14-night Mediterranean & Turkey Cruise

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Civitavecchia: Imperial Rome & The Vatican City - 8 hours

Your driver will meet you at Civitavecchia today to transfer into Rome where you will be met by your expert local guide.
 

Begin your tour with a visit to the imposing Colosseum. Commissioned by Emperor Vespasian, the stadium could accommodate up to 50,000 spectators who came to view the gladiatorial battles that lasted up to 100 days! Adjacent is the Arc of Constantine which, dating from AD 315, is a forerunner to many other Triumphal Arches around the world. Possibly even more impressive are the excavations of the vast Roman Forum where the remains of temples, streetscapes, palaces and homes can be found.
 

After lunch, travel across the Tiber River to the Vatican City. Visit the Vatican Museums, part of the Papal Residence which is estimated to contain 1400 rooms, chapels and galleries. The Museums contain an extraordinarily rich collection of precious arts, maps, sculptures and antiquities but surely the most breath-taking masterpiece is Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. At the centre of the Vatican lies the vast Basilica of St. Paul, the world’s largest church where the colourfully dressed Swiss Guard can be found. The present Cathedral is a beautiful mix of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, formed under the hands of masters such as Michelangelo. The stunning interior is an elaborate and detailed display of marble, mosaic, gilt and bronze.

Your tour includes express entry to the Vatican Museums, past the regular lines. The Vatican requires visitors to cover upper arms and legs to below the knee.

Highlights:

• Tour some of Rome's most iconic sites including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
• Explore the impressive museum collections in the Vatican City and the breath-taking masterpiece that is Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel
• Spend time in the Basilica of St. Paul, the largest church in the world

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to Colosseum, Imperial Forum and Vatican Museums
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Civitavecchia: Rome for Repeat Visitors - 8 hours

A tour designed for those who have visited Rome before, but would like to discover more of this fascinating city. Your driver will meet you at the port and bring you into Rome where your expert guide will be waiting for you.
 

Take a journey back in time at the church of San Clemente as you descend down three levels and through two thousand years of history. The medieval church was built over the remains of a 4th-century basilica which, in its turn, covers older buildings from the time of the emperor Nero and a sanctuary dedicated to the oriental divinity Mithras.

In the afternoon discover how Rome evolved through the 18th-century and visit the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a majestic royal residence of one of Rome’s most illustrious families. Believed to be the largest privately owned Palace in Rome, the Doria Pamphilj’s vast private art collection is still held here.
 

Your guide will also be delighted to make additional suggestions for your tour depending on your own personal interests. Alternatively, you may like to revisit some of your favourite places from your previous visit to Rome.

Highlights:

• Visit the church of San Clemente and discover its fascinating history
• Explore the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a majestic royal residence of one of Rome’s most illustrious families, which houses a vast private art collection

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to San Clemente and Doria Pamphilij
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Civitavecchia: Gastronomic Rome and Time at Leisure - 8 hours

Travel with your driver to Rome this morning to meet a food expert for a gastronomic walking tour of the Trastevere District, so called because it lies across the River Tiber. Trastevere was once the bohemian quarter of Rome and still retains its arty edge today. Explore the bustling market and ancient maze of streets whilst discovering the essence of Italy’s best loved food with tastings of gelato, Sicilian pastries, Jewish delicacies, meats and wine.
 

The remainder of the day can be spent as you wish, your vehicle and driver will remain at your disposal in Rome before returning you to Civitavecchia.

Highlights:

• Uncover Rome's bohemian quarter, along with tastings of Italy's best loved delicacies 
• Car and driver at your disposal to discover Rome

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low 

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (3 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
• Food and wine tastings

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Civitavecchia: Museums of Rome - Capitoline and Borghese - 8 hours

Your driver will meet you at the port and bring you into Rome where your expert guide will meet you. Begin your tour on Capitoline Hill and visit one of the oldest museum complexes in the world; the Capitoline Museums, originally founded by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471. Capitoline Hill has been a seat of religious or political power throughout the centuries, making it the most important of the “seven hills” of Rome. It was here that the most important temple in town, dedicated to Jupiter, the king of the gods, was built. See the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter and marvel at the magnificent bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius at Campidoglio Square.
 

Afterwards, explore the museums, extended over two buildings; the Palazzo dei Conservatori, where you can view splendid frescoes portraying the history of Rome and the Pinacoteca (Picture gallery), and Palazzo Nuovo, where you can admire the wonderful sculptures. Finally visit the ancient Tabularium whose monumental arches overlook the Forum.  

