Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: An Honest Review
Thinking about treating yourself to a Bosphorus dinner cruise when you’re in Istanbul? That does sound awesome, I think! I mean, picture yourself floating on the water that divides Europe and Asia, right, and the gleaming city skyline as your backdrop as you tuck into Turkish food. You may have spotted this experience on some brochures. I got the chance to try it out, and I figured I should share some honest opinions about what it’s really like. That’s the reason I decided to put this all together. Hopefully, this is actually helpful in deciding if it’s really a good fit for you. So let’s explore together this super well-liked Istanbul experience!
Setting Sail: What to Expect on Board
Okay, so it’s almost certain you’re wanting the scoop on what really happens when you climb aboard, yes? Generally, these boats are setup to maximize the views. Usually, there are large windows or even open-air decks, and that certainly matters when you’re trying to take it all in. The boats are really variable, too it’s almost certain. Some may feel really quite lavish, offering things like plush seating and fancy décor, that may not appeal to everyone and could impact the cost. While, some others could be way more relaxed, a bit, I suppose, aimed at a more easy going crowd. When you are booking, it really might be worth trying to find photographs, because they do vary. When you’re thinking about the setting and that sort of thing, then it is probably worth bearing that in mind!
Once you’ve pushed away from the dock, it’s very certain you’ll start seeing the famous waterside spots of Istanbul. So think, stuff, like the Dolmabahçe Palace, a beautiful place, or the Ortaköy Mosque, a striking landmark, and the Rumeli Fortress, that looks seriously awesome as the sun goes down. Most trips usually involve an organized program, it tends to be something, like, local music and dance acts. That is all aimed at getting you in the mood, it can come across as quite touristy. If that really isn’t your kind of thing, then, alright, I’m pretty sure you’d be much better finding a cruise option that majors on chilling out with great scenery!
A Feast for the Senses: Dinner and Drinks
Let’s talk about the food, naturally! I think that should be a top priority, because you need the inside scoop. Lots of these dinner cruises go for a set menu that gives you a taste of Turkish food. Assume things, such as meze platters – small dishes to share – tasty kebabs, and really, some sweets dripping in syrup for afters. To cater to the tastes of most people who don’t necessarily care for strong flavors, the quality does, usually, hit the mark. However, if you like seriously fancy grub, it really may not hit that particular sweet spot. Loads of cruises offer drinks packages, it tends to be alcoholic and non-alcoholic stuff. I usually think it’s often a pretty good deal to sort that in advance, as the prices are usually marked up. When that cruise has no restrictions on purchasing drinks that’s something to consider too.
How the food is served may affect your opinion of it. A lot of cruises go for a buffet, just because that can make things easier to handle when there’s a bigger group. On some, it is almost certain you’ll get table service, which often makes for a fancier experience. As with everything, reading through some customer reviews can be a bit of a shortcut here. So keep a sharp lookout to give yourself the best sense of what to anticipate from the eating experience. Just have a real think about your hopes!
The Entertainment Factor: Shows and Performances
A major part of any Bosphorus dinner cruise can be the entertainment provided. Loads include some stuff, I am sure, featuring traditional Turkish music, belly dancers, and folk dance shows. The shows can definitely be exciting and are often high energy, alright, they do give you that hit of traditional Turkish vibe. I can say they may feel sort of staged, in a way, not to everyone’s taste. Think that these performances sometimes become tourist cliches, but can be very exciting anyway. If you’re seriously keen to explore Turkish culture in a manner that goes beyond that superficiality, alright, there are other experiences, just like going to proper dance performances in some theatres and concert halls in Istanbul.
The standard and feel can vary widely with respect to the entertainment on offer. For sure it’s essential to consider whether you like a rowdy atmosphere or whether a relaxed setting is the key thing to you. Some trips ramp things up with DJs and dancing until very late, because the backdrop of that shimmering Bosphorus creates such an unbelievable club feel, it can also be super romantic. I usually advise checking out what fellow travelers say in their comments about that atmosphere to get a feel of exactly what the evening can be like. Just imagine!
Is It Worth It?: Weighing the Pros and Cons
You probably want the real story, is it money well spent? You could very easily argue that doing a Bosphorus dinner cruise will be the thing you remember. Because you do get remarkable snapshots, have fantastic meal, get exposure to some sort of cultural stuff. However, this mightn’t quite tick the boxes if your priority is genuinely high end cultural immersion and top-class food. A potential downside includes the tourist crowds, too, the rushed feeling that it might give you because it isn’t a custom experience.
Consider, also, if your time’s short or whether you would like something comfy, it is almost certain these cruises take some beating. The cruise bundles several things to do, like views and food. So keep in mind alternative choices for example sightseeing or meals, they often total up to a good bit more, with more organization too. What you feel comfortable paying really relies on that type of trade-off. To me? For that chilled introduction, that certainly feels good.