E-Visa to Turkey necessary ?

As an individual entering Turkey via a commercial airline I needed an eVisa earlier this month. You use the word excursion. Will you be entering Turkey via a cruise ship? If so, maybe not. But there could be variables. The cruise line should guide you accordingly. Here is the official U.S. Embassy statement and the supporting link.

“While you do need to have a passport when traveling overseas, special arrangements are made by the large cruise lines to facilitate their passengers’ shore excursions. These special arrangements eliminate the potential for loss or theft of passengers’ passports while shopping and touring, and eliminate the need for passengers to obtain individual visitor visas from Turkiye. U.S. citizens do typically need an e-visa to enter Turkiye, but cruise ship passengers are permitted to come ashore without a visa for day visits by special arrangements.

In short, you may visit Turkiye on the day trip from your cruise ship without being in possession of your passport. You may, however, want to carry a photocopy of your passport with you when your passport is being kept for safekeeping by the cruise lines.”

https://tr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/u-s-citizen-services-faqs/#:~:text=U.S.%20citizens%20do%20typically%20need,in%20possession%20of%20your%20passport.

I would spend thr $25 and not worry

Mister E, when I got mine last year it was $50.

Yes, $50 for me a few weeks ago. Not an issue since I'm spending 30 days here, but it would have given me pause if I'd been considering a one- or two-day sightseeing layover on the way home. Then again, just about everything else except the big-name sights is inexpensive.

I was pleased to be able to buy a one-way, non-stop ticket home (Washington-Dulles) for about $600 (plus seat-selection fee). Unfortunately, the flight from Warsaw to Istanbul was not cheap.

$50? Then I would spend thr $50 and not worry

Would such "special arrangements" apply only for cruises arriving at a Turkish port, or also for excursions from Rhodes? Very doubtful.

In the overall cost of your holiday $50 is a minor cost, especially compared to the price of a cruise ship excursion.

Just pay it, rather than trying to find a loophole. It is simply part of the cost of modern travel.

Have a drink less every day on the cruise, or use transit rather than a taxi somewhere else if money is that tight, or a slightly cheaper pre or post cruise hotel.