Packing List for a Turkish Blue Cruise — What to Bring (and What to Leave)

Two principles for packing a Turkish charter:

1. Less than you think. The boat is more casual than any hotel; you will live in two swimsuits and a t-shirt for a week.
2. Soft bag, not hardshell. Cabins have shallow under-bed storage and small cupboards; a hardshell suitcase is unstowable. Soft duffel or holdall, every time.

This is the honest list, sized for a 7-night charter with a group of 6–12 guests on a typical Turkish gulet or catamaran.

The fast list

Essentials (in order of importance):

• 2 swimsuits / swim shorts (one always drying)
• 4–5 t-shirts or light tops
• 1–2 pairs of shorts
• 1 pair of light trousers (for evenings + dinner ashore)
• 1 light long-sleeve top (for evenings, AC, mosquitoes)
• 1 light dress or smart shirt for dinner ashore
• Underwear and socks for 7 days
• Boat shoes or rubber-soled flats (no black soles — they mark teak)
• Flip-flops or sandals for swim platform / shore tendering
• Sunglasses + spare pair
• Wide-brimmed hat or cap
• Sunscreen — high SPF, reef-safe (more on this below)
• After-sun lotion
• Personal medication (in carry-on, not checked)
• Travel adapter (Turkey uses EU type C/F sockets, 230V)
• Phone + charger
• Power bank
• Basic first-aid: paracetamol, plasters, motion-sickness tablets

Strongly recommended:

• Snorkel mask (your own fits better than the boat's loaners)
• Light fleece or hoodie (May, October, evening anchors)
• Reusable water bottle (boats refill from filtered water)
• Microfibre travel towel for shore trips
• Dry bag (small, for tendering ashore in chop)
• Cash in small euro bills for tipping and shore-side spending
• Passport + travel insurance docs

Nice but optional:

• Deck shoes specifically (Sebago / Sperry style)
• Linen shirt for dinner ashore
• Underwater camera or GoPro
• Kindle or paperbacks
• Travel journal
• Earplugs (for the generator)

Don't bring:

• Hardshell luggage (no storage)
• Heavy shoes / hiking boots (unless doing a Lycian Way day)
• Hairdryer (boats have low-watt versions)
• Towels (provided)
• Bedding (provided)
• Shampoo and shower gel (provided in dispensers)
• Heavy jewellery
• White clothes you would mind staining (sunscreen, sea salt, food)

What is on the boat already

You don't need to pack any of this — it is already aboard:

• Bath towels (typically 2 per guest, swapped mid-week)
• Beach towels (1 per guest, kept the week)
• Bed linen
• Pillows + duvet cover (some boats provide a light duvet, others just a sheet — check at booking if relevant)
• Soap and shampoo in cabin dispensers
• Toilet paper
• Hairdryer (low wattage; if you have particular needs, bring your own)
• Snorkel mask + fins (1–2 sets per cabin, sometimes shared)
• Paddleboards + kayaks (1–2 of each, vessel-dependent)
• Wifi (most boats now)
• USB charging in cabins (most newer boats)

If you are unsure on a specific item, ask the captain at booking. Most are happy to confirm.

Sunscreen — the one item to take seriously

Turkish sun in July and August is intense and reflects off the water for double exposure. Sunscreen choices:

Bring with you, do not buy locally: local Turkish brands are mediocre and expensive at marina pharmacies. Pack what you trust.

Reef-safe: the captain will appreciate this and so will the fish. Most modern brands offer reef-safe options (no oxybenzone, no octinoxate). Stream2Sea, Stream Turtles, and Sun Bum reef-safe ranges are widely available.

SPF: 50+ is the right call for the first 3 days; you can drop to 30 once you have a base tan. Reef-safe SPF often comes in 30 max; double up application.

Quantity: 1 large tube (200 ml) per person for a week, plus a small face-specific tube. Two adults on a 7-day charter typically get through 400–500 ml total.

Lip balm with SPF: vastly underrated, very easy to forget.

Clothes — the honest reality

You will live in two outfits all day every day:

• Swimsuit + sun shirt for the morning
• Light shorts + t-shirt for the afternoon
• Light trousers + linen shirt or dress for the evening

Total: 5–7 t-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 light trousers, 2 swimsuits, 1 evening outfit, underwear and socks for 7 days.

You do not need:

• Multiple smart shirts. The dressiest dinner is a marina restaurant.
• Heavy fabrics. Even May evenings are 18°C+.
• Coats. The fleece handles the coldest moment of the trip.

What is harder to find ashore than you'd think

Pack these from home; the marina pharmacies are limited:

• Specific medications — generics are available but may be branded differently. Bring enough for the whole trip + buffer.
• Contact lens solution — limited brands at marina shops.
• Specific tampon brands — local brands available, branded ones limited.
• Quality reef-safe sunscreen — see above.
• Anti-allergy medication — common allergens (cat dander, pollen) are strong on the Turkish coast in spring.
• Motion-sickness tablets — available locally but in unfamiliar brands.
• High-quality sunglasses — the marina shops sell mostly fake brands.
• Snorkel masks that genuinely fit you — boat masks are one-size-fits-most.

Specific scenarios

Family with young children

Add to the list:

• Kid-size life jackets (boats provide; bring extras for new-borns or unusual sizes)
• Small-toy rotation: cards, magnetic games, paddleboard chase toys
• Children's motion-sickness tablets
• Reef-safe kid sunscreen (different formulation, more rubbing in needed)
• Long-sleeved swim shirt for sun protection
• Inflatable arm bands or floaties
• Snacks for crossings (boat food is great but kids on a 90-minute hop want a biscuit)
• Tablet with downloaded shows for evenings
• Children's books

Browse family-friendly gulets →

Diving or snorkelling enthusiasts

The boats carry standard snorkel gear; serious divers should bring:

• Full mask + fins kit (proper fit makes hours-long snorkels possible)
• Wetsuit / shortie (May and October water is 18–22°C; a 1mm shortie is the difference)
• Underwater camera or GoPro housing
• Dive computer if doing tank dives ashore
• Spare mask strap

The Lycian coast has world-class snorkelling — Kekova sunken city is the highlight.

Photographers

• Polarising filter (Turkish water glare is intense)
• Charging hub for the boat's USB outlets
• Drone (check with captain — some allow, some don't, all require daylight-only flying)
• Dry bag for tendering ashore
• Lens cloths (salt spray is constant)

Honeymoons and anniversaries

• One smart outfit for the captain's surprise dinner
• Whatever else you'd pack for a dressy beach holiday
• Tell the captain in advance — most arrange a special dinner ashore at a coastal restaurant with one day's notice

Soft bag, not hardshell — explained

Cabin storage in a Turkish gulet:

• Under-bed: 30–40 cm tall, 60 cm wide, full mattress depth
• Cupboard: typically 1 small closet per cabin
• Small bedside drawer

A 60 cm hardshell suitcase fits under the bed only if it is the soft-bottomed kind. A 70+ cm hardshell will not fit anywhere; you end up living with it on the cabin floor for a week.

A soft duffel or holdall compresses to whatever space you have. We recommend 60–80 litre soft luggage, packed less than full.

What to leave at home

The list of things that show up in cabins and never get used:

• Heavy denim
• More than one pair of evening shoes
• Multiple "nice" outfits — the dinner culture is casual
• Hardback books (paperbacks survive sea air; hardbacks get clammy)
• Heavy electronics (laptops, professional camera kit) unless you must work
• Beach blankets (boats have lounger cushions on deck)

FAQ

Are there washing machines on board? Some larger gulets and most catamarans have them. Smaller gulets do not. Hand-washing essentials in the cabin sink and air-drying on a line in the cockpit works for swimsuits and underwear.

Can I bring duty-free alcohol on board? Yes, almost universally. Most captains explicitly permit BYO and there is no markup or restriction.

Do I need a beach umbrella? No — the boat shades you. The afterdeck has a bimini cover; many gulets have a saloon awning.

What about wedding attire if there's a beach wedding ashore? Bring it; the boat will press it in the laundry locker the morning of. Most captains have done this and have a routine.

Is the boat's hairdryer sufficient? Low-wattage (300–600W) so slower than home but workable. If you need fast-drying, high-volume, bring your own travel hairdryer.

Do I need to pack my passport for the day? Carry it on international crossings (Greek-island days). Otherwise leave in the cabin safe; the captain prefers passports stay aboard for manifest purposes.

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If you'd like the captain to confirm specifics for your boat (hairdryer wattage, washing machine, AC overnight policy), ask during booking — the find-charter wizard routes your questions to the captain directly. Or browse the vessel directory and check each boat's amenity list.