Continue up along the Via Veneto to the elegant Villa Borghese, accompanied by your local expert guide and private vehicle. Surrounded by a leafy parkland, the villa was originally designed as a palace of pleasure and entertainment to house Cardinal Scipione Borghese’s incredible collection of antiquities, paintings and custom pieces. Today the collections of sculpture and paintings are among the most important in Italy. Admire the stunning Caravaggio canvases, Titian's enigmatic ‘Sacred and Profane Love’ and the striking sculptures by Bernini and Canova during this fabulous visit. Return to Civitavecchia from here.

Highlights:

• Travel out to Capitoline Hill and visit one of the oldest museum complexes in the world
• Visit Villa Borghese, home to a collection of sculptures and paintings that are among the most important in Italy

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to the Capitoline Museums and Villa Borghese
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Marseille Shore Excursion - Marseille - 8 hours

Marseille is, first of all, ancient. Started by the Phoenician around 600-BC (ignoring of course the Ligurians who already lived here), taken over by the Greeks in 540 BC, and conquered by the Romans two thousand years ago, 


HIGHLIGHTS 

• OLD HARBOR - Vieux Panier
• MUCEM Museum
•  Sightseeing tour along the Corniche Road up to the Notre Dame de La Garde Cathedral.

 
End of the tour at your ship
 
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 

Package Include 

- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed guide 

- All entrance fees

- All tax and Vat 
 

Do not include 

- Lunch 

- Gratuities 

- Travel Insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  

May 1st - due to French law, cost double

 

Marseille Shore Excrusion - Alpilles - 8 hours

Meet your private English speaking driver guide who will wait for you with a nominative board at the main exit of your ship and depart for a visit of the Alpilles 
 
Depart for the Alpilles, this chain of limestone hills runs east-west, and is where bauxite was first discovered (named after the village of Baux-de-Provence). The Alpilles are an extension of the Luberon Mountains, which stretch out to the east

HIGHLIGHTS 
 

• Saint Remy

Situated in the heart of the Alpilles, Saint Rémy is one of the "must-sees" in Provence. Surrounded by lush green perfumed valleys, its ancient streets are lined with beautifully restored old houses...
 

• Baux de provence

Your journey will then continue with a visit of Les Baux de Provence. This village is situated in the heart of the Alpilles on a rocky plateau 245m high. Brilliant views of Arles, the Camargue and the Alpilles can be seen from the look-out points! 


 Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- Entrance fee to Baux de Provence Castel 
- All tax and Vat
 
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
 
Departure dates

 - All day, all year - except during French Bank holidays - rate on request  for those dates

Marseille Shore Excursion - Chateauneuf du Pape - 8 hours

Meet your private English speaking driver guide at the main exit of your ship and. Depart for a full day visit and wine tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape wine area,
 
Lunch at leisure, your guide will suggest you the best place to have lunch depending on your taste and requirements.
 
During your journey you’ll stop for a visit and wine tasting at two wine estates.

End of the tour at your ship 
 
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- 2 private wine tasting 
- All tax and Vat
 
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
 
Departure dates
- all day, all year - except during French Bank holidays - rate on request for those dates
 

Marseille - Shore Excursion - Green Provence Tour - 8 hours -

Meet your private English speaking driver guide who will wait for you with a nominative board at the main exit of your ship and depart for a  visit of the Green Provence
 
HIGHLIGHTS 

• Enjoy a visit and wine tasting at Le Clos du Pavillon estate.
  At this 7ha estate, 4ha of which are used to produce the grapes, a great respect for nature rules the estate. A place is like no other, where the tradition has remained since the 16th century. Production is not mechanized and everything is done manually from the budding to the harvest. This respect and love for wine make fruit flavored wines with its own
• Enjoy lunch at Abbaye de la Celle. (To be paid on site)
  A charming restaurant in the heart of in the wine country, located in the shadow of a 12th century royal Abbey, which hosted the good and the great of this world...
• After lunch, enjoy a wine tasting at Chateau Margui.
  A new gem in the Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC, that has produced wine for centuries, Margüi fell into oblivion in 1970. Coming back to life in year 2000, it quickly expressed its impetuous personality: 2003, Château Margüi's first vintage, turned out to be very successful. 
• End of the tour at your ship

 
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- 2 private wine tasting 
- All tax and Vat
 
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance and personal expenses
 
Departure dates
 - All day, all year - except during French Bank holidays - rate on request for those dates
 

Marseille - Shore excursion Aix en Provence - 8 hours

Meet your private English speaking driver guide at the main exit of your ship and depart for Aix en Provence.
 
