The Eastern Mediterranean has a whole lot to offer with regards to tour destinations. Turkey is however at the top of the list and especially with its local Blue Cruise. It is by far the best way to explore all the pleasures and treasure that the Mediterranean has to offer. There are plenty of coves as well as bays strategically situated alongside the Turkish coast. It is only through the Blue Voyage gullet cruise that one can fully enjoy all these marvelous sceneries. There is no way of reaching these sites by use of vehicle. This makes taking the Blue Cruise the only possible alternative in this case. Also referred to as the €Blue Voyage’, the Blue cruise is nothing like the ordinary Turkey tours. It is more like living the life of the rich and famous on-board a yacht for around a week of nothing but the best sites along the Eastern Mediterranean coast. The secluded Mediterranean bays, the warm breeze, the white sand and the crystal blue water makes the experience all the more exciting. In addition to all these, there are a number of historic sites to discover along the way. It is the ultimate dream voyage!
Blue Cruise History
As earlier stated, the Term €Blue Cruise€ in Turkish literature came about as a result of it being derived from the title of Azra’s book. However, the term originally came from Turkish literature by a couple of writers. A good example of one such writer is Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli who was commonly referred to as €The Fisherman of Halicarnassus’. Cevat got exiled in the year 1925 and sought for refuge in Bodrum where he lived for a while. During this time, he slowly fell deeply in love with the general landscape of the area. He loved fishing and the fact that there were sponge divers and fishing villages present in Bodrum made him even fall in love with the area even more. Back then, gulet were strictly used by sponge divers. Cevat and some of his learned friends started taking trips using the gulets around the coastline every now and then. Their trips slowly got the name €Blue Cruises’. Some of the other authors that participated in these €Blue Cruises’ include Azra Erhat and Sabahattin Eyuboglu. Both of them were accompanied by their close family and friends during the €Blue Cruises’. The cruises slowly grew in popularity. By the late 1950’s, some of the authors had already written Turkish guidebooks of these trips.
Today, Blue Cruises have become a major part of the Turkish tourism industry. Tourists from all around the world go on tours of Turkey yearly with the main aim of going on a Blue Cruise. It is particularly popular among Italian tourists. The cruise normally starts from either Kusadasi, Marmaris, Bodrum or Didim and end at Antalya.
What is a Blue cruise?
€Mavi Yolculuk€ is Turkish for Blue cruise, also commonly referred to as Blue Voyage. Basically, the term Blue Voyage refers to recreational voyages taken along the southwest Turkish coast as part of the Turkey tour. The terminology has become quite common in the Turkish tourism industry today. It originates from the early Turkish literature having being derived from one of Azra Erhat’s book titles; a popular Turkish writer. The Blue Voyage has gone a long way in redefining tours of Turkey. It involves an 8 day voyage aboard a luxury yacht along the southwestern coast of Turkey of which is known to house several Turkish historic sites as well other attractions. The main mode of transport used for a regular Blue Cruise are specially crafted Gulets that are made to bring out the ancient Turkish culture. However, in as much as they are traditional, they do not compromise the magnificence and efficiency that comes along with a modern luxury cruise. All the Gulets used in the Blue Cruise tour of Turkey are had crafted by specialist based in Turkey. They have been designed to ensure that tourists get nothing short of perfection in their cruise. High quality mahogany is used. Hot showers, perfect air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, spacious sunbath decks, huge deep freeze and spacious wardrobes; all these are available in the Blue Cruise Gulets.
Travel Options
Travelling to your Gulet from the airport can end up being quite stressful depending on whether or not you had made plans in advance. Turkey can be one very confusing area and especially for visitors. In this case, it would be advisable to make reservations for one of the leading travel companies in the region a very good example being Turquoise Tours. They are one of the best when it comes to Turkey/ Istanbul tours. Right after you alight at the Dalaman Airport, one of the Turquoise Tours buses or vans will pick you up and give a comfortable 75 minutes ride to Marmaris where you will board your Blue Cruise Gulet. Alternatively, you can take the 20 minutes ride from Dalaman to Gocek where you can also board on your Blue Cruise Gulet.
On the other hand, you can choose the Gulet for your Blue Cruise depending on the specific travel package you want. For low seasons, there is the budget option which is relatively more affordable as compared to most of the other travel options. There is also the private gulet option whereby one gets one gulet to themselves. It is the best just in case you have travelled with your family or close friends and you need some privacy. However, this option is rather costly. The bright side is that you have the chance to come up with your own itinerary. Lastly, there is the gulet charter option which is strictly meant for individuals. It is a very nice option since you get the chance to meet new people while on your cruise.
What to expect?
Just like most Turkey/Istanbul tours, the first thing to expect is a lot of rich historic sites. Turkey is known to be one of the few states in the world that are quite rich historical. It contains a blend of both the western and eastern historical influences and traces of this go all the way to the Mediterranean coastline. The specific cruising ground chosen for the Blue Cruise is full of ancient cities and tombs. You can expect to come across plenty of ruins with significant historic meaning. There are also plenty of isolated villages to see. This is just but the tip of the ice berg! The Blue cruise is unlike any other Turkey tour experience. It is characterized by tranquility and peace with a relaxing atmosphere as you marvel at the wonders that Mother Nature has to offer in the dark blue sea surrounding the coastline. There are marvelous paranomic sites to view and dozens of sandy beaches to enjoy. The coastline is crystal clear and the sea hazed in golden color. The bays and hidden coves make it all the more exciting.
Usually, the Blue Cruise takes a total of 4 days and 3 nights. The cruising durations go for at most 4 hours a day. The rest of the time involves a stay-at-anchor experience whereby the gulets come to a relaxing halt at any one of the Mediterranean bays. At this point, you are expected to relax. This is what makes the Blue cruise stand out from most of the other tours of Turkey. Onboard the gulet, you get to have ample time to yourself whereby you can sunbath on the deck as you relax and take it all in. You also get to mingle with the rest, sample all sorts of cuisines available onboard, and visit all the available restaurants and white beaches. A number of people also take this time to explore the rich Turkey coastline and learn all about its very ancient history. For those how love shopping, then the Blue cruise Turkey tour is perfect for you! You get the chance to shop for antique rags, jewelry, carpets and if possible, traditional herbs. At the end of the day, you will find the cruise to be worth every single penny!
How much will it cost you?
Speaking of pennies, the Blue Cruise is definitely worth every single penny that you pay. However, it is up to you to decide. Normally, the cruise would cost 250USD for every individual. This would include the meals, accommodation, transfer fees, sporting equipment and all that the Blue Cruise Turkey tour comes with. Do the math!