Visit many of the most historically significant destinations throughout Turkey’s Anatolia peninsula with a special emphasis on Biblical sites that played key roles in early Christianity, many of them World Heritage sites.
Special Note: Any guests traveling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour.
Due to the amount of walking, this program is not recommended for guests who have walking difficulty or who utilize a wheelchair or scooter.
DAY 1
Upon arriving at the Istanbul Airport (IST), you will be met and transferred to the Divan Hotel Istanbul (or similar) for check-in. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure, allowing time for you to settle in and explore the city on your leisure. Meals will be on your own.
Please note: transportation arrangements for arrivals at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side are not included.
DAY 2
After an early breakfast at the hotel, you will drive through Istanbul to visit the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church and Ottoman Mosque that is now a museum. Although the earliest two versions were destroyed, this Hagia Sophia dates from 537 AD and is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It served as Istanbul’s principal mosque for nearly 500 years and became a model for the Blue Mosque.
You will next visit the landmark Blue Mosque, one of the few mosques with six minarets. It was constructed in the early 17th century under the direction of Sultan Ahmet I, who was only 19 years old at the time. The exterior of the Blue Mosque is notable for its cascade of domes that seem to spill down from the central dome. Inside, the ceiling is lined with the 20,000 blue tiles for which the mosque is named.
The mosque is adjacent to the Hippodrome, where chariot races, coronations and parades all took place starting in 203 A.D. It too is a landmark in Istanbul.
Following lunch, you will visit the opulent Topkapi Palace, where Turkey’s sultans lived from 1453 until the middle of the 19th century. The imposing building sits atop one of the seven hills of Istanbul.
Later, you will have the opportunity to browse through the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, the largest and the oldest covered marketplace in the world. It contains more than 5,000 shops selling an amazing range of merchandise. Jewelry, carpets, antiques, old coins, furniture, prayer beads and copperware are only a few of the items in the bazaar, which has been operating since the 15th century.
After returning to the hotel, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 3
After an early breakfast at the hotel and check-out, you will transfer to the Istanbul Airport for the domestic flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you will depart for the ancient city of Pergamum, a World Heritage site. Here, you will visit the Acropolis, which was the capital of the Hellenistic Attlid dynasty and a significant learning center.
You will next visit the Temple of Serapis, more commonly known as the Red Basilica. The Roman emperor Hadrian ordered its construction in the early 2nd century, and it was later converted into a Byzantine church. Be sure to browse the small mosque within the magnificent ruins.
Continuing, you will next visit Sardes, once the capital of the flourishing Lydian kingdom, where gold and silver coins were first minted. The fabulously wealthy King Croesus was the last king to rule Lydia before Sardes was repeatedly conquered until becoming part of the Roman empire.
After an in-depth visit of the ancient ruins, you will depart for Pamukkale to spend the evening and dine at the Doga Thermal Hotel (or similar).
DAY 4
In the morning, you will check out of the hotel and drive to nearby Hierapolis, an ancient city that together with Pamukkale is a World Heritage site. Because of the abundant water throughout the area, Hierapolis and numerous smaller settlements once thrived here. In the 2nd century BC, the ruling kings had a thermal spa constructed at Hierapolis and the ruins have been excavated, along with several temples and Greek monuments.
Neighboring Laodicea also prospered as a Roman market town and an early center of Christianity. Although an earthquake destroyed the city, remnants have been unearthed, including the ruins of a stadium, odeon and aqueduct.
Following lunch in nearby Denizli, you will depart for the town of Izmir. An orientation tour will acquaint you with the city’s landmarks, after which you will check into the Swissotel Grand Efes hotel for the evening. Dinner will be on your own.
DAY 5
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will depart for the Church of St. Polycarp, the oldest church in Izmir. Built in the early 17th century, it miraculously survived the devastating fire of 1922 that destroyed much of Izmir. The church is named for the patron saint of the city, who John the Evangelist converted to Christianity.
After visiting, you will proceed to the airport and fly to Istanbul. Upon arriving, you will transfer to the port for embarkation.
Land Program Details Step by Step:
• Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.
• Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
• The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
• Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
• If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
• If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.
• If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at the Istanbul Airport.
You will be met outside Customs and baggage claim and transferred to the Pera Palace Hotel.
The afternoon and the evening with be at your leisure with meals on your own.
Check in at your hotel is 2:00 pm Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.