Aix is surrounded by countryside full of authentic Provencal houses and traditional French style gardens. The name Aix comes from the source discovered when the city was founded in 123b.c. by the Romans. Aix was the capitol of Provence in the 15th century, wealthy merchants and local dignitaries helped turn this city into the Florence of Provence as we know it today. One can find all the beauty of the noble Provence of the17th and 18th centuries that include handsome houses and private mansions of the upper class, city squares’ bursting with flowers, ancient fountains and shaded narrow streets.
 
Discerning shoppers might instead choose the elegant boutiques in the quartier Mazarin, richest and most exclusive quarter of what is a considerably wealthy town.
 
Lunch is at your leisure; your guide will suggest the best place to have lunch depending on your taste and requirements.
 
End of the tour at your ship 

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

Package Include
-  Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- Entrance fee to Cézanne workshop
- All tax and Vat
 
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
 
Departure dates
All day, all year - except  during French Bank holidays - rate on request  for those dates
 

Marseille - Half Day Tour - 4 hours

Marseille Shore Excursion. The oldest city of France yet elected European Capital of Culture in 2014, Marseille is continuously changing and offering a contrast between tradition and modernity. Worldwide known for its old port, turquoise calanques and typical provencal markets, do not miss the visit of the third city of France!
 

9:00 am or 2:00 pm: Be met at the foot of your cruise ship in Marseille’ port.

You will visit Marseille, the largest and most popular commune in France after Paris, also the third largest metropolitan area in France. You can start your visit for example with The Pharo promontory that was just a mere rocky plateau on which only rushes and wild grasses grew, but Napoleon decided to build "a house at the water's edge"; the residence was never actually used…but became today one of the finest architectural complexes in Europe!

The guide will drive you to the famous Notre Dame de la Garde, « Our Good Mother » as the Marseillais call her with affection; the 19th century impressive church dominates the city and the view from the churchyard is just astonishing. Inside, you will see dozens of ex-votos, many of them in the shape of boats placed there by grateful sailors. The tour will continue with a scenic drive around town. Marseille is busy renovating its majestic Second Empire buildings, adding interesting modern architecture and buzzing with the energy of a new Golden Age. 

You will pass the Corniche where you will see the most beautiful houses of Marseille, towards the Palais Longchamp, originally the water tower of the town, a very beautiful example of 19th century architecture; the Park Longchamp is today the largest park of central Marseille.

1:00 pm or 6:00 pm: Drop off either at the foot of your ship or at your hotel.
Tour Duration: 4 hours.

Tour can operate: Any Day

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate.

Included:
Deluxe minivan that can carry up to 6 passengers
Professional English-speaking guide-driver who will chauffeur you on your sightseeing-tour and is licensed to guide and accompany you on walking tours as well as into museums and monuments.
24-hour assistance available during your stay
All taxes

Not Included:
Tips
Lunch or dinner

 

Marseille - Full Day Tour - 8 hours

Marseille Shore Excursion. The largest and most populous commune in France after Paris, centre of the third largest metropolitan area in France.
 

9:00 am: Be met at the foot of your cruise ship in Marseilles’ port.

You can start your visit for example with The Pharo. The guide will drive you to the famous Notre Dame de la Garde, « Our Good Mother » as the Marseillais call her with affection. You will pass the Corniche where you will see the most beautiful houses of Marseille, towards the Palais Longchamp, originally the water tower of the town, a very beautiful example of 19th century architecture; the Park Longchamp is today the largest park of central Marseille. Enjoy lunch at leisure in a restaurant suggested by your guide.

In the afternoon, we suggest a visit of the Mucem (new museum which opens in 2013). This national museum is located on a site which includes the Fort Saint-Jean, a historic monument overlooking the Vieux-Port, and a new building designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti on the J4 esplanade. On the Greek and Roman ruins of the ancient state-city, there is a 12th century chapel that was part of the former Commandry of St. John of Jerusalem, the medieval tower of King René (built between 1447 and 1453), and the Tour du Fanal erected in the 17th century at the request of ship-owners to light up the entrance to the harbour, surrounded by various military fortifications. The MuCEM's location is therefore a location steeped in history and memories, at the heart of a prestigious heritage site - Cathédrale de la Major, Eglise Saint-Laurent, with views of the Palais du Pharo, and the Abbaye Saint-Victor, the sea and the islands of Friuli - overlooking "the Suez and beyond".

