Istanbul is one of the cities in which our country hosts most tourists with its historical and natural beauties. Istanbul, which was selected as the European Capital of Culture in 2010, offers different tourism options. Culture tourism is at the beginning of these varieties. Sea tourism and gastronomy tourism are among the most preferred varieties. There are also different ports varieties for cruise ships in Istanbul. 

Cruise ships, which were one of the main tourism income in Istanbul, have lost their effectiveness in the last few years. Let's look at the statistics in the past 9 years. 508,246 passengers with 342 ships came to İstanbul in 2010. 627,897 passengers with 420 ships came to İstanbul in 2011. 596,027 passengers with 382 ships came to İstanbul in 2012. 689,417 passengers with 381 ships came to İstanbul in 2013. 518,935 passengers with 317 ships came to İstanbul in 2014. 595,880 passengers with 345 ships came to İstanbul in 2015. 43,543 passengers with 56 ships came to İstanbul in 2016. 1,332 passengers with 5 ships came to İstanbul in 2017. No ship arrive in Istanbul in 2018. 36,688 passengers arrived with 22 ships came to İstanbul until October 2019. The terrorist incidents in Istanbul and the Galataport renovation project started in February 2015 which affected cruise tourism in Istanbul negatively. However, after four years in 2019, one cruise ship anchored in the port of Sarayburnu. This 10-storey high ship with 750 passengers visited Istanbul. Sea tourism has started with the visit of this ship, which is mostly composed of the citizens of Italy and Greece. 22 cruise ships visited Istanbul by October of 2019.

Cruise tourism, which has come to a standstill for a while, has revived once this ship has preferred Istanbul. The expectation for 2020 is that 80 luxury ships will anchor at Istanbul's cruise ports. This has created a positive impact on other ports in Turkey. Therefore, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will visit the Turkish cruise ports for 14 times, Holland American Line will visit the Turkish cruise ports for 11 times, Royal Caribbean Cruises will visit the Turkish cruise ports for 4 times, Viking Cruises will visit the Turkish cruise ports for 2 times, Windstar Cruises will visit the Turkish cruise ports for 25 time. 

More cruise ships will choose the Turkish ports because of Turkey's geographical location. For this reason, the Turkish government will improve more investments and projects for cruise tourism. That is why, the new port project Yenikapi, the district of Istanbul, is expected to be put into service as soon as possible. 2020. This port is designed to be one of the leading ports in this area. It will be large enough to accommodate eight cruise ships at the same time.