Many international cruise ships call at Turkish ports, especially Istanbul and Kuşadası, with fewer calling at Dikili on the north Aegean coast and Antalya on the Mediterranean coast.
Istanbul Cruise Ports
In Istanbul, the cruise ships dock right in the city center at the Yolcu Salonu (YOHL-joo sah-loh-noo, “Passenger Terminal,” the International Passenger Ship Dock) in Karaköy (Galata), at the northern end of Galata Bridgeat the mouth of the Golden Horn. More…
A bit farther northeast along the Bosphorus shore are the Salıpazar Docks. More…
Istanbul Shore Excursions
Here are the top sights in Istanbul, and here are itineraries for one, two, three or more days.
A local tour company in Istanbul can offer you substantially better-value shore-excursion tours andtransport options than you can get from your cruise ship. Here’s why.
Efendi Travel, a TurkeyTravelPlanner partner, can set up a group or private tour for you. More…
Want a private guide during your shore time in Istanbul? Here are my recommendations.
Cruises from Istanbul
If you’re interested in taking a cruise from Istanbul or another Turkish port in the Aegean, Adriatic or Mediterranean seas, consider these:
9-Night Mediterranean Cruise on Armonia
Istanbul, Cefalonia, Split, Venice, Ancona, Santorini, İzmir, Istanbul—wow! What a collection of ports! Best in the Aegean and Adriatic. MSC Armonia is not a 15-deck floating skyscraper, but rather a modern vessel (maiden voyage: 2001) of comfortable size (1554 passengers). More…
Aegean & Adriatic Seas on Preziosa
Cruise the Aegean and Adriatic on MSC Preziosa, an up-to-date vessel (maiden voyage: 2013) with all possible facilities for its 3959 passengers. First port of call after departure from Istanbul is Dubrovnik, followed by Venice, Bari, Katakolon (Olympia), and finally İzmirbefore returning to Istanbul. More…
Celebrity Cruises from Istanbul
Celebrity Cruises—one of the finest luxury lines in the world—will take you from Istanbul to the Black Sea ports of Sochi, Sevastopol, Yalta and Odessa; to Mykonosand Athens; to Egypt, Israel and Rome. More…
Kuşadası Shore Excursions
In Kuşadası, the cruise ship dock is also right in the center of the town, right next to the bazaar. Debark from your vessel and after a two-minute stroll you’ll be in the midst of the town, but to see Ephesus and other sights in the area, sign up for a shore excursion with Anker Travel, a travel agency and tour company of long standing and fine reputation located right in Kuşadası. Anker is a TurkeyTravelPlanner.com partner, and can offer substantially better value than the excursions offered aboard your cruise ship. More…
—by Tom Brosnahan
Best Travel Agencies 