5.00 pm: Return to your hotel or your cruise.
Tour Duration: 8 hours.

Tour can operate: Any Day

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate.

Included:
Deluxe minivan that can carry up to 6 passengers
Professional English-speaking guide-driver who will chauffeur you on your sightseeing-tour and is licensed to guide and accompany you on walking tours as well as into museums and monuments.
24-hour assistance available during your stay
All taxes

Not Included:
Tips
Lunch or dinner

 

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

VilleFranche- Shore Excursion - Discovery of Saint-Paul de Vence, Haut de Cagnes & Gourdon - 8 hours

Meet your private English speaking driver guide who will wait for you with a nominative board at the main exit of your ship and depart for a visit of Saint Paul de vence, Haut de Cagnes & Gourdon.
 
HIGH LIGHTS

• Saint Paul de Vence, built on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by its ramparts built on the order of Francois 1^st, St Paul is certainly one of the most beautiful villages in Provence.
• Then enjoy a visit of Haut de Cagnes, a medieval quarter full of tiny streets, stairs, little restaurants and old houses that gradually descend down and blend with the modern lower city.
• Gourdon clings to the summit of a breathtakingly steep cliff at a height of 760 m and offers an unobstructed view of the Gorges du Loup and the Mediterranean. Clustered behind an imposing castle surrounded by gardens that were designed by Le Nôtre, the old houses have been well preserved and restored in this lively village where craftspeople are a driving force.

End of the tour at your ship
 
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
 
Package includes
-  Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
- All entrance fees 
- All tax and Vat 
 
Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 
 
Departure dates
- All day, all year - except for French Bank Holidays, contact us for those dates

VilleFranche - Shore Excursion - Discovery of Nice, Eze & Monaco - 8 hours

Meet your private English speaking driver guide who will wait for you with a nominative board at the main exit of your ship and depart for a visit of Nice, Eze & Monaco.

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Nice, the fifth largest city in France, acts as a magnet attracting people from all over the world, for a multitude of reasons. Elegant and simple, Nice's charm comes from its exceptional climate as well as its beauty. Even in the winter the café terraces are filled with people happily drinking and contemplating the ultra-famous Promenade des Anglais.  Always in flower this wonderful walk follows along the bay, looking out onto the Baie des Anges and the beaches on one side, and on the other such luxury hotels as the Negresco.

• From Nice, take the Corniche road to Eze, a medieval village perched like an eagles nest on a narrow rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
• Monaco, one of those magic glamorous places that have a worldwide reputation, is situated on the French Riviera between Cap d'Ail and Menton, just a few kilometers from the Italian Riviera 

End of the tour at your ship
 
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
- All entrance fees 
- All tax and Vat 
 
Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 
 
Departure dates
- All day, all year - except for French Bank Holidays, contact us for those dates

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Genoa: Genoa for Families - 8 hours

This morning you will be met by your English-speaking guide for a full day excursion to Genoa. Today you will immerse yourselves into the water world of this city! Your visit will start in the largest and most innovative sea museum of the Mediterranean, the Galata Museum, with a 10,000 sqm area set in a stone-and-glass building. It outlines the evolution of the maritime town’s port using an approach which is not exclusively scientific, in that it gives ample space to interactive and multimedia-related aspects. One of the museum’s gems is the faithful reconstruction of a 17th-century Genoese galley (being 40m long) placed upon its original slipway.

Besides the more traditional halls (about Colombo, Andrea Doria, and so forth), visitors can explore the Arsenal rooms, see the Darsena armoury, go aboard a 19th-century brigantine, finally going through a Cape Horn tempest recreated through virtual reality. Among the other exhibitions you can find the Waterfront Plan (“Affresco”) by Renzo Piano and the panoramic terrace MIRAGenova.

Visit the famous Aquarium, Europe’s largest marine park: 71 tanks, 800 species, and over 10,000 specimens set against the incomparable backdrop of the Gulf of Genoa. The tour (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes) unfolds through the spectacular scenery of a myriad of sights of the Old Port of Genoa – the Aquarium is indeed located on the old wharf of Ponte Spinola – and through 40 large tanks, in addition to 19 open ones which use the space of a real ship called “Nave Italia”, allowing people to actually touch the fish by hand.

