After recent safety issues most of Turkey is now classed as safe to travel. Most of the past security issues have taken place in the south and east of the country, as well as Istanbul and Ankara, largely away from the western coastline that’s popular with tourists.
Istanbul has always been a popular gateway port to the Black Sea and Bosphorus cruise itineraries and it may be a while before we see these back in the brochures some Turkish ports are starting to appear back in Eastern Mediterranean itineraries
Turkish Delight! With great weather, Turkey is a country of contrasts – the best of East and West where Ottoman ruins rub shoulders with Roman temples, spice markets sit alongside chic designer boutiques, and dramatic mountains sweep down to sun-baked beaches and crystal clear ocean of the Turquouise Coast and its shoreline of coves, bays and long stretches of sand.
Ephesus which in its glory days, was the second-biggest city in the Roman Empire and Marmaris old town has a colourful bazaar where stallholders tout loudly, shisha smoke curls through the air like calligraphy, and shoppers haggle to buy replica designer handbags for the price of a London latte.
Regents ‘Turkish Treasures, Grecian Greats from Athens’ departs 3 June 2019 with an overnight stay in port in Istanbul and then on to Ephesus
Marella dream includes 7 night itineraries stopping at Alanya and Marmaris and on to the Holy Land
Crystal Symphony has a stunning Black sea Explorer cruise planned for August 2021 – Enter the gateway to Troy in Kepez and relish two days in Istanbul, where East meets West in epic ways. Explore Odessa’s famed opera house and cruising the Dardanelles and the Black Sea
So it looks like Turkey is definitely back on the menu for 2019 voyages and let’s hope it’s here to stay!
