Star Flyer to Ephesus: three Wednesday calls, three seasons

Published 4 October 2026

Star Flyer visits Kusadasi three times in the coming year, always on a Wednesday, and each call lands in a different season. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) shows 12 May, 14 July and 15 September 2027. One thing stays the same: Odyssey of the Seas is listed in port on all three days, and every one of them has at least three ships.

Arrival and departure times have not been announced yet. Recheck closer to your date, and once on board take the all-aboard time from the ship’s daily programme.

One ship, three different days

Wednesday 12 May: spring, three ships

Odyssey of the Seas and Viking Sea share the port. Temperatures are usually mild, which makes this the easiest of the three dates for a long walk through Ephesus and the Terrace Houses.

Wednesday 14 July: high summer, four ships

Odyssey of the Seas, AIDAblu and Enchanted Princess are listed. Midday heat at Ephesus is often well above 30 °C, so the order of your day matters more than on the other dates.

Wednesday 15 September: early autumn, five ships

Odyssey of the Seas, AIDAblu, National Geographic Orion and SeaDream II are listed. The busiest of the three in port terms, but usually gentler weather than July.

Fitting the sites to your hours

Without published times, plan in brackets, and in every case be back at the port at least 60 minutes before departure.

• Less than 6 hours: Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis only if time allows.
• 6–7 hours: Ephesus plus one more. In July, take Mary’s House for its shade; in May, either works.
• 7–8.5 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and Artemis. Not Sirince.
• 9 hours or more: all four, including Sirince.

Sample plan for a seven-hour call

Invented times for illustration, not Star Flyer’s schedule: in at 07:30, out at 14:30.

1. 08:00 — meet your driver at the cruise port exit.
2. 08:30–10:45 — Ephesus, upper gate to lower gate.
3. 11:05–11:50 — House of the Virgin Mary.
4. About 12:30 — back at the port, two hours before the example departure.

That leaves room for delays on a busy morning. If your real call is around eight hours, add the Temple of Artemis on the way back; at nine or more, add Sirince.

What each place means for you

Ephesus. Curetes Street, the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeon and the Great Theatre, one of the largest of the ancient world. In July start as early as possible; in May and September you can be more relaxed.

House of the Virgin Mary. A small house in the forest above Ephesus, visited by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979. Trees and height make it the coolest stop in July.

Temple of Artemis. Little more than one column now, standing where a Wonder of the Ancient World once rose. A 15–20 minute stop on the edge of Selcuk.

Sirince. For long calls only. Steep cobbled lanes, the restored Church of St John the Baptist, fruit wines and handmade soaps.

Crowd tips across the three dates

Because Star Flyer never has the port to itself, assume a morning queue of groups at the Ephesus gates on every one of these dates. With a private car you can change the order: Mary’s House first, Ephesus afterwards. This helps most on 15 September, with five ships, and on 14 July, when you also want to keep the hottest hours for shaded places.

Booking

Book the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer for your Wednesday. The driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits during your visits and takes you back to the ship. Up to 8 passengers per vehicle. Tell us your extra stops when you book, and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.

Tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page. Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.