BLUE CRUISES AND GULLET BOATS

Information About Gulet Boats and Blue Cruise Boat Trips in Turkey

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT BLUE CRUISES

Yacht Standards.
* The cruises are operated on wooden Gullets, traditional boats built in the South Western Aegean region of Turkey.
* Boat sizes are around 17-30 meters, usually with 8-14 cabin capacities.
* The cabins can accommodate a maximum of 2 guests. There is one double bed in each cabin. Twin beds are not guaranteed.
* In accordance with the capacity of the guests, the yachts usually have a dinner table, sun beds, awning for shadowing and a lounge.
* There will be enough basic fishing and snorkeling equipments and pallets for joint use of the guests.
* There will be water tanks, refrigerators and deep freezes for the meals and drinks.
* Cabins have a private shower and WC, porthole, a small wardrobe, bed sheets, blanket, towels and pillows.
* 12 V and 24 V electric systems are available on boats. 220 V supply can be available while anchored at the harbors.
* The yachts are insurance. Personal travel insurance is additionally recommended
* All yachts have life jackets and lifeboats.

General rules for weekly cruises:
* The yachts stay at the original departure place in the first and last night of the cruise, thus check in and check out time can also be flexible for each participant
* Captain and the staff will organize the meal times based on general desire of the participants out of the available options..
* The captain can make changes with the route because of weather conditions, for the safety of the guests.
* No changes are made in the itinerary for the personal preferences of the participants.
* It is not allowed to bring drinks to the boat from outside, which are provided with reasonable prices.
* Unless there is a very special situation, the bed sheets are used weekly.
* The yacht remains insured by the owner during your charter, however we advise all charterers to consider cancellation and curtailment insurance. You may also consider Personal Accident or Medical Insurance plus Personal Effects Insurance, which is generally not included in the Charter Fee.

 

WHAT IS A BLUE CRUISE ?
Blue Cruise ("Mavi Yolculuk" in Turkish) is a term used for recreational boating tours along Turkey's spectacular southwestern coasts, with connotations in tourism and literature.

The term was first introduced into the Turkish literature by a handful of Turkish writers of fame. These writers were Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli -alias The Fisherman of Halicarnassus, Bedri Rahmi and Sabahattin Eyuboglu as well as his large and prominent circle of family and friends, especially artists, Azra Erhat, the translator into Turkish of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and others united around the literary revue "Yeni Ufuklar" (New Horizons) in the 1950s and especially as of the 1960s.

"Blue Cruise" became a byword within Turkey's tourism industry and the tours defined within the term are among the most popular leisure and tourism concepts in Turkey. The term itself is derived from the title of a celebrated 1957 book (re-edited after further tours, for the first time in 1962 and then in 1979) by Azra Erhat.

A full Blue Cruise is generally admitted to start in Dydima, or even Kusadasi, although the tours are often launched with departure from Bodrum, and they usually come to an end with Antalya as the final port of destination. In general parlance, the term may also be used to refer to shorter tours as well, as long as they take place along southwestern Turkey's shores.

The Blue Voyage offers the best possible escape on the water: a means of forgetting the rigors of everyday life for a while and just letting go of time. On a week or two week cruise, travelers sail along the Southwest Turkish coast, through crystal clear waters frequented by schools of dolphins and into quiet bays, the harbors of small, picturesque villages and many a historic port.

Wherever you may come from, and however old you may be, after a week or two afloat in this scenic wonderland, you will become of one heart with the beauty and serenity of nature. Both body and mind will revel in this healthy, happy environment.

What alternatives exist in blue cruising ?
For the type of Blue Voyage we offer, you don’t have to hold a skipper’s license, nor do you need to be an avid sailor. For private charters we provide you with a traditional wooden yacht with crew. If you cannot get a group together so as to take your own yacht, you still have the opportunity to join one of our weekly cabin charter cruises. You might even like to go for something racier, like a standard-sized bareboat with an English-speaking skipper.
Most of our yachts are of the traditional wooden variety, built either in Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye or the western Black Sea region.

Which season is best?
Between the end of July and the beginning of September, Turkey is extra busy with the height of summer bringing thousands to the coastal regions. July and August days are long and hot and the nights are warm. June, the beginning of July and all of September offer a better combination, with warm days and cool evenings. The water in September can be especially warm in places. The months of May and October offer excellent sailing conditions and the opportunity to go trekking or fishing.

How do we spend the time?
During the day, we cruise for a few hours and sail if the wind allows. Closer to lunch or dinner, we approach the land and drop anchor in a solitary bay, alongside a small village or off an island. At every stop, and there will be at least two per day, there is the opportunity to swim, fish, snorkel, windsurf, sunbathe, take a trip ashore or just read under the shade of the sun awning. The accent is on relaxation and recreation.
Your friendly, attentive crew will consist of a captain, a cook and either one or two seamen. Their job is to ensure that you are comfortable, well fed and entertained.

What about Scuba diving?
We offer diving tours for people who wish to explore the depths off the coast in the company of an experienced dive master. Bring your friends and make a group or join an organized tour.

