Experience the joys of Istanbul through its most memorable landmarks: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and the legendary Bosphorus, which you’ll enjoy on a leisurely cruise.

Day 1:

Once you have arrived at the airport in Istanbul (IST), gone through Customs and claimed your luggage, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the city. Check-in time is 2:00pm, leaving the remainder of the day to do as you please. Depending on the time of your arrival, you might shop or dine nearby before spending the evening at your hotel.

Please note: transportation arrangements for arrivals at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side are not included.

Day 2:

Today, you will visit the true icons of Istanbul, the must-sees that define the city, beginning with the phenomenal Blue Mosque. One of the few mosques with six minarets, the Blue Mosque was constructed in the early 17th century under the direction of Sultan Ahmet I, who was only 19 years old at the time. The exterior of the mosque is notable for its cascade of domes that seem to spill down from the central dome. Inside, the ceiling is lined with the 20,000 blue tiles for which the mosque is named.

The Hippodrome is also here, partially excavated to reveal some of the seats, columns, statues and obelisks that were once part of this arena. Chariot races, coronations and parades all took place at the Hippodrome, which first appeared in 203 A.D. About 130 years later, Constantine the Great expanded and reshaped the arena so it could hold approximately 100,000 spectators.

Then, it’s on to the 15th Century Topkapi Palace, which was expanded under the reign of almost every sultan over the next 400 years. Today, it’s a maze of lavishly decorated buildings and courtyards that reflect its most glorious years as the political center of the Ottoman Empire.

Following lunch, you will see the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church and now a mosque. Although the earliest two versions were destroyed, this Hagia Sophia dates from 537 A.D., and is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It served as Istanbul’s principal mosque for nearly 500 years and became a model for the Blue Mosque.

You will also have the opportunity to browse through the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and the oldest covered marketplace. It contains more than 5,000 shops selling an absolutely amazing range of merchandise. Jewelry, carpets, antiques, old coins, furniture, prayer beads and copperware are only a few of the items in the bazaar, which has been operating since the 15th Century.

Afterwards, you will return to the hotel for the evening. Dinner is on your own.

Day 3:

After departing from the hotel, you will enjoy a brief but enlightening tour of Istanbul on the way to the Archaeological Museum. Following the visit to the Museum, you will visit the Rustem Pasha Mosque, which was built in 1561 and has since survived fires and earthquakes. Thousands of brightly colored Iznik tiles are the allure here. They are all original 16th-century pieces of art and cover the walls, columns, and niches, lending the interior a spectacularly serene ambiance.

In contrast, you will then tour the Spice Market, a locale so energetic and bustling that it’s difficult to know where to look first. Aromas waft through the air, the cacophonous sounds are constant, and it’s always crowded with shoppers haggling for the best possible prices. In a word, it’s wonderful.

Finally, you will embark on a boat for a leisurely cruise on the Bosphorus, the famed strait that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and perhaps even more important serves as a boundary between Europe to the West and Asia to the east. Passing palaces, wooden mansions, and even modern villas along the way, you will experience Istanbul from an entirely different perspective, one you’ll never forget.

Afterwards, you will drive to the pier and embark the ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

• The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

• Itineraries with up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

• The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

• Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

• If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.

• If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.

• If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

Day 1

Fly into Istanbul, you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Check-in time is 2:00pm; early check-in is not guaranteed. Evening at your leisure.

Meals are on your own today

Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel or similar hotel

Meet and Greet and transfers

• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

• Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

• Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

• If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

Day 2

AM Breakfast at hotel

9:00am Depart from the hotel

9:30am Visit the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome

10:30am Visit the Topkapi Palace

12:15pm Lunch at a local restaurant

1:45pm Visit the Hagia Sophia

2:45pm Visit the Grand Bazaar

4:45pm Return to the hotel

The evening is at leisure, dinner on own

Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel or similar hotel

Day 3

AM Breakfast at hotel

9:15am Orientation tour of Istanbul

9:45am Visit the Archaeological Museum

10:45am Visit the Rustem Pasha Mosque

11:30am Visit the Spice Market

12:30pm Lunch at a local restaurant

2:15pm Cruise the Bosphorus Strait

4:00pm Transfer to the ship

4:30pm Arrival at the ship for embarkation

Please note:

The museums are closed on certain days and substitutions will apply as follows:

1. Topkapi Palace: closed on Tuesdays; Beylerbeyi Palace visit substituted.

2. Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Rustempasa Mosque: are closed on Fridays until 2:30 pm, therefore, the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly

4. Grand Bazaar: closed on Sundays (no substitution)

Should sites be closed on a day that you are scheduled to visit, alternate sites will be visited and if possible, the original site will be seen on the other day. Our local operator will do their utmost to ensure that you see all the sites listed in this itinerary and when necessary make appropriate substitutions.

The order of the sites visited may change to avoid overcrowding at the sites.

Expected Weather: Summers are hot and humid with temperatures averaging 25-30C (78-88F) from June to August, occasionally rising beyond 35C (104F). In spring and autumn, the days are temperate and the evenings mild.

What to Bring: In the summer, comfortable walking shoes, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended. Light coats are recommended for the autumn, as it may be chilly, especially in the early morning and after 5:00 p.m.

Clothing: Proper attire is required when visiting mosques. Female visitors are required to cover their heads, shoulders and arms. Shorts above knee length are not allowed in the mosques.

Currency:

Turkish Lira

Electricity:

220 Volts AC/50 Hz. throughout Turkey. We recommend brining a travel adaptor should you have any electric devices

Accommodations:

Intercontinental Hotel Istanbul

Gümüssuyu Mahallesi, Asker Ocagi Caddesi No:1, 34437 Beyoglu/Istanbul, Turkey

Phone: +90 212 368 44 44

We will only source different hotels in unforeseen circumstances. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and guests would be notified in advance of travel. If guests are not notified prior to travel of any changes, then the hotel listed above will be used.

Program includes:

Two nights at the Intercontinental Hotel or similar (Club Level Room)

Transfers

Two full-day tours as described above

Two local lunches with soft drinks

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Not included:

Gratuities for guides and drivers

Hotel incidentals including room service and mini bar

Meals and beverages not listed above

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include: inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather-appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.