One Day. One Ship. One Future: Bodrum Ignites Maritime Dreams Bodrum Cruise Port and Marella Discovery 2 Inspire the Mariners of Tomorrow
Operated by Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator, Bodrum Cruise Port hosted a meaningful social responsibility event at the beginning of the season, in collaboration with Marella Cruises, TUI UK & I’s ocean cruise line ship, Marella Discovery 2. The initiative aimed to ignite the maritime dreams of future generations.
Future Captains Take the Helm in Bodrum
Fifteen students from the Yacht Captaincy Department of Bodrum Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School experienced an inspiring day that opened the doors to the world of maritime. The program began early with a comprehensive port tour, introducing key themes such as maritime professions, cruise tourism, careers at sea, and ocean conservation.
During the visit, students gained firsthand insights into customs and non-customs areas, port security, passport and customs procedures, and duty-free operations. They also explored piloting, ship maneuvering, tugboat coordination, and the complexity of cruise port scheduling.
Following the morning sessions, the students boarded Marella Discovery 2 for an authentic onboard experience. They joined crew drills, listened to officers and crew speak about life at sea and maritime career paths, and visited the ship’s bridge, engine room, galley, and guest areas. The day concluded with lunch in the onboard restaurant, islands, offering a true taste of cruise life.
A Spark in Their Eyes: Inspiration in Action
Highlighting Bodrum Cruise Port’s role as a source of hope and inspiration for young people, Aziz Güngör, East Med Regional Director of Global Ports Holding, stated: “Our collaboration with Marella Discovery 2 is immensely valuable in inspiring young people to pursue maritime careers and instilling maritime culture from an early age. We sincerely thank Marella Cruises’ for their active engagement and enthusiasm in making this experience truly impactful. This meaningful initiative demonstrates that Bodrum Cruise Port is not only a hub for exceptional cruise services, but also a center of inspiration for future generations. At Global Ports Holding, we are committed to supporting young people for a sustainable future. The spark in their eyes is our greatest motivation.”
Olivia Wells, Sustainability Manager at Marella Cruises: “We’re excited to be partnering with Bodrum Cruise Port again this year, as Marella Discovery 2 invited local students onboard to get firsthand insight into the operations and be inspired by the different maritime careers available. It’s also great for these students to see the ship it all its entierary from the ship’s engine room, galley and the ship’s bridge. We hope to work on more colloborations with the port in the future.”
Click the link to watch the full video on YouTube.
