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INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
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Turkey's Didim
attracting niche operators
The newly opened cruise terminal at Didim in Turkey is becoming a popular
call for small ships and niche cruise operators. After welcoming Windstar ships
and The World last year, the port has recently seen maiden calls from Club Med 2
and SeaDream 1, and is expecting two further maiden calls from Columbus and
Arion later in the year.
Didim is a tender port situated on the south-west Aegean coast of Turkey.
Passengers arriving on Club Med 2 and SeaDream 1 last week were met on the pier
by girls in traditional Turkish costume handing out flowers and Turkish delight
as well as posters and souvenirs of the town and its nearby historic sites.
Club Med 2 brought 262 passengers and two days later SeaDream 1 cruised in with
107 passengers, many of whom took advantage of the port’s proximity to Ephesus
(100km) whilst others chose to visit the nearby ruins of Didyma and the oracle
shrine of Apollo, Miletus, cradle of ancient philosophy, and Priene, another
member city of the Ionian league.
The sandy beach of Altinkum, just a few minutes’ walk from the pier, as well as
the shops and markets of Didim town were also popular with passengers and crew,
reports Amanda Çetin, marketing manager at Marmaris Cruise Port, managers of
Didim port.
Cruise ships remain at anchor 0.5nm away from the sheltered bay which is
suitable for water sports, she adds. Fully ISPS compliant, the newly built
passenger terminal has a pier alongside suitable for ferries and tender boats.
Izmir and Bodrum international airports are 160km and 60km away respectively.
Regular, fast ferry connections link Didim port to neighbouring Greek islands of
Kos, Samos and Patmos.
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