Cruise destinations in focus Turkey

In 2009 one of the top three popular ‘bargain’ destinations for summer cruise holidays was Turkey.

Turkey continues to be a bargain destination, because it has good sunshine for most of the year, and is outside the Euro-zone so your sterling has a little more value than it would if you were having to convert to Euros. A favourite place to visit during your cruise is Istanbul, which has some fantastic tourist opportunities, such as visits to Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, then there’s the Grand Bazaar which has some of the best shopping in the world, and you don’t necessarily have to buy anything, simply wandering around with a sketchbook or camera, or just sitting in a café with a Turkish coffee, will provide you with a lifetime of colourful exciting memories.

If travelling to Turkey, whether as a standalone destination or as part of an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, particularly in the off season, remember that it contains many culturally significant sites where both men and women are expected to dress modestly so as not to cause offence. Almost every cruise line sails some itineraries that take in Turkey, with P&O and Cost in particular offering longer stops along the Turkish coast to take in the best that this region has to offer.