Five things to know before your first blue cruise
"Blue cruise" is the Turkish name (mavi yolculuk) for a multi-day trip along the Lycian coast on a gulet. Before you book one, here are the five things our guests most often wish they had known.
1. Three nights is a taster; a week is the trip
Most Turkey tours that mention a gulet give you two or three nights, sailing one way along the busiest stretch between Fethiye and Kekova. It is pleasant, and if you are flying out of Antalya it is the right choice - that is our Istanbul to Antalya route. But the boat only really works its magic around day three, when you stop checking the time. The week-long version goes further, comes back along quieter coast and gives you Butterfly Valley, the turtle bays and Firnaz Bay as well. See what a week on a gulet is like.
2. Pack less than you think, and pack soft
Cabins are small and hard suitcases are a nuisance; a soft bag is better. You will live in swimwear, a sarong and flip-flops. Bring: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat that stays on, a long-sleeved shirt for the deck at midday, a light jumper for evenings in May and October, a torch, a dry bag for your phone, and water shoes if you have delicate feet. Towels for the cabin are provided; bring your own beach towel.
3. Bring some cash
Drinks on board, the entrance fees on the cruise days (islands, Simena Castle, the church of St. Nicholas in Demre; roughly EUR 100-240 depending on the route, paid in lira on board), ice creams from the boats that come alongside, dinner ashore in Kas if you want it, and the crew's tip at the end. There are cash machines in Kas and Kalekoy; nowhere else for days.
4. Seasickness is rare
The boat anchors in sheltered bays every night and the daily legs are short and close to shore. The one stretch of open water is the crossing to Kekova, an hour or two. If you are prone to it, take a tablet that morning and sit at the stern; most people never notice the movement.
5. The coast east of Fethiye is the one
Bodrum and Marmaris have more boats and more resorts; the Fethiye to Kekova stretch has the Lycian ruins, the sunken city, the castle villages and the clearest water, and far less traffic. It is why our routes board in Fethiye and not further north.
The full week is part of Istanbul to Fethiye with Gulet Cruise, Gulet Cruise & Cappadocia to Istanbul and All Around Turkey with Gulet Cruise. All dates are on the departures page.
