Bosphorus Cruises
Written by Viator, August 2010
RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Must-Do Experience,
Romantic,
Sailing,
Sunrise / Sunset,
River
Bosphorus Cruises Reviews
We've found 126 Bosphorus Cruises reviews from Viator.com travelers and members: what they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved. It's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Istanbul City Tour with Bosphorus Strait Sightseeing Cruise
30 mintues in the Egyptian bazaar and 1 hour on the ferry. Hotel pick up and drop off were included in the price but later we were told that they can't give drop off. It was very chaotically organized at the beginning in the morning.
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
This tour was awesome, despite the weather being slightly cold and cloudy, the trip to the cruise ship and the guided tour down and back on the Bosphorus was very enlightening and informative. The tour guide was great, explaining things to us when we asked and making the entire experience quite enjoyable, this is a DEFINITE must if you go to Istanbul.
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
It was great!! Just wish we had a little more time to shop. Omar was our tour guide and he was fantastic.
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul Tour with Bosphorus Cruise and Dolmabahce Palace
The tour was great and the guide knowledgeable and easy to understand. He also had a nice loud voice. I learned a lot and would recommend the tour.
However: I had a problem on return to my hotel. The driver of the bus had me get off the bus (late at night and I'm 75 years old) and walk to the hotel. I was willing to do that, but found I was in the wrong neighborhood. To make this short: someone helped me at another hotel with the same name, called a taxi, and the taxi, first took me to the second hotel with the same name. I finally made it back to the hotel very late...long day. I have asked that the taxi trip from one wrong hotel to the next be reimbursed. it took 27 lira's, but I want 25 returned to my credit card account. I gave him a 2 lira tip. I have explained this to the company and was told they are 'researching' it. So there you have my review: the good and the not so good. Where is the return of the taxi fair?????
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with Dinner and Belly-Dancing Show
Even in the rain, it was a lovely outing. We enjoyed the meal and the performers were talented. Cruising the Bosphorus was very romantic - a great way to finish off our trip to Istanbul.
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul Tour with Bosphorus Cruise and Dolmabahce Palace
We booked this two days ahead while already in Istanbul to fill up an otherwise open Monday. When we found out that Dolmabahce Palace was closed on Monday, we contacted Viator and were able to change it Sunday instead - Thanks. Note to Viator, don't sell this tour on Mon/Thur when the Palace is closed.
Here is your day:
Pickup in shuttle van in the morning. Taken to muster point where a number of tours then reassemble and depart on two decker tour buses (open upstairs).
First stop is the spice bazaar. You're given about 45mins to stroll around. Once you've been in the first shop or two, it's more of the same.
Next up is the 90 min Bosphorus cruise. Hopefully you'll have a fine day where you can enjoy the terrific sightseeing up one side and down the other. The boat was clean, open and offered great views.
After that, you're taken to a "leather demonstration". This is no more than a cheesy leather jacket fashion show, after which, you're hustled to their showroom where 50% discounts off inflated prices are offered. We chose to sit outside in the sun instead.
Conveniently, the lunch restaurant is next door. Lunch is simple and everyone else in the restaurant is doing exactly what you are - taking a break from their tour.
After lunch is the Palace. This is truly a highlight of the day (along with the cruise) as you gaze in awe at the amazing splendor that rivals anything in the world.
When you reassemble after some free time in the palace gardens, it's off to a trip over the Bosphorus Bridge, then on to a snack restaurant that overlooks back to the European side. There were no available tables or chairs for our tour, so everyone just milled around for 45 mins.
You are then dropped back at your hotel around 6p.
This is a good way to do both the cruise and the palace, along with some guided narration. The leather demonstration was meaningless and if you don't want to make the trip to the Asian side, you can always leave the tour after the palace.
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul Tour with Bosphorus Cruise and Dolmabahce Palace
Tour content good. Informative guides. The lunch provided a little disappointing compared to other tours. Would recommend for those who have not seen Istanbul previously.
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
A very nice day out with Omar as our guide, very enjoyable cruise, and time to shop in the spice market! Thanks again, Omar!
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
Well organised and punctual, with knowledgeable guides. Enthusiasm was maintained in spite of poor weather conditions and few participants. This tour is certainly recommended.
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
Omar was our guide again and we had a great time.. Spice Market very different and more relaxed.. The boat tour fun and informative to see the Asia side!
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
Our tour guide, Omar was very knowledgeable. The boat ride was very nice and relaxing. I wish we had more time at the spice market.
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
Guide was knowledgable and friendly. No stops during cruise, would have liked to have toured a few of the historic sites we passed.
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
This was a great tour, excellent guide and good value for money
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
The cruise on the Bosphorus was very enjoyable but we could hardly hear the narration provided - the microphone system was very poor. We would have enjoyed the cruise without any narration. Our guide was useless. He took us to the Spice Market that was dangerously crowded on Saturday. He rushed off the bus that was parked at the far left lane of a three lane highway and left us to make our own way across that street, dodging traffic, to reach the Spice Market. Overall, we enjoyed being picked up and dropped off at our hotel and we loved the cruise but the guide might as well have been absent - he was of no use at all.
Reply by Viator, February 2013
Doing what: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar
Not bad if you want to do the Spice Bazaar
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