The reproduction of the original natural habitats of the individual species at the Genoa Aquarium is also wonderful: not only marine fauna but also reptiles, amphibians, and generally rainforest and freshwater animals.

Highlights:

• Visit the Galata Museum
• Europe’s largest marine park
• Old Port of Genoa

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:
• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees to the Aquarium
 
Exclusions: 
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Genoa: Portofino Walking Tour - 5 hours

Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a walking tour of Portofino. This exclusive portal town is the perfect base for a stroll up in to the local cyprus lined hills, so capture some of the breath-taking coastal views. Visit the Castello di San Giorgio, built in the 1500s as a defence against the Turks. From here you can continue to the Punta del Capo and the Faro, an old lighthouse, where views are spectacular. Back in the central Piazzetta, visit the Divo Martino church where you can admire works by Maragliano.

Highlights:
 

• Take a walking tour of Portofino
• Castello di San Giorgio
• Visit the Divo Martino church
• Admire the works of Maragliano

Tour Duration: 5 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Portofino (3 hours)
• Entrance fees to the Castle

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

 

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Civitavecchia: Imperial Rome & The Vatican City - 8 hours

Your driver will meet you at Civitavecchia today to transfer into Rome where you will be met by your expert local guide.
 

Begin your tour with a visit to the imposing Colosseum. Commissioned by Emperor Vespasian, the stadium could accommodate up to 50,000 spectators who came to view the gladiatorial battles that lasted up to 100 days! Adjacent is the Arc of Constantine which, dating from AD 315, is a forerunner to many other Triumphal Arches around the world. Possibly even more impressive are the excavations of the vast Roman Forum where the remains of temples, streetscapes, palaces and homes can be found.
 

After lunch, travel across the Tiber River to the Vatican City. Visit the Vatican Museums, part of the Papal Residence which is estimated to contain 1400 rooms, chapels and galleries. The Museums contain an extraordinarily rich collection of precious arts, maps, sculptures and antiquities but surely the most breath-taking masterpiece is Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. At the centre of the Vatican lies the vast Basilica of St. Paul, the world’s largest church where the colourfully dressed Swiss Guard can be found. The present Cathedral is a beautiful mix of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, formed under the hands of masters such as Michelangelo. The stunning interior is an elaborate and detailed display of marble, mosaic, gilt and bronze.

Your tour includes express entry to the Vatican Museums, past the regular lines. The Vatican requires visitors to cover upper arms and legs to below the knee.

Highlights:

• Tour some of Rome's most iconic sites including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
• Explore the impressive museum collections in the Vatican City and the breath-taking masterpiece that is Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel
• Spend time in the Basilica of St. Paul, the largest church in the world

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to Colosseum, Imperial Forum and Vatican Museums
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Civitavecchia: Rome for Repeat Visitors - 8 hours

A tour designed for those who have visited Rome before, but would like to discover more of this fascinating city. Your driver will meet you at the port and bring you into Rome where your expert guide will be waiting for you.
 

Take a journey back in time at the church of San Clemente as you descend down three levels and through two thousand years of history. The medieval church was built over the remains of a 4th-century basilica which, in its turn, covers older buildings from the time of the emperor Nero and a sanctuary dedicated to the oriental divinity Mithras.

In the afternoon discover how Rome evolved through the 18th-century and visit the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a majestic royal residence of one of Rome’s most illustrious families. Believed to be the largest privately owned Palace in Rome, the Doria Pamphilj’s vast private art collection is still held here.
 

Your guide will also be delighted to make additional suggestions for your tour depending on your own personal interests. Alternatively, you may like to revisit some of your favourite places from your previous visit to Rome.

Highlights:

• Visit the church of San Clemente and discover its fascinating history
• Explore the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a majestic royal residence of one of Rome’s most illustrious families, which houses a vast private art collection

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to San Clemente and Doria Pamphilij
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Civitavecchia: Gastronomic Rome and Time at Leisure - 8 hours

Travel with your driver to Rome this morning to meet a food expert for a gastronomic walking tour of the Trastevere District, so called because it lies across the River Tiber. Trastevere was once the bohemian quarter of Rome and still retains its arty edge today. Explore the bustling market and ancient maze of streets whilst discovering the essence of Italy’s best loved food with tastings of gelato, Sicilian pastries, Jewish delicacies, meats and wine.
 

The remainder of the day can be spent as you wish, your vehicle and driver will remain at your disposal in Rome before returning you to Civitavecchia.

