When we arrived at the meeting point, the short waiting time was sweetened with a fruit cup. The boat ride was great. You could use the audio guide on your cell phone and was therefore not exposed to loud noise. On the boat, a gentleman distributed drinks and sandwiches. At first it seemed as if these were free, since a free drink was also listed in the booking. However, it later turned out that all the things had to be paid for. A bit bitter.. He also charged twice the price on the price list that we discovered below when we got off the boat.

Good value for money overall. Maintains time. Ample space under shade, needed if you are planning to visit in summer. Cheese and pepperoni (halal) sandwiches and fresh juices are vendored throughout the cruise. Toilet facilities are a disappointment. Better to come on board prepared. There are photographers who might take your photos and will come after some time with it on a frame, asking for a price. You are not bound to buy it, but will get into an unwanted haggle, so if you want to avoid it just ask them politely at the very starting point that you don’t want your picture taken.

A good cruise with multiple stops. Possible to spend many hours on this by disembarking throughout the cruise and rejoining a later boat with the same ticket. Something which I did not realise till after it started. Most of the stops were on the western side of the Bosporus. the boat also had a simple guide without the need of the audio guide app. Included in the ticket was a fruit snack at the starting point. Snacks on the boat though were at extra cost. Overall good cruise that I would recommend that gives a good overview of the Bosporus sites, mainly palaces and forts. With the option to temporarily disembark. And an alternative to the much advertised dinner cruises with belly dancers