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m/y Savarona: Atatürk’s Yacht

Last Updated on May 2, 2019

m/y Savarona is among the world’s most luxurious and historic yachts, a 446-foot (136-meter)-long floating ocean-going palace once used by Turkey’s great leader and first president, Kemal Atatürk, to entertain royalty and other heads of state.

Savarona now makes regular summer sailings along the Turkish Aegean and Mediterraneancoasts—truly an unforgettable voyage in sumptuous luxury.

This, the largest non-royal yacht every built, was ordered by Mrs Emily Roebling Cadwallader, granddaughter of John Roebling, builder of New York City’s famous Brooklyn Bridge. Completed in 1931, Savarona carried Mrs Cadwallader and her glittering guests around the world in imperial splendor for only a few years before being sold, in 1938, to the Turkish government.

Turkey’s first president, Kemal Atatürk, sailed on Savarona for six weeks in 1938, entertaining royalty and other heads of state but, already in poor health, the great leader was later transferred from the vessel to Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul for his final days.

Completely restored and updated with modern systems in 1989 by Mr Kahraman Sadikoglu, the prominent Turkish shipbuilder, Savarona now cruises Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts bearing a large crew and a small, select roster of guests.

Savarona schedules 20 week-long cruises each summer:

Istanbul to Bodrum

Bodrum to Antalya

Antalya to Bodrum

Bodrum to Istanbul

May 12-19

May 19-26

May 26-June 2

June 2-9

June 9-16

June 16-23

June 23-30

June 30-July 7

July 7-14

July 14-21

July 21-28

July 28-Aug 4

August 4-11

August 11-18

August 18-25

Aug 25-Sept 1

Sept 1-8

Sept 8-15

Sept 15-22

Sept 22-29

You may board the vessel in IstanbulBodrumor Antalya for a one-week cruise, or in Istanbul or Antalya for two weeks of cruising.

Savarona‘s 17 staterooms are lavish and spacious, as you might expect. “Caspian,” the smallest, is 387 square feet (36 m2), nearly the size of a 20-foot by 20-foot room. “Savarona,” the largest stateroom, is 1163 square feet (108 m2), three times larger than Caspian, the size of a 34-foot by 34-foot room. It has its own outdoor Jacuzzi and private sundeck.

Most staterooms are 505 square feet to 560 square feet (47 m2 to 52 m2).

Fewer than three dozen passengers (18 couples) are aboard for each cruise, making for a friendly, familiar atmosphere; but Savaronais large enough that those wanting privacy can easily have places to themselves.

Fares for the cruise are in keeping with the luxury of the vessel, the extraordinarily high degree of service provided, and the wide range of services included. Fares include all transfersbetween hotels, airports and the cruise port, buffet breakfast and lunch, and à la carte dinner daily. A wide selection of beverages, including a variety of wines, beers and liquors, are included in the fare, with the exception of select wines, liquors, champagnes and cigars.

Virtually all on-board services are included in the fare: the world’s only floating Turkish bath, fitness center, movies, musical events, barber and hairdresser, massage, manicure, doctor, nurse and medical center, land excursions, laundry and dry-cleaning, special on-shore dinners, Internet connections, and use of the jet-ski and helicopter pad.

Fares are per stateroom (not per person), per week, assuming two passengers per stateroom, and start at US$13,150 for the smallest stateroom on a mid-May or late September one-week cruise, to US$30,000 for the largest stateroom on a mid-summer one-week cruise.

That means the regal pleasures of Savaronacan be had for under US$1000 per day, per person. Most staterooms cost US$20,000 to US$22,500 for a week’s cruise in high season. If you cruise for two consecutive weeks, you may be entitled to a 15% discount on the fare.

When you contact Savarona, please mention TTP. Here’s why.

m/y Savarona
Cumhuriyet Caddesi No. 333/4
34380 Harbiye, Istanbul, Turkey
info@savarona.com.tr
Tel +90 (212) 234 7205
Fax +90 (212) 234 7203

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