Highlights:

• Uncover Rome's bohemian quarter, along with tastings of Italy's best loved delicacies 
• Car and driver at your disposal to discover Rome

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low 

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (3 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
• Food and wine tastings

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Civitavecchia: Museums of Rome - Capitoline and Borghese - 8 hours

Your driver will meet you at the port and bring you into Rome where your expert guide will meet you. Begin your tour on Capitoline Hill and visit one of the oldest museum complexes in the world; the Capitoline Museums, originally founded by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471. Capitoline Hill has been a seat of religious or political power throughout the centuries, making it the most important of the “seven hills” of Rome. It was here that the most important temple in town, dedicated to Jupiter, the king of the gods, was built. See the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter and marvel at the magnificent bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius at Campidoglio Square.
 

Afterwards, explore the museums, extended over two buildings; the Palazzo dei Conservatori, where you can view splendid frescoes portraying the history of Rome and the Pinacoteca (Picture gallery), and Palazzo Nuovo, where you can admire the wonderful sculptures. Finally visit the ancient Tabularium whose monumental arches overlook the Forum.  

Continue up along the Via Veneto to the elegant Villa Borghese, accompanied by your local expert guide and private vehicle. Surrounded by a leafy parkland, the villa was originally designed as a palace of pleasure and entertainment to house Cardinal Scipione Borghese’s incredible collection of antiquities, paintings and custom pieces. Today the collections of sculpture and paintings are among the most important in Italy. Admire the stunning Caravaggio canvases, Titian's enigmatic ‘Sacred and Profane Love’ and the striking sculptures by Bernini and Canova during this fabulous visit. Return to Civitavecchia from here.

Highlights:

• Travel out to Capitoline Hill and visit one of the oldest museum complexes in the world
• Visit Villa Borghese, home to a collection of sculptures and paintings that are among the most important in Italy

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to the Capitoline Museums and Villa Borghese
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Rhodes Town & Lindos - Full day tour approx 8 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Our tour begins with a drive through Mandraki Harbour and the new part of the city of Rhodes. We make our way to Mount Smith to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and continue on to the ruins of ancient Rhodes. We will explore the Acropolis of Rhodes, where remains of the Temple of Apollo and the ancient Stadium of Diagoras dominate the skyline. At Porte d’ Amboise, we begin our walking tour through the old city of Rhodes, filled with historical reminders of the ancient and medieval past. We will walk through the northern part of town, where knights once lived, and view the Grand Master’s Palace and then continue our walk down Chevalier’s Road, and the shopping districts around Socratus street, where we will enjoy some free time.

Our drive continues along the picturesque coastline to Lindos, the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. Within its medieval walls, erected by the Knights of St. John, stands the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, 400 feet above the sea, crowned by the Temple of Athena. From the heights, you will have breathtaking views of St. Paul’s Bay, where the Apostle cast anchor during his voyage to Ephesus, and the Aegean Sea. If you prefer not to make the climb, you may remain below and explore the village with its many small shops and cafes. At a set time, we will all gather for a wonderful luncheon at a Restaurant by the sea, where we will enjoy an array of local Greek specialties with beverages. After lunch, we will have some free time to enjoy the beach or do some shopping in the village of Lindos prior to returning to the Port. 

Duration: approx. 8 hours

Notes:
•    The Grand Masters Palace is closed on Mondays
•    Steep, uphill walking is involved in Lindos. Guests with walking disabilities are recommended to stay in Lindos town for shopping.                                                         
•    It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Rhodes Medieval town & Lindos Tour approx 5 1/2 hours

Depart Rhodes Town and drive along the east coast to Lindos, one of the three ancient cities on the island, and enjoy a visit of the famous Acropolis. Lindos offers breathtaking views and photo opportunities of the entire village, including its Medieval castle, superb sandy beaches and charming whitewashed, sugar-cubed houses. After a walking tour through the narrow-cobbled streets, colorful courtyards and mosaics, we will return to Rhodes town.
Back in Rhodes town, begin a walking tour of the old city from the Gate D'Amboise. Marvel at the imposing Palace of the Grand Masters (visit not included) and walk on the Street of the Knights, while your guide points out the facades of the many inns once occupied by the crusaders and at the end of the street, the Knight's Hospital, now an impressive Archaeological Museum. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, before meeting your guide for the short ride back to the pier or your hotel.
 

