Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise FAQ

Bosphorus cruise prices in 2026 start at €30 per person for the sunset cruise without wine from Monday to Thursday; the soft drinks dinner cruise starts at €30. On other days the sunset without wine is €34. Private yacht charter starts at €220 for the entire boat (up to 12 guests). All prices are EUR-fixed at booking and paid in TRY at the daily rate.

The cheapest live-guided Bosphorus cruise is the Sunset Cruise without wine from €30 per person (Mon–Thu) for 2 hours, or the soft drinks dinner cruise at €30 per person for 3.5 hours including dinner and Turkish night show.

Shared cruises (Sunset, Dinner) are priced per person. Private yacht charters and hourly boat rentals are priced per boat — meaning you book the entire vessel for one flat fee, regardless of how many guests up to capacity.

Shared cruises use the same per-person price whatever the group size. For a larger group, a private yacht is often better value because it is priced per boat: the group yacht starts at €380 for 1–15 guests and €500 for 16–40 guests. Contact WhatsApp +90 542 892 98 12 for a group quote.

Yes. Infants under 3 are free on shared cruises. Sunset cruise: children 3–12 receive a 50% discount on the per-person price and ages 13+ pay the adult rate. Dinner cruise: children 3–7 receive a 50% discount and ages 8+ pay the adult rate.

Pay in cash on board. If you would prefer another method, such as bank transfer or SWIFT, message us. Nothing is charged online.

No. The price you see includes the captain, crew, maritime safety equipment and port fees. Food and drinks are included as per package. The only additional cost would be optional add-ons you choose (extra drinks beyond your package, photographer, etc.).

Yes. We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on all shared cruises and private charters. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee depending on package type.

No. MerrySails offers the same fixed prices year-round. There are no peak season surcharges, weekend premiums, or holiday pricing increases. Same quality, same price every day.

The shared sunset cruise boards at Karaköy Pier, next to Balıkçı Kemal restaurant, and the shared dinner cruise boards at Kabataş. Private yacht charters board at Karaköy by default; Beşiktaş or Bebek are possible by request. Kabataş is reachable by Funicular F1 from Taksim, Tram T1 from Sultanahmet, or by car (paid parking nearby).

Hotel pickup from Sultanahmet or Taksim is included in every dinner package (from €30/person). Private charters can include pickup on request.

From Sultanahmet: take Tram T1 (Bağcılar–Kabataş line) directly to Kabataş station — about 15 minutes. From Taksim: walk down to Kabataş via Funicular F1 — about 3 minutes. Both options are well-signed and tourist-friendly.

For the shared sunset cruise, arrive by the 16:45 boarding time for the 17:00 departure. Dinner cruises follow their separate written schedule. Boarding closes 5 minutes before departure.

Boarding is at Kabataş Pier, accessed via the marina entrance just north of the Funicular station. After your booking confirmation, you'll receive a map pin via email and WhatsApp.

Yes, paid parking is available at Kabataş Otopark next to the marina. We recommend public transport (tram or funicular) for easier access.

Yes, we operate year-round. Boats have heated indoor lounges and covered upper decks. Winter cruises (November–March) are quieter, equally beautiful, and same price as peak season.

Cruises operate in light rain — boats have indoor seating with panoramic windows. Cruises are only cancelled in severe weather (high winds or storms) decided by the captain for safety. In that case, you receive a full refund or rebooking option.

The dinner cruise menu includes Turkish mezzes (cold appetizers like hummus, eggplant salad, yogurt dip), warm starters (cigara böreği), a main course chosen from four options (grilled fish, grilled chicken steak, grilled meatballs, or a vegetarian plate), and dessert (baklava and fruit). Both packages share the same menu.

Yes. Vegetarian options are standard on all dinner cruises. Vegan and gluten-free meals are available on request — please specify dietary needs during booking via WhatsApp +90 542 892 98 12 or in the booking notes.

Yes, all meat served on MerrySails dinner cruises is halal-certified. The kitchen is halal-only.

Soft drinks package (€30): unlimited soft drinks, juice, tea, coffee. Alcoholic package (€35): the same plus two glasses of local wine, beer or raki; imported drinks are extra.

Yes. The dinner cruise features a 60–75 minute Turkish night show including belly dance, folk dancers from various Turkish regions, and a DJ set. Children-appropriate content.

Yes, the Sunset Cruise includes a live English-speaking guide explaining landmarks (Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Bosphorus bridges, Beylerbeyi Palace). The dinner cruise focuses on dinner and entertainment but staff are bilingual.

Live commentary on the Sunset Cruise is provided in English. Crew members are bilingual (English / Turkish) and can assist in additional languages on request.

The legal drinking age in Turkey is 18. Guests 18+ can consume alcohol if their package includes it. We require ID verification at boarding for alcohol-included packages.

The Bosphorus cruise route from Karaköy (sunset) or Kabataş (dinner) passes Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace (Asian side), and Çırağan Palace. Private charters can continue to Rumeli Fortress, Anadolu Fortress, and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. On the shared sunset cruise the captain picks the turning point after the First Bridge by traffic and light.

No. Standard cruises stay within the Bosphorus strait between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. They do not go up to the Black Sea — that would require a 6+ hour journey. The 2-hour cruise covers all the major landmarks within the Istanbul section.

The Bosphorus cruise runs along the strait between European and Asian sides — you'll see Beylerbeyi Palace, Kuzguncuk, Çengelköy, and Anadolu Fortress on the Asian shore. The boat crosses back and forth multiple times for the best photo angles.

The upper deck is best for photography — open-air with 360° views. Best landmarks for photos: Maiden's Tower (on the sunset cruise it comes on the return leg), Ortaköy Mosque under the bridge, Çırağan Palace (golden hour), and the European-Asian shore split. Rumeli Fortress is on the private-charter route, not the shared sunset cruise.

Yes, you'll see the historic peninsula skyline from the boat — including Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and the Blue Mosque silhouettes. The closest view is at the start/end of the cruise at Karaköy or Kabataş.

Off-peak (November–March): 1–2 days in advance is fine. Peak season (June–September) and weekends: book 1–2 weeks ahead. Holidays (New Year's Eve, etc.): book 4+ weeks ahead.

Yes, this is one of our most popular services. A private yacht charter starts from €220 per vessel (up to 12 guests on the Boutique yacht); the final price depends on the boat, duration and date. Decoration, optional photographer, custom cake and music are arranged on request. Contact WhatsApp +90 542 892 98 12 for a precise quote.

Yes. We offer corporate event yacht charters with customized food, drinks, presentation equipment, branded décor, and entertainment. Capacity ranges from 12 to 200 guests across our fleet.

Yes. Private yacht charters are popular for birthdays. We can arrange birthday cake, decoration, custom playlist, and DJ services as add-ons.

Yes. Private yacht charters and hourly boat rentals offer flexible routes — extended Bosphorus tour, Princes' Islands stop, anchored sunset photography, or custom itineraries. Discuss with our team during booking.

Yes. We have hosted full wedding ceremonies and receptions on yacht charters. Capacity up to 200 guests with catering, decoration, and entertainment partnerships.

Most boats have ground-floor lounges accessible via the boarding ramp. Upper decks require stairs. Please notify us in advance via WhatsApp so we can assign the most accessible vessel and assist with boarding.

Yes. Children's life jackets are available on board. Our boats meet Turkish maritime safety standards including TURSAB regulations. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Service animals are welcome. For other pets, please contact us in advance — small pets may be allowed on private charters with prior approval, but not on shared cruises.

All boats carry life jackets for every passenger, life rings, fire extinguishers, GPS, marine radio, and first-aid kits. Crew are trained in maritime safety.

Smart-casual is recommended for the dinner cruise. Sunset cruise is casual. Bring a light jacket — even in summer, evenings on the water can be cool. Closed shoes recommended for safety.

Yes. MerrySails is operated by Merry Tourism, a TURSAB A-Group licensed travel agency (License #14316). TURSAB A-Group is the highest category of Turkish travel agency licensing, requiring full insurance, financial guarantees, and government oversight.

MerrySails runs Bosphorus cruise and yacht charter services in Istanbul — shared sunset cruises, dinner cruises and private yacht charters — under Merry Tourism's TURSAB A-Group licence (#14316).

You can read recent reviews, unedited, on the MerrySails Google Business profile — the cruise pages link to it and show the latest ones.

Contact us immediately via WhatsApp +90 542 892 98 12 or info@merrysails.com. We respond within 24 hours and resolve concerns directly. As a TURSAB-licensed operator, customers also have recourse through TURSAB if needed — though we resolve nearly all concerns directly.