What shall we bring?
Our guests are advised that they will be spending most of their time in a bathing suit so it is a good idea to bring at least two! For land trips, a pair of long, light trousers and a shirt are advisable. Evenings may be cool, certainly during the earlier and later months of the year, so you are best to bring a pullover and a windbreaker.
We also suggest you pack your beach towel, plenty of suncream, snorkels/flippers/goggles if you plan on doing lots of snorkeling and a sleeping bag if you are planning to sleep on deck.
Bed linen and towels for use in the cabins are provided by us and you should expect a set of sheets during the hot summer months and a bottom sheet and a pique (thick cotton sheet) during the spring and autumn months.
Your Turkish crew may not have a thorough knowledge of English, so you might be advised to take a small traveller’s dictionary along with you for the cruise. Besides being understood more easily, it is also a great way of picking up a few words of Turkish.

We suggest you bring your belongings in a collapsible bag, rather than a suitcase, as bags are much easier to stow away, and also serve to limit how much you pack! You may like to bring a light day pack for excursions ashore.  One final word of advice: normal street shoes are definitely not acceptable on board a yacht... we suggest you to bring soft-soled shoes for getting around on deck.

During the Blue Voyage, the places you visit are the wealth of civilizations. Any cruising ground that you choose is rich with historic sites, ancient cities and unique rock tombs. Only Blue Voyage will give you the chance to discover countless hidden coves, undiscovered bays, sun drenched sandy beaches and isolated villages, the private beach of Cleopatra, Oludeniz, the rock tombs of Kaunos, the eternal fires of mount Olympos, Myria rock tombs, the archeological remains of ancient civilizations, that had also remained under sea. The experience of seeing breathtaking panoramic views of a sea which flows into shades of green and blue or the sun slipping down towering mountains and slowly disappearing into a golden hazed sea can only be described as priceless. During Blue Voyage you can go beyond the ordinary. Most of us live in large cities where the city lights dull the brightness of the stars. On the Blue Voyage you can see the stars very clearly. If your Blue Voyage coincides with the full moon, it is exceptionally beautiful in these parts.

When there is no moon, you are in for another treat, Phosphor scene. It is the phenomenon created by tiny creatures invisible to human eye. In the pitch dark when moving in the water, it glitters when, for example you are rowing. At the point where the oar touches the surface of the water, there will be circles of light. The drops of water splashing from the oars will drop on the surface of the sea like a shower of stars.
Swimming on a pitch dark night is an incredible experience, like a narcissistic pleasure. Now imagine you will be lying on the deck and alone with stars while the sea is quite choppy with in the gulf or imagine visiting fishermen's villages isolated by the bay during the day.
 

WHAT IS A GULLET

The gulet is the boat of the celebrated Blue Cruise along Turkey's spectacular Turkish Riviera. With its roomy deck at the stern this traditional boat is perfect for passengers to savour the delights of cruising the inlets and coves. The word derives from the Italian 'giulietta'.

The early history of this sailing boat remains largely unknown, apart from the fact that building these boats in Turkey is a tradition unique to Bodrum, although the gulet itself is suitable for sailing in all seas. It is claimed to be unsinkable by the half-dozen recognized master craftsmen who build gulets in Bodrum and Gulluk since decades. The combined launch of these local boatyards reach 15-20 boats per year. A perfect gulet will have the bottom of the hull in the form of a reversed S and the cross-timbers should be laid on the slant.

Making a gulet takes about one and a half years, including the cabin, and the price starts at about 133,000 dollars without the engine. Counting that a good engine could cost another 10 - 15,000 dollars the total outlay for a gulet ready to sail is around 150,000 dollars. The type of wood used can be pine, mulberry or mahogany, preferably cut during the summer, and surprisingly, at full moon (reputed to resist best to worms).

The procedure of building boats today has changed very little over the centuries. The changes to the basic plank-on-frame method are superficial. Electrical tools now allow craftsman to sand and shape wood faster and with more precision than they used to be able to by hand, and laminated epoxy allows for increased design options. Inside the boat, design has changed over the years have increasingly opted for larger dining and lounging facilities.
 

 

CABIN CHARTER BLUE CRUISES

A complete list of regular cruises we offer in Turkey

Marmaris - Fethiye - Marmaris  (7 Nights & 8 Days)
Marmaris > Fethiye Mini Cruise (3 Nights & 4 Days)
Fethiye > Marmaris Mini Cruise (3 Nights & 4 Days)
Air-Conditioned Standard (+) Boats
Weekly or mini cruises on air-conditioned gullet boats with prices starting from 240 (mini cruise) / 330 Euro (weekly) per person in double cabins; including tax, accommodation on gullet boats, breakfast, lunch, dinner.

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Antalya - Kekova - Antalya (7 Nights & 8 Days)
Air-Conditioned Standard (+) Boats
Departing from Kemer, Antalya prices of this blue cruise is staring from 350 Euro per person per week in double cabins; including tax, accommodation on luxury, air-conditioned gulet boats with en suite baths, breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Bodrum - Gokova - Bodrum (7 Nights & 8 Days)
Air-Conditioned Standard (+) Boats
Prices starting from 330 Euro per person per week in double cabins; including tax, accommodation on air-conditioned gulet boats with en suite baths, breakfast, lunch, dinner .

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Private Charter Cruises
Minimum 8 participants required.
Book your private boat and cruise in any destination and time. From recommended variety of boat options you may select the one which fits to your budget and / or expectations.