Overnight at the Divan Hotel Istanbul or similar
Meet and Greet and transfers
• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
• Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
• Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing.Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
• If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
7:30am Breakfast at the hotel
8:30amDepart from the hotel
9:00am Visit the Hagia Sophia
10:00am Walk to the Byzantine Hippodrome and Blue Mosque
12:30pm Lunch at Matbah Restaurant
2:00pm Visit the Topkapi Palace
3:15pm Visit the Grand Bazaar
4:30pm Drive back to the hotel, dinner on own
Overnight at the Divan Hotel Istanbul or similar
DAY 3 - timings may vary depending on flight details to be confirmed 60 days before sailing
AM Early breakfast at the hotel
6:30am Depart for the Istanbul airport
8:30am Fly from Istanbul to Izmir (flight details TBA and subject to change)
9:30am Depart for Pergamon and visit
1:00pm Lunch at Les Pergamon Restaurant
2:00pm Drive to Sardes and visit
4:00pm Depart for Pamukkale
7:00pm Arrive in Pamukkale and check in
8:00pm Dinner at the hotel
Overnight at the Doga Thermal Hotel or similar
DAY 4
7:30am Breakfast at the hotel
8:45am Check out and drive to Hierapolis for a visit
11:00amDrive to Laodicia and visit
1:00pm Lunch at Marla Restaurant in Denizli
2:00pm Drive to Izmir
5:00pmOrientation tour of Izmir
6:30pm Check-in at the hotel, dinner on own
Overnight at the Swissotel Grand Efes or similar
DAY 5 - timings may vary depending on flight details to be confirmed 60 days before sailing
AM Breakfast at the hotel
8:30am Depart for the Polycarp Church
10:00amTransfer to the airport
12:00pm Fly from Izmir to Istanbul (flight details TBA and subject to change)
2:00pmApproximate arrival at the pier for embarkation
Expected Weather
Summers in the region are very hot with daytime temperatures approaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Nighttime temperatures fall near 24 degrees Celsius (about 75 degrees Fahrenheit). Autumn starts in September and ends in October and is the high season for travel. Average temperature at this time is in the 20s Celsius (in the 70s Fahrenheit).
What to Bring
Due to the uneven walking surfaces, sport shoes are highly recommended. Also, pack sunscreen, a hat during summer and an umbrella during autumn, light comfortable clothing and shoes, and a light jacket for the evenings. Suitable clothing must be worn in the mosques with shoulders and legs covered.
Local Currency
Turkish Lira. However, U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
Electricity
220 volts AC/50 Hz throughout Turkey. We recommend you bring a travel adaptor for electric devices. Although some hotels might have adaptors, availability might be limited, and they cannot be guaranteed.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required and an e-Visa is required for all U.S. citizens entering Turkey. Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality
VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.
Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.
Luggage information
For domestic flights, the checked luggage allowance is 15 kg (33 pounds) per person. We advise you to pack a smaller bag for the program, allowing your main luggage to be stored in a secure office in Istanbul until your return. Be sure to appropriately label luggage left and bring all medications and documents with you. Guests who wish to bring all of their luggage with them must pay any excess or overweight luggage fees upon check in at the airport.
Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)
1. Guests must obtain a doctor’s certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.
2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description and specifications, especially with regards to the type of batteries used.
3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via our reservations department at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which the cruise line nor our local ground operator be responsible for.
Please Note: Due to the amount of walking, this program is not recommended for guests who have walking difficulty or who utilize a wheelchair or scooter.
Hotel addresses
Divan Hotel Istanbul (or similar)
Asker Ocagi Caddesi No: 1 Sisli / Istanbul
Phone : 90 212 315 55 00
Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale
Karahayit Mah., 147 Seyir Sokak 9/1, 20020 Merkez/Pamukkale/Denizli
Phone: 90 258 271 44 00
Swiss Hotel Grand Efes Izmir
Ismet Kaptan Mahallesi, Gazi Osman Pasa Blv. No 1, 35210 ALSANCAK/Izmir
Phone: (0232) 414 00 00
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.
Program Includes for guests
•2 nights including breakfast at the Divan Hotel Istanbul in Istanbul or similar (Standard double room)
•1 night at the Doga Thermal Hotel or similar in Pamukkale, including breakfast and dinner (Standard double room)
•1 night at the Swissotel Grand Efes or similar in Izmir, including breakfast (standard double room)
•Transfers
•Entrance fees to the visited sites and museums
•Three lunches with limited beverages
•Domestic flights per the itinerary (direct flights not guaranteed)
•English-speaking guide
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests
•Luggage porterage fees
•Gratuities for drivers and guides
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
•Any meals or beverages not listed above and beverages during the dinner in Pamukkale
•Excess or overweight luggage fees
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
