Bodrum (Turkey)

Bodrum is an Aegean Sea port (locode TRBXN) and city in Turkey's Mugla Province (southwestern Anatolia Peninsula/Asia Minor) with population around 40,000. It is a seacoast town with sleek yachts anchored in twin bays under the walls of the medieval castle of Saint Peter, built by the crusading Knights of Saint John during the 15th century. Bodrum is one of Aegean's prettiest tiny resort towns but has also become more popular. Ships arrive at the ferry pier close to the Castle of Saint Peter, set on a point splitting the inner and outer harbors. The castle was created by the Knights of Saint John during the 15th century and boasts various dungeons, towers, courtyards, and interesting museums.

In 2022, following the Coronavirus crisis, Port Bodrum handled 101 cruise ship calls and ~100,000 passengers. The successful season made Bodrum Turkey's 3rd busiest cruise port - after Kusadası and Istanbul. The Port's largest so far cruise liner is RCI-Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas (max passenger capacity 4800 plus 1300 crew).

2023 was the Port's record year with scheduled 138 cruise ship calls (101 received) and expected ~125000 tourists (100,000+ handled). Most berthings (46 total) were booked by ANEX Selectum Blu Cruises for Blue Sapphire (1981-built/fka Saga Sapphire, shipowner ANEX Tours Turkey). Blue Sapphire's 2023 season (May thru October) was entirely based on homeporting in Bodrum. The 3-4-night/4-5-day Eastern Mediterranean itineraries (all roundtrips from Bodrum) visited Greek island ports (Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Kos) with select voyages also visiting Piraeus-Athens and Heraklion (Crete Greece).

Bodrum owes its fame to Mausolus, a man long dead, and his renowned "Mausoleum", one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The mausoleum's remains are disappointing though imaginatively restored, as most of the intriguing statues and friezes are in the London Museum. The amphitheater has been restored and is currently used for festivals. The city is famous as the birthplace of the Greek historian Herodotus.

Bodrum cruise terminal