Family-friendly · Hotel pickup · Kid pricing
Bosphorus Cruise for Families Istanbul
Family-of-4 routine: hotel pickup, dinner with child-friendly options, Turkish night entertainment, return to the hotel by midnight. Under-3 sails free, 4-10 child rate, free cancellation 24h before departure. From €30 per adult.
Quick answer for families
For a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids), the most-booked option is the shared dinner cruise Silver Soft package — €30 per adult, child rate for ages 4-10 (under 3 free), hotel pickup included, 3.5-hour Bosphorus route + Turkish night entertainment + dinner with child-friendly options. Total evening for the family runs roughly €100-€130 depending on kid ages. Free cancellation 24h before departure covers sick-kid scenarios.
Why this works for families
Hotel pickup included on dinner cruise
No taxi-with-tired-kids step. The pickup vehicle stops at your central European-side hotel (Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Topkapı, Taksim, Harbiye, Beyoğlu, Karaköy) 30-45 minutes before the 20:30 departure.
TÜRSAB-licensed since 2001
Operated under Meryem Yıldız Travel, TÜRSAB A Group licence #14316. 50,000+ guests served. The same safety standards parents apply to any Istanbul transport apply here.
Under-3 free · 4-10 child rate
Children under 3 sail free on all packages. Ages 4-10 get a child rate, confirmed at booking. The dinner cruise menu has child-friendly options (grilled chicken, rice, fruit) — no fish course pushed on under-12s.
Birthday + Eid + family-celebration ready
Onboard cake delivery + a quiet announcement by the crew on request. Especially common during Eid (Ramazan Bayramı + Kurban Bayramı) — families often book the dinner cruise as the bayram evening venue.
Pricing for a family of 4
| Format | 2 adults | + 1 kid (4-10) | + 1 toddler (under 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset cruise (€30 Mon/Tue/Thu) | €60 | €75 (child €15) | €75 (under-3 free) |
| Dinner cruise Silver Soft (€30) | €60 | €75 (child €15) | €75 (under-3 free) |
| Dinner cruise Silver Alcoholic (€45) | €90 | €105 (child €15) | €105 (under-3 free) |
| Private yacht 2h (€280 base) | €280 yacht | €280 yacht | €280 yacht |
Indicative figures. Exact child rate per package + date is confirmed during booking. Private yacht charter is priced per yacht regardless of family size up to vessel capacity.
Family FAQ
Is the Bosphorus cruise safe for kids?
Yes. MerrySails operates under TÜRSAB A Group licence #14316 (since 2001) and follows Turkish Maritime Authority safety standards — life jackets per passenger, marine-trained crew, hourly safety checks. The shared dinner cruise vessel has indoor seating with full Bosphorus views, so families with young children don't have to spend time on the open deck.
What is the kid pricing on Bosphorus cruise packages?
Children under 3 sail free on all packages. Children aged 4-10 are charged at the child rate — typically 50% of the adult price for the same package. Ages 11+ pay adult rate. Exact child pricing for your package and date is confirmed during booking — send the kid ages via WhatsApp.
What's the best Bosphorus cruise format for a family of 4?
For families of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids), the shared dinner cruise Silver Soft package (€30/adult) is the most common booking. It includes hotel pickup, a 3.5-hour Bosphorus route, dinner with child-friendly options, and a family-friendly Turkish night entertainment program. For families of 8+, the private yacht charter (€280+) reserves the whole boat for the group with custom pacing.
Are the cruise times kid-friendly?
Sunset cruise departs 18:30-19:30 depending on season, returns by 21:00-21:30 — fits a normal kid bedtime. Dinner cruise departs 20:30 and returns around 00:00 — better for older children (8+) or for families where kids regularly stay up later. Private yacht charters can be timed to any hour you specify, including a midday family lunch cruise.
Can we cancel if a kid gets sick?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. For shared cruises with pay-onboard, no card is charged in the first place. For private yacht charters where a deposit was paid, the deposit is fully refundable when cancelled 24h+ before departure. Same-day cancellations due to illness are handled case-by-case via WhatsApp.
Is there a high-chair for toddlers?
High-chairs are available on the dinner cruise with 24-hour advance notice. Mention the toddler age + need for high-chair in the WhatsApp booking message and operations will load one onto the vessel before departure.
Book a family Bosphorus cruise
Send your hotel name + kid ages + preferred date. We confirm the right package, pickup time, and child rate within 24 hours.
Operated under Meryem Yıldız Travel · TÜRSAB A Group licence #14316 · 50,000+ guests on the Bosphorus since 2001.