45 to 60 minutes and are under a roof.

Temple of Artemis. Expect a single re-erected column in a low field, not a standing temple. The view towards Ayasuluk Hill and the Basilica of St John is part of the stop.

Sirince. The old Greek village above Selcuk is busiest around midday, so an early-afternoon arrival on this route is reasonable. Fruit wine is the local speciality; check your ship’s alcohol rules before buying.

Comfort on these dates

• 31 May: usually a comfortable temperature for walking, and a good day to add the Terrace Houses.
• 10 July and 21 August: midday is often well above 30 °C. Hat, sun cream and good shoes; the Ephesus route is roughly 1.5 to 2 km of uneven stone.
• Sirince’s cobbled lanes are steep. If anyone in your group has limited mobility, mention it when booking.

Booking

Reserve a private Kusadasi–Ephesus transfer for your group, up to 8 passengers per vehicle. Your driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits throughout and brings you back.

Tell us your extra stops and preferred order when you book; we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included, so buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page. Payment by cash or card. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. To see which other ships share your day, open the Kusadasi cruise ship schedule.

Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.