Norwegian Viva in Kuşadası: three timetables, three answers

With Norwegian Viva, the exact date on your cruise documents matters a great deal. Her seven Kuşadası calls in 2027 come on three quite different timetables, and each one leads to a different answer. On some days our morning safari fits. On others only the late-afternoon ride works. And on two days she is gone before either could bring you back in time.

The port schedule as of early October 2026 lists all seven between June and September 2027. Those are mid-season months for us; our safaris pause on 1 December, remain closed until 31 March and are running again from 1 April. Below, each timetable is taken in turn, with the numbers behind each answer. For live hours on every date, see the Norwegian Viva calls page.

Norwegian Viva is a Prima-class ship from Norwegian Cruise Line and entered service in 2023. NCL gives her capacity as 3,195 guests at double occupancy.

Sort your date into one of three groups

Before reading on, find your call's port hours. Every Norwegian Viva call on the current schedule falls into one of these:

• Arrives 13:00, leaves 21:00 or 22:00 (three calls): only the 16:00 ride fits.
• Arrives 07:00, leaves 16:00 (two calls): only the 11:00 ride fits.
• Arrives 07:00, leaves 14:00 (two calls): neither ride fits.

Oddly, the weekday is a decent clue as things stand. The 13:00 arrivals are on Thursdays and one Monday, the 16:00 departures are both Sundays, and the 14:00 departures are both Fridays. That pattern only holds for today's schedule, so go by the hours, not the weekday.

The 13:00 arrivals: afternoon only

Three calls bring Norwegian Viva in at 13:00. That is too late for the morning tour, which needs you at the meeting point by 10:10. The 16:00 tour, on the other hand, fits well.

Here is how one of those afternoons runs:

• 13:00: the ship arrives. You have a couple of hours to settle in ashore, have lunch or take a walk along the harbour.
• 15:10: meet us at Kervansaray (The Big Ottoman Palace), roughly 50 m from the cruise port exit. Map link.
• Around 15 minutes by vehicle to the trails behind Pamucak beach.
• 16:00: about two hours of riding on pine-forest tracks, with a 30-minute break at Pamucak beach.
• 18:45 to 19:15: back at the port.

On Thursday 24 June and Thursday 19 August she sails at 21:00, so you have between 1 hour 45 minutes and 2 hours 15 minutes after the ride. On Monday 6 September she stays until 22:00, which stretches that to between 2 hours 45 minutes and 3 hours 15 minutes. Both meet our rule of at least 60 minutes. Still compare the return time with the all-aboard time in your daily programme, which is usually earlier than the departure time.

The 07:00–16:00 Sundays: morning only

On Sunday 20 June and Sunday 15 August the day is the mirror image. The ship is in at 07:00, so meeting us at 10:10 is easy, and the 11:00 ride brings you back between 13:45 and 14:15. A 16:00 departure leaves between 1 hour 45 minutes and 2 hours 15 minutes, which is within our rule. The afternoon tour is out, because she sails at 16:00, the very minute it starts.

The two Fridays: no safari from the ship

Friday 9 July and Friday 3 September 2027 are the days we have to say no. Norwegian Viva arrives at 07:00 and leaves at 14:00.

The morning ride returns between 13:45 and 14:15. At best that is 15 minutes before departure, at worst it is after she has sailed. We need 60 minutes, which would mean a departure of 15:15 or later. The afternoon ride is not possible at all, since it would start two hours after the ship has gone.

So on those two dates we do not take bookings for passengers leaving from the ship. If the hours change, the ship page and the planner will show it. And if you are staying in Kuşadası for a night before or after your cruise, you can book any day from April to November and we will collect you from your hotel.

Picking a ride

On the quad safari or the buggy safari, you drive. No driving licence is required; drivers must be 16 or over, and single or double vehicles are available. Helmets, goggles and a safety briefing come as standard, and the group follows a guide in convoy. Children under about 2 cannot join.

The horse safari is for beginners and riders aged 8 and over, while younger children ride with an experienced adult companion. Groups are small, a riding guide leads, and helmets are provided. Swimming at the beach on the horse tour depends on the season.

Each of these runs at both 11:00 and 16:00, so whichever session your date allows, all three rides are open.

Booking the right session

The cruise day planner does the matching for you. Choose Norwegian Viva and your date, and it shows the 11:00 or 16:00 session, or tells you that nothing fits, then fills in the booking form when there is a match.

Before you confirm, check the full list of Norwegian Viva calls once more. With hours this varied, a small change to an arrival or departure can move a date from one group to another.