Istanbul Lunch Cruise

Your Istanbul Lunch Cruise begins with pickup from selected centrally located hotels.

Exact pickup times vary according to your accommodation and Istanbul traffic.

Transfer to the Kabatas waterfront, where boarding normally begins at approximately 12:30 PM.

Meet your guide and crew before taking your seat on board.

Board the cruise boat and settle into the indoor or outdoor seating areas.

Light welcome snacks are served as guests arrive and the boat prepares for departure.

The scheduled cruise departure is approximately 1:00 PM.

Once underway, the boat begins sailing north through the Bosphorus Strait between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.

Spend the first part of the cruise discovering Istanbul's famous waterfront.

Depending on the sailing route, you may see landmarks including:

• Dolmabahce Palace
• Ciragan Palace
• Ortakoy Mosque
• Bosphorus Bridge
• Beylerbeyi Palace
• Historic waterfront mansions
• Rumeli Fortress
• Anadolu Fortress

Your guide provides commentary about the history, architecture and neighborhoods visible from the boat.

The open-air deck provides excellent opportunities for panoramic photography while indoor areas offer comfortable seating throughout the journey.

As the boat continues north, lunch is served on board.

The standard menu features a selection of Turkish-style appetizers followed by a warm starter, main course and seasonal accompaniments.

A typical menu may include:

Cold Appetizers

• Feta cheese
• Stuffed grape leaves
• Seasonal salads
• Yogurt-based appetizers
• Lentil specialties
• Fresh vegetables

Warm Starter

• Traditional pastry or seasonal hot appetizer

Main Course

• Grilled meat selection with rice or
• Grilled fish with side dishes

Dessert

• Fresh seasonal fruit

The meal also includes one soft drink plus complimentary tea and coffee.

Vegetarian meals can be arranged when requested in advance.

Continue beyond the busiest areas of central Istanbul into the upper Bosphorus.

The character of the shoreline gradually changes as dense city neighborhoods give way to greener hills, traditional waterfront communities and quieter stretches of water.

See fortresses, historic mansions and villages positioned along both continents as the boat approaches the northern reaches of the strait.

This extended sailing section is one of the defining features of the Istanbul Lunch Cruise.

Continue toward the northern end of the Bosphorus, where the strait approaches the Black Sea.

The route provides a wider perspective on Istanbul than short cruises that remain around central landmarks and the first Bosphorus bridge.

Enjoy the increasingly natural scenery while relaxing after lunch.

The exact northern sailing point can vary according to maritime traffic, weather and navigation conditions.

Arrive at Anadolu Kavagi, a traditional waterfront village in Beykoz on Istanbul's Asian Side.

Enjoy approximately 45 minutes of free time.

You may walk along the waterfront, explore the village streets, purchase an ice cream or drink, or simply relax beside the Bosphorus.

The hills above Anadolu Kavagi are associated with Yoros Castle, a historic fortress overlooking the northern Bosphorus and the approach toward the Black Sea.

The standard stop is intended primarily for exploring the village; reaching the hilltop castle depends on available time and individual walking pace and should not be considered a guaranteed guided visit.

Return to the boat and begin cruising south toward central Istanbul.

Use the return journey to relax on deck and see many of the Bosphorus landmarks again from a different perspective.

Complimentary tea or coffee can be enjoyed while the boat passes waterfront villages, fortresses, bridges and Ottoman-era mansions.

Return to the Kabatas waterfront at approximately 5:00 PM, subject to maritime traffic and operating conditions.

Guests included within the scheduled transfer service will then be assisted with transportation back to their eligible centrally located hotels.

The complete Istanbul Lunch Cruise experience lasts approximately 4.5 hours from boarding to return.