Explorer of the Seas in Kuşadası: a Saturday or Wednesday safari
Explorer of the Seas has no Kuşadası calls left this year. The port schedule as of early October 2026 picks her up again on Saturday 5 June 2027 and lists six calls in all, the last on Saturday 2 October 2027. Four are on Saturdays and two on Wednesdays, and twice the two days come as a pair: Saturday 5 June and Wednesday 9 June, then Saturday 28 August and Wednesday 1 September. All six fall in our open months: we close the trails on 1 December, keep them closed until 31 March and restart on 1 April, and even Saturday 2 October 2027 is weeks ahead of the winter stop.
Whichever date you have, our 11:00 safari fits. What differs is the arrival time, 08:00 on four calls and 09:00 on two, and that changes how relaxed your morning is. The full list of Explorer of the Seas calls has every date with its current hours.
An 08:00 arrival, step by step
Four of the six calls run from 08:00 to 18:00: both June dates, 28 August and 1 September. On those days:
- 08:00 Explorer of the Seas arrives.
- 08:00 to 10:10 your own time. Have breakfast on board, then walk off the ship without hurrying.
- 10:10 meet us at the Kervansaray meeting point (The Big Ottoman Palace). It is about 50 m from the cruise port exit; here is the location on the map.
- About 15 minutes later you reach the start in the pine forest behind Pamucak beach.
- 11:00 the safari: about two hours on the trails, including a 30-minute break on Pamucak beach.
- 13:45–14:15 back at the port.
- 18:00 the ship sails.
The two 09:00 days
Saturday 10 July and Saturday 2 October 2027 are different. The ship is due at 09:00 and leaves at 19:00, an hour later at both ends.
The ride itself does not move. You still meet us at 10:10, so the free time before the meeting shrinks from 2 h 10 min to 1 h 10 min. Explorer of the Seas is a big ship. Royal Caribbean puts her maximum at about 4,290 guests with every berth filled, so do not leave going ashore to the last minute on these mornings. Eat early, have your things ready and head down as soon as passengers are allowed off.
The afternoon is the other way round. With the group back by 14:15 at the latest and departure at 19:00, you have 4 h 45 min before she sails, an hour more than on the 08:00 days.
Why the afternoon ride does not fit
Our rule is that you must be back at the port at least 60 minutes before the ship departs. The 16:00 safari returns between 18:45 and 19:15, so it needs a departure of 20:15 or later. Explorer of the Seas leaves at 18:00 or 19:00 on every listed call, which is too early by a long way. The 11:00 ride needs the ship in by 10:10 and away at 15:15 or later, and every call meets that.
One more check is worth doing. Your daily programme on board prints an all-aboard time, and it is usually earlier than the departure time. Plan your free afternoon around that.
Engines or horses
Explorer of the Seas is a Voyager-class ship that Royal Caribbean International has sailed since 2000. On the motorised side, the buggy safari and the quad safari both let you drive yourself with no licence, from age 16, in a single or double vehicle. You wear a helmet and goggles, get a short safety briefing and follow the guide in convoy. Children under about 2 years cannot join these two.
If someone in your party would rather not drive, the horse safari takes beginners from age 8, or younger children riding with an experienced companion. It goes out in a small group with a riding guide, and helmets are provided. On the horse tour, swimming at the beach stop depends on the season.
From date to booking
Pick Explorer of the Seas and your date in the cruise day planner. It confirms that the 11:00 session fits and fills in the booking form. If you prefer, book directly on the reservation page.
Port times can change between now and next summer. Shortly before your cruise, look at the Explorer of the Seas ship page again. It shows the current hours for every call and which ride fits each one.