Published 4 October 2026
Wind Star has a short, simple Kusadasi pattern: two calls, both on a Monday, both in October 2026. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) shows Monday 5 October and Monday 12 October, each from 07:00 to 23:00. Sixteen hours in port is about as generous as cruise calls get here, and the early arrival is the detail worth planning around.
Two calls, one shape
| Date | Published window | Other ships listed |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 5 Oct 2026 | 07:00-23:00 | MSC Divina |
| Mon 12 Oct 2026 | 07:00-23:00 | MSC Divina, Arcadia |
Both days share the port with MSC Divina, and on 12 October a third ship is listed, so that is the busier of the two. These are the only Wind Star calls in the next twelve months. Times can still change; your ship’s daily programme has the final all-aboard time.
Using a 07:00 arrival
When several ships are in port, many groups head to Ephesus at similar times in the morning. A ship that is alongside at 07:00 gives you the chance to be ahead of them, with cooler air and emptier marble streets. Two things to check first:
- Opening hours. An early ship can arrive before the gates open. Entrance tickets are not included, so buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page before leaving the port.
- Getting off. Even with only one or two other ships, leave some slack for getting off the ship before you meet the driver.
With this much time, all four places fit comfortably: Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince take roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door. You could also do them at a slower pace, or add the Terrace Houses without cutting anything else.
An early-bird plan
A hypothetical Monday built on the 07:00-23:00 window, assuming Ephesus is open by the time you arrive:
- Shortly after opening: meet your driver at the cruise port exit; Ephesus is roughly 20-30 minutes away.
- First 2.5 to 3 hours: Ephesus from the upper gate, downhill to the lower gate, including the Terrace Houses. Ask to be dropped at one gate and collected at the other when you book.
- Late morning: the House of the Virgin Mary, roughly 15-20 minutes up a winding road, about 45 minutes there. It sits higher among trees and often feels cooler.
- Around midday: a 15-20 minute stop at the Temple of Artemis.
- Early afternoon: Sirince for 1 to 1.5 hours, then roughly 25-40 minutes back to the port.
Done this way, you are back at the ship by mid-afternoon with most of the evening still ahead. The rule we ask everyone to follow, back at the port at least 60 minutes before departure, is not under pressure on a day like this.
If you would rather sleep in
Nothing forces the early start. Leave the port in late morning and the same route still finishes hours before 23:00. The trade-off is that you will meet the busiest part of the day at Ephesus. On 12 October, with three ships in port, one alternative is to begin at Mary’s House and reach Ephesus later, once the first groups have moved on.
Notes for an October Monday
Ephesus. Mid-October is usually milder than summer, but there is still little shade. Bring water and wear shoes with grip; the marble can be slippery. Look out for the Temple of Hadrian and the Odeon as well as the Library of Celsus.
House of the Virgin Mary. Venerated by many Christians as the place where Mary is believed to have spent her last years, and visited by three popes. Modest clothing is respected inside.
Temple of Artemis. One column stands where a Wonder of the Ancient World once stood. Keep expectations right and treat it as a short stop with a view of Ayasuluk Hill.
Sirince. Steep cobbled lanes, the restored Church of St John the Baptist, and shops selling fruit wine and soap. In the afternoon it is calmer than at midday.
Reserving the car
Book the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer for your Monday. The driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits while you visit and drives you back to the ship. Up to 8 passengers share one vehicle, and it is only for your group. Let us know your extra stops and preferred start time when you book, and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; cash or card.
Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.
Plan it with the current schedule
Good to know: the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer covers Ephesus. Stops at the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince are not included and cost extra; tell us which ones you want when you book and we will confirm the plan and the cost.
- Wind Star currently has fewer than two upcoming Kusadasi calls listed, so it has no ship page of its own. Any remaining call appears in the list of all ships calling at Kusadasi. All cruise ships calling at Kusadasi
- Kusadasi ⇄ Ephesus private transfer
- Open the cruise day planner
- Calling at Kusadasi only once? Ephesus by private car, ship by ship
- Ephesus by private car, ship by ship
The ship times in this guide are as published in October 2026 and can change. The ship pages are updated every morning.