Scarlet Lady in Kuşadası: what a 09:00 arrival means for a safari
On three of Scarlet Lady's five Kuşadası calls she arrives at 09:00, which leaves a little over an hour before our morning safari meets. That is enough, and the 11:00 ride fits every call she has on the port schedule as of early October 2026. It does change how you spend the first part of the day, though.
The five calls run from May to September 2027 and land on different weekdays each time. All of them end at 18:00. For dates and current hours, the full list of Scarlet Lady calls is the place to look.
May to September, call by call
- Wednesday 19 May 2027, 09:00–18:00. The first call of the season.
- Saturday 12 June 2027, 08:00–18:00. One of only two early arrivals.
- Wednesday 7 July 2027, 09:00–18:00.
- Monday 26 July 2027, 09:00–18:00. The second July call, less than three weeks after the first.
- Friday 17 September 2027, 08:00–18:00. The last call listed, after a gap through August.
Scarlet Lady, delivered to Virgin Voyages in 2020, carries about 2,770 passengers. Nothing in her listed hours goes past 18:00, so the departure side of the day is the same on all five dates. Only the arrival moves. The season is no obstacle either: we stop riding on 1 December, stay closed until 31 March, and are back out on 1 April, some seven weeks before her first call.
The 09:00 mornings
The meeting time does not shift with the ship. We see cruise passengers at 10:10 at the Kervansaray meeting point (The Big Ottoman Palace), about 50 m from the cruise port exit, and the pin is here on the map. On a 09:00 day that gives you 1 h 10 min from arrival.
That is fine as long as you are ready when going ashore opens. Have breakfast before she ties up, bring sunglasses, and leave shopping in the town for the afternoon. The walk to Kervansaray is short. The time goes on getting off the ship.
Here is the rest of the day:
- 10:10 meet us at Kervansaray.
- About 15 minutes in the vehicle to the forest trails behind Pamucak beach.
- 11:00 about two hours of riding, with a 30-minute pause on Pamucak beach.
- 13:45–14:15 back at the port.
- 18:00 Scarlet Lady departs.
On 12 June and 17 September, with arrival at 08:00, everything from step one onwards is the same. You simply get an extra hour at the start.
After the ride: what 18:00 gives you
Our rule is that you are back at the port at least 60 minutes before departure. For the morning tour that means the ship has to leave at 15:15 or later, and 18:00 clears it by a wide margin. Between the latest drop-off at 14:15 and departure there are 3 h 45 min. Your all-aboard time, printed in the daily programme on board, is usually earlier than 18:00, so treat that as the real end of your afternoon.
The 16:00 session is a different story. Its group returns between 18:45 and 19:15, after Scarlet Lady has left. We only offer it when a ship stays until 20:15 or later.
Quad, buggy or horse
On the quad safari and the buggy safari you drive, no licence needed, as long as you are 16 or over. Pick a single vehicle, or a double if two of you want to share. A guide leads the convoy after a safety briefing, and everyone wears a helmet and goggles. Children under about 2 years cannot join these tours. The horse safari suits complete beginners from age 8, or younger children with an experienced companion, with a riding guide and a small group. Swimming at the beach on the horse tour depends on the season, which is worth knowing for the May and September calls.
Your next step
The cruise day planner handles the checking for you. Choose Scarlet Lady and your date; it confirms that the 11:00 session fits and fills in the booking form. You can also book on the reservation page.
Hours can be revised before a season starts. Nearer your sailing, look again at the Scarlet Lady ship page, which always lists the current calls and shows which ride fits each one.