Reactions to dinner on tourists in ancient Ephesus

A private event organized by an American cruise company in front of the Library of Celsus, one of the most important and best preserved monuments in the archaeological site, caused a strong impression and strong reactions among visitors to the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey.

The dinner is organized in the ancient city of Ephesus, in front of the Library of Celsus by Windstar Cruises, which has been carrying cruise passengers since 2017, but this year it caused a backlash.

Sea Song Tours provides services for the passengers of Windstar Cruises by paying a fee to the Ministry of Culture. #Ephesus Food organ in the ancient city. Edited. What a shame. pic.twitter.com/l0S7ePFOTF

— History and Civilization (@medeniyet_tarih) June 28, 2017

In fact, the space is set up appropriately, the tables are laid in white and waiters serve the guests, who paid thousands of dollars to be present, while there is also the participation of an orchestra.

The company touts a “once in a lifetime experience”

In fact, the company advertises the dinner as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” on its website. “At this special event, enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, dining under the stars, surrounded by Roman ruins, while the Aegean Chamber Orchestra serenades you. Enter Ephesus after hours, when Windstar guests have the entire area to themselves, and find tables set with beautiful tablecloths and the sun setting. Later, while eating a three-course meal of local cuisine served with white gloves, the ruins come to light. Everything is as you expect. There is no crowd. There is no rush,” he says.

Ephesus closed to the public #Ephesus pic.twitter.com/MxD0GlTDuL

— Muhammed Aycan (@MuhammedAycan11) June 17, 2024

However, this year, the event coincided with the Eid al-Adha holiday, which continues in Turkey, which resulted in many tourists also visiting the famous tourist attraction.

This resulted in visitors arriving to find the Library of Celsus closed for the event and thus denied entry.

Reactions

So the cruise ship passengers, who bought this experience with thousands of dollars, had another once-in-a-lifetime experience as the annoyed guests started protesting first with slogans and clapping and then singing nationalistic anthems.

Since Ephesus is illuminated, visitors can now visit it in the evenings. Tourists who came to Turkey with the US Windstar cruise ship last night are having a musical meal in the library section of Ephesus😳 pic.twitter.com/Mc4j8wPd9c

— mori (@Moritz112396) June 18, 2024

Cruise passengers, who first recorded the protest from their tables, left the ancient city shortly after.

There has been backlash on social media over the use of the ancient city to host meals for wealthy tourists and its closure.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has not yet made a statement on the matter.

Turkish citizens who wanted to enter the Celsus Library in the Ancient City of Ephesus were not allowed in due to the dinner organization for foreign nationals. Citizens protested with applause. pic.twitter.com/2hXqdZk3oi

— izmirgibiyiz 🇹🇷 (@izmirgibiyiz) June 17, 2024

With the ministry’s new “night museums” program, visitors can now see the ancient city for a longer period of time unlike in previous years.