Private Yacht Tour Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise for 1-12 People, Crew
Overview
Private Yacht Tour Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise for 1-12 People, Crew
On this private cruise the luxury yacht on the Bosphorus is yours alone, for groups of up to 12. A captain and crew take care of everything while you cruise between Istanbul's European and Asian shores, past palaces, mosques and fortresses such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden's Tower.
Choose Your Time, Add Transfers
You book for at least 2 hours and decide when to set off. If you want, we can add private transfers from the Galataport cruise port or your hotel. The yacht has seating inside and on the open deck, so it works well whatever the season.
Special Occasions and Meals
Couples, families and groups of friends all enjoy the yacht, and many guests book it for birthdays, anniversaries and proposals. Soft drinks, tea and water come with the charter. For an extra charge we can arrange a lunch or dinner cooked fresh, flowers, a birthday cake and celebration decorations.
Tour Info
Add extras to your charter
Pick what you need; we add them to your quote.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Private Bosphorus Cruise from the Marina
- Optional pick-up (hotel or cruise port): with a transfer added, a private car collects you at the time you chose, either at your hotel or at the cruise port. Without one, you go straight to the yacht at the marina.
- Boarding: the captain and crew greet you at the marina as you step onto your private luxury yacht, where soft drinks, tea and water are served.
- Optional lunch or dinner on board: if you ordered a meal, it is cooked fresh and served as you cruise: traditional Turkish mezes, a seasonal salad, grilled meat, chicken or fish, French fries and seasonal fruit served on a platter.
- Bosphorus cruise: you sail between Europe and Asia past Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, the Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Kucuksu Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden's Tower, and there is time on deck to take photos.
- Optional drop-off: the yacht brings you back to the marina, and if you booked a transfer your driver takes you on to the hotel or the cruise port.
*Bookings start at 2 hours. Transfers, meals, a birthday cake, flowers and decorations can be arranged on request for an extra charge.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Private Luxury Yacht Hire (2 Hours Minimum)
- ✓Professional Captain with an Experienced Crew
- ✓Fuel and Marina Fees Covered
- ✓Private Cruise on the Bosphorus
- ✓Roomy Seating Inside and Out
- ✓Free Soft Drinks, Tea and Water
- ✓Departure Time of Your Choice
- ✓The Yacht Reserved for Your Group Only
- ✕Optional Private Transfers from and to Your Hotel
- ✕Optional Lunch or Dinner Served on Board
- ✕Optional Birthday Cake and Decorations for the Yacht
- ✕Optional Flowers and Decorations for Special Occasions
- ✕Drinks with Alcohol
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at no charge until 7 days before your tour and you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the final 7 days before the tour, no refund is given. All times shown are local.
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Private Bosphorus yacht for up to 12 guests: the essentials
The yacht is yours alone for the trip, with a professional captain and crew on the Bosphorus. Prices begin at $299 per hour for a group of up to 12, and you book at least 2 hours. You set the departure time. Fuel and marina fees are already in the price, and the crew offers soft drinks, tea and water during the cruise. If you ask, we can add a transfer from your hotel or Galataport, a lunch or dinner cooked on board, a birthday cake, flowers and decorations.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Length | Rented by the hour, 2 hours at least |
| Price | Yacht from $299 per hour |
| Group size | 12 people at most |
| Boarding | A Bosphorus marina, at a time you pick |
| What's covered | Captain and crew, fuel, marina fees, soft drinks, water and tea, seats indoors and out on deck |
| Add-ons | Transfer from your hotel or Galataport, lunch or dinner on board, cake, flowers, decorations |
| Not covered | Alcoholic drinks |
How much is a private yacht on the Bosphorus?
Rates for this boat begin at $299 an hour, so the shortest two-hour trip comes to $598 for the entire yacht. Split between 12 people, that is roughly $50 a head. Other yachts in our fleet are also rented by the hour, from small boats for two to event yachts for big groups:
| Yacht | Size and capacity | From |
|---|---|---|
| This yacht | 12 guests at most | $299 per hour |
| Aura | Motor yacht of 13 m, boards at Eminonu, 12 guests at most | $190 per hour |
| Zenday | Motor yacht of 22 m, boards at Istinye, 22 guests at most | $390 per hour |
| Amesin N | Yacht of 26 m, boards at Arnavutkoy, 12 guests at most | $399 per hour |
| Yacht for family and friends | Groups of 6 to 32 | $525 per hour |
| White Istanbul | Motor yacht of 24 m, boards at Bebek, 32 guests at most | $599 per hour |
| VIP luxury yacht | Premium service, 12 guests at most | $600 per hour |
| Mega luxury yacht | Parties and swim stops, 40 guests at most | $1,000 per hour |
| Corona Tokyo | Event yacht of 24 m, boards at Bebek, 72 guests at most | $1,050 per hour |
Want a guide aboard who can explain what you pass? The private two-hour Bosphorus cruise by yacht comes with a licensed guide and starts at $600 per group.
Which sights line the Bosphorus?
| European side | Asian side and on the water |
|---|---|
| Dolmabahce Palace | Beylerbeyi Palace |
| Ciragan Palace | Kucuksu Palace |
| Ortakoy Mosque | Maiden's Tower |
| Rumeli Fortress | Passing under the Bosphorus Bridge |
Your route depends on the number of hours you book. Two hours is usually enough to head north past the palaces and Ortakoy as far as Rumeli Fortress, then turn back. Three hours or more lets you travel further and take it slowly for photos.
Does a private yacht work for a proposal, birthday or anniversary?
It does, and it ranks among the top picks for celebrations in Istanbul. Nobody else is on board, the crew can arrange flowers and decorations before you arrive, and a birthday cake or a dinner cooked fresh can be brought out while you cruise. Planning a proposal? Share the details with us ahead of time and the crew will help keep it secret. Order any extras at the time of booking so they are in place on the day.
Which meals are available on board?
Meals are an extra you can add. If you do, the food is cooked fresh and served as you sail: grilled meat, chicken or fish, a salad of the season, classic Turkish mezes, French fries and a plate of seasonal fruit.
When should you go on a Bosphorus yacht cruise?
Most guests pick sunset. The palaces and skyline look their best in that light, and you can stay on the water until the city lights switch on. Because sunset shifts a great deal over the year, send us your date and we will recommend a departure time. There are seats both inside and on the open deck, so the yacht sails all year; in winter the cabin area keeps you warm.
What should you pack?
Take a light jacket, because the water is always cooler and windier than the streets, plus sunglasses and shoes with soft soles for the deck. For a celebration, bring along anything personal you want with you, like a ring, a present or a playlist.
How can you reserve?
Pick a date on this page and submit the form, or send us a WhatsApp message with your group size, the number of hours and the departure time you prefer. Let us know about any transfer, meal or celebration extras. We send written confirmation, and payment is due only once we have confirmed. Looking for more? Browse our tours in Istanbul and Turkey tour packages.
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