Lindos half day tour 4 1/2 hours

Depart Rhodes Town and drive along the east coast to Lindos, one of the three ancient cities on the island, and enjoy a visit of the famous Acropolis. Lindos offers breathtaking views and photo opportunities of the entire village, including its Medieval castle, superb sandy beaches and charming whitewashed, sugar-cubed houses. After a walking tour through the narrow-cobbled streets, colorful courtyards and mosaics, we will return to Rhodes town.
Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, before meeting your guide for the short ride back to the pier or your hotel.

Rhodes & Filermos half day tour approx. 4 1/2 hours

After meeting your professionally trained guide,  you will drive to Filerimos, a large plateau which contains the ruins of several buildings including the foundations of a temple, an Early Christian Basilica and a Byzantine monastery. Continue with a drive along the seaside road of the city to the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes where the ruins of a stadium and the Temple of Apolonas, will be seen during a short description and photo opportunity.
Next, visit the Old Town starting at the Gate d’Amboise. Visit the imposing Palace of the Grand Masters and walk the Street of the Knights down to the Knight's hospital. Admire the facades of what used to be the Inns of the Knights, nowadays shops and private residences. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, before meeting with your guide for the short ride back to the hotel/ ship 
 

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Kusadasi Port - The Glories of Ephesus (Full Day Tour)

PORT: KUSADASI
GLORIES OF EPHESUS 
Full-Day Tour

Arrive in Kusadasi, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your full- day tour in Ephesus.

First, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, where the Virgin is said to have lived the last years of her life. The building was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Lazartis from Smyrna based on the vision of a German nun. The site is officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church and visited by Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.

Then, you will drive to Ephesus, enter and view the Odeon Theatre, where state affairs and concerts were held. Walk down the marble walkway and visit the Hadrian Temple. It was dedicated in 118 AD to Hadrian, Artemis, and the people of Ephesus but greatly reconstructed in the 4th century. This impressive Corinthian style temple has beautiful reliefs on the porch. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.

A special visit will be made to the spectacular Terrace Houses (Villas) located on top of the hill within the Ephesus. They have a fantastic view of the entire city of Ephesus. They were inhabited by wealthy Ephesians, and are finely decorated with incredible examples of mosaics and frescos. The Terrace Houses were brought to light in excavations carried out since the 1980s by a team of Austrian archeologists. Along with those in Pompeii, they constitute some of the most vivid examples of Roman domestic architecture to survive to the present.

Next, you will proceed to the Celsus Library, The library is the best preserved structure of its kind. The inscription on the side of the building’s front staircase says that the library was build by Julius, in his father’s honor, after his death. His father, Celsus was the Roman governor of Asia Minor early in the 2nd century AD. His tomb is in the library as well.

Next, visit the Great Theatre, dating back to the Hellenistic period. In the 1st century AD it was successfully reconstructed and expanded by the Romans until it reached the seating capacity of 25,000. This is also the place where it is believed that St.Paul preached. It is still used for performances today.

Lunch recommended at a local restaurant.

Last, you will visit the Ephesus Museum is an archaeological museum in Selcuk. It houses finds from the nearby Ephesus excavation site and other ancient sites in the region. Its best-known exhibit is the statue of Artemis retrieved from the Temple of the goddess in Ephesus. Highlights include the fresco of Socrates, statues and heads of Eros, crosses, coins and the works of the 1^st century AD.

At the end of your day, you will return to Kusadasi and have some time for shopping in town before you embark your ship.

Includes:
• 1 full- day of private sightseeing in Ephesus
• Licensed professional guide in English Language
• Air- conditioned luxury vehicle with a professional driver
• Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour
• Welcome package
• VAT tax

Not Included:
• Gratuities to guide and driver
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary
• Recommended lunch

Kusadasi Port - A Taste of Ephesus- (Half day tour)

PORT: KUSADASI
A TASTE OF EPHESUS
Half- Day Tour

Arrive in Kusadasi, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your half- day of private sightseeing in Ephesus.

First, you will drive to Ephesus, enter and view the Odeon Theatre, where state affairs and concerts were held. Walk down the marble walkway and visit the Hadrian Temple. It was dedicated in 118 AD to Hadrian, Artemis, and the people of Ephesus but greatly reconstructed in the 4th century. This impressive Corinthian style temple has beautiful reliefs on the porch. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.

A special visit will be made to the spectacular Terrace Houses (Villas) located on top of the hill within the Ephesus. They have a fantastic view of the entire city of Ephesus. They were inhabited by wealthy Ephesians, and are finely decorated with incredible examples of mosaics and frescos. The Terrace Houses were brought to light in excavations carried out since the 1980s by a team of Austrian archeologists. Along with those in Pompeii, they constitute some of the most vivid examples of Roman domestic architecture to survive to the present.

Next, you will proceed to the Celsus Library, The library is the best preserved structure of its kind. The inscription on the side of the building’s front staircase says that the library was build by Julius, in his father’s honor, after his death. His father, Celsus was the Roman governor of Asia Minor early in the 2nd century AD. His tomb is in the library as well.
Last, visit the Great Theatre, dating back to the Hellenistic period. In the 1st century AD it was successfully reconstructed and expanded by the Romans until it reached the seating capacity of 25,000. This is also the place where it is believed that St.Paul preached. It is still used for performances today.

At the end of your day, you will return to Kusadasi and have some time for shopping in town before your embark your ship.

Includes:
- 1 half-day of private sightseeing in Ephesus
- Licensed professional guide in English language
- Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
- Private Air-conditioned VIP vehicle with professional driver
- Welcome Package
- Bottled water provided throughout the tours
-  VAT taxes

Not included:
- Gratuities to guide and driver
- Personal expenses of the guests
- Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary

Kusadasi Port - Ephesus & Virgin Mary House - (Half Day Tour)

PORT: KUSADASI

EPHESUS & VIRGIN MARY HOUSE

Half-Day Tour

Arrive in Kusadasi, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your half- day tour in Ephesus.

First, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, where the Virgin is said to have lived the last years of her life. The building was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Lazartis from Smyrna based on the vision of a German nun. The site is officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church and visited by Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.

Then, you will drive to Ephesus, enter and view the Odeon Theatre, where state affairs and concerts were held. Walk down the marble walkway and visit the Hadrian Temple. It was dedicated in 118 AD to Hadrian, Artemis, and the people of Ephesus but greatly reconstructed in the 4th century. This impressive Corinthian style temple has beautiful reliefs on the porch. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.

Next, you will proceed to the Celsus Library, The library is the best preserved structure of its kind. The inscription on the side of the building’s front staircase says that the library was build by Julius, in his father’s honour, after his death. His father, Celsus was the Roman governor of Asia Minor early in the 2nd century AD. His tomb is in the library as well.

Next, visit the Great Theatre, dating back to the Hellenistic period. In the 1st century AD it was successfully reconstructed and expanded by the Romans until it reached the seating capacity of 25,000. This is also the place where it is believed that St.Paul preached. It is still used for performances today.

At the end of your day, you will return to Kusadasi and have some time for shopping in town before you embark your ship.

Includes:

• 1 half-day of private sightseeing in Ephesus
• Licensed professional guide in English Language
• Air- conditioned luxury vehicle with a professional driver
• Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour
• Welcome package
• VAT tax

Not Included:

• Gratuities to guide and driver
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary

Ephesus Full Day Tour - 8 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Ancient Ephesus
• Library of Celsus
• Excavations of Terrace Houses
• House of the Virgin Mary

Your English speaking guide will meet you at the Kusadasi cruise pier for your tour in Ephesus.

You will proceed to the remarkable Greco-Roman site of Ancient Ephesus. Dating back to the 11th century B.C., it has been excavated and restored since 1870s. It is one of the world’s most fascinating sites of antiquity. Ephesus flourished as a prominent city and seaport between 600 B.C. and 500 A.D.

We will start our private walking tour through Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, 4th century white marble chariot road that leads to the most striking building, which is the two-storey Library of Celsus. Beautifully restored with its restored facade now the famed symbol of Ephesus, The Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus and parchment manuscripts, making it the 2nd largest in the ancient world after the library in Alexandria in Egypt.

Ephesus Theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances.

You will also visit the ongoing excavations of the Greco Roman Houses of Ephesian Aristocrats (known as Terrace Houses) with their magnificent mosaics and frescoes being restored by archeologists as you visit the site. In addition to the historic monuments, your excursion will also include a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, a lovely little chapel set in the hills behind Ephesus believed to be Virgin Mary’s last home.

At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate to Heavy
Net Price: Per Person € 201.50 based on 2 guests

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Ephesus & Sirince Full Day Tour - 8 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Ancient Ephesus
• Sirince
• Home-style lunch in a local village
• Visit to a wine house

Your English speaking guide will meet you at the Kusadasi cruise pier for your tour in Ephesus.
 
You will proceed to the remarkable Greco-Roman site of Ancient Ephesus. Dating back to the 11th century B.C., it has been excavated and restored since 1870s. It