Blue Cruise Turkey
The classic 7-night Turkish gulet itinerary — sleep on the boat, wake at a different cove every morning, swim before breakfast.
What is a blue cruise in Turkey?
A blue cruise — Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish — is a 4-to-14-night gulet charter along the Aegean or Mediterranean coast of Turkey. You board on a Saturday at a port like Bodrum, Fethiye or Marmaris, sleep on the boat each night at a different anchorage, swim daily, eat three meals a day cooked aboard, and disembark the following Saturday.
The format was popularised in the 1970s by the Turkish writer Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, who coined the phrase. It evolved from Bodrum's traditional sponge-diving boats — the wooden gulet hull is the same family of boat. Today it's Turkey's signature charter product, with around 600 gulets and another ~300 modern yachts running the same coastline.
The appeal is real and specific: total privacy of the boat, a different anchorage every morning, three meals a day prepared by a Turkish cook on a small galley, and a captain who knows every cove on a 200-mile stretch of coast. It's the Mediterranean charter that feels like a Mediterranean charter — without the bareboat complexity, the Greek port crowds, or the Croatian price tag.
Seven major ports along the Turkish coast
The fleet runs from Bodrum on the Aegean to Antalya on the eastern Lycian coast. Pick the port closest to your itinerary vision, or let the concierge match you.
Classic blue-cruise routes
Hand-curated itineraries, all real captain favourites. Pick a route, then choose the gulet that fits your group.
Lycian Coast
The classic Turkish blue cruise
Twelve Islands Loop
Quiet coves, glassy water, families
Datça Peninsula
The original gulet route
Greek Islands Crossing
Two countries, one cruise
Kekova Sunken City
Drift over a 2,000-year-old town
Bodrum Aegean Loop
Wine, ruins, and Aegean swim coves
Gulf of Gökova
The original blue cruise water
Hisarönü Gulf
The gulet-builders' coast
Marmaris → Rhodes
Crusader castles and turquoise crossings
What's included on a blue cruise?
Full crew
Captain + cook minimum on smaller gulets; captain + cook + deckhand + hostess on mid-size; full hotel-grade crew (steward, second deckhand) on larger boats. The crew is included in the weekly rate, not extra.
Three meals a day
Breakfast (eggs, olives, white cheese, fresh-baked simit, fruit), lunch (15-20 small meze plates), three-course dinner. The cook shops local markets every 2-3 days. Dietary requirements are standard.
All anchorages and harbour fees
Most nights are on anchor in a quiet cove. Occasional port nights (Datça, Karacasöğüt, Göcek) have a marina fee that's typically captain-paid out of the standard provisioning.
Diesel for normal cruising
Captains plan routes around standard fuel use. Long Greek-island crossings or unusually fast itineraries may add a fuel surcharge of €300-€800.
Linens, towels, and basic toiletries
Bedrooms are made up on board, beach towels are provided, swimming pool is the sea.
Not usually included
Alcohol (most boats are BYOB; some operators offer drinks packages), Greek-island visa fees if crossing, water-toy upgrades (jet ski, diving compressor), captain & crew tip (€500-€1,500 typical for a 7-night charter). See the full inclusions guide →
When is the best time?
The Turkish blue-cruise season runs late April to late October. The two sweet spots are late May to mid-June and mid-September to early October:
- Sea temperature 22–26°C — warm enough for daily swimming
- Anchorages 30–60% as crowded as peak August
- Soft golden light through morning and afternoon
- Pricing 25–40% below peak July/August
Mid-July to late August is hotter, busier and more expensive — but it's also when sea temperature peaks at 28°C and the days are longest. If your dates are immovable to school summer holidays, it works fine, just expect to pay 30-50% more and to share popular anchorages with more boats.
For the full month-by-month breakdown including wind, water temperature, crowds and pricing, see Best Time to Sail in Turkey.
How much does a blue cruise cost?
Typical 2026 pricing for a private 7-night gulet charter, all-in (boat + crew + 3 meals/day + standard anchorages):
| Vessel size | Guests | Mid-season | Peak (Jul–Aug) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22m, 4 cabins | 6–8 | €15,000–€22,000 | €20,000–€28,000 |
| 28m, 6 cabins | 10–12 | €22,000–€32,000 | €30,000–€42,000 |
| 34m, 8 cabins | 14–16 | €32,000–€48,000 | €44,000–€65,000 |
| 40m+, 10+ cabins | 18–24 | €45,000–€85,000 | €60,000–€140,000 |
Cabin charters (buy a single cabin and share the boat with other guests) start from around €700/person/week. See Private vs Cabin Charter for the comparison.
Gulet, catamaran, or motor yacht?
"Blue cruise" traditionally means a wooden Turkish gulet — that's the format the country invented. But the same itineraries also run on modern catamarans, motor yachts, and sailboats. The choice depends on what you want from the trip.
Gulet charters
The classic — wooden hull, full crew, traditional Turkish food culture. Best for the authentic blue-cruise experience.
Catamaran charters
Twin-hull, stable at anchor, real sailing capability. Good for groups with seasick-prone members.
Motor yacht charters
Faster, more polished, more amenities. Good for itineraries covering more ground in less time.
Sailboat charters
Modern monohull. For licensed skippers wanting bareboat charter or proper sailing performance.
Read Gulet vs Yacht Charter and Gulet vs Catamaran for the deeper comparisons.
Plan your Turkish blue cruise
Tell us your group size, dates and preferred port. We'll send back matched vessels within 4 hours, with the captain's availability and full pricing.