Hopefully it won’t be long until we can again enjoy carefree cruising. European cruising is resuming and Turkey which had been off the cruise map for a while is back on itineraries in 2021.

To whet your appetite, here’s a story from a fascinating shore excursion to classical cities in Turkey that’s off the beaten track. This story first appeared in the Cruisington Times in 2012:

On a typical day, over 20,000 people visit the ruins of the famed city of Ephesus, Turkey, and the majority of them come from cruise ships that dock in the port of Kusadasi. Ephesus is definitely not to be missed if you haven’t been there before, because its vast scale and beautifully preserved facades, including its famous multi-story library, give a sense of the grandeur and comfort of ancient life.

But if –like me– you’ve visited here before, the opportunity to visit other important ancient cities that are overshadowed by Ephesus becomes alluring. That’s why Holland America Line has created an expanding program of Explorations Central (EXC) shore excursions for repeat guests who crave new experiences.

Read it all in The Cruisington Times