Turkish cruise port also plans to open new passenger terminal to boost future cruise numbers
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Istanbul Cruise Port in Turkey expects to welcome around 362 cruise calls and 640,00 passengers in 2015, a rise of almost 10% from 2014.
Located in the Karaköy neighborhood of Beyoğlu district, the port is the only operating cruise port in Istanbul and has been managed by the Doğuş Group since 24 February 2014.
In the first three months after taking control of the port, Doğuş Group carried out a number of upgrades. This included refurbishing the interior and exterior of the cruise terminal, which now includes a tourism office, a bureau de change and an ATM, cafés and shops selling souvenirs and duty-free products. To improve passenger flow, the port fitted new signage to the terminal and cruise pier, while one of the 4,000sqm terminal buildings is used to process passengers and another is used to handle luggage. The fenders and bollards on the cruise pier have also been repaired or replaced.
To boost cruise numbers and accommodate more ships in future, Doğuş Group plans to extend the width of the existing cruise berth by 10m and construct a new 19,000sqm passenger terminal. The company will also continue to regenerate the waterfront into a hospitality and recreational district with hotels, museums, open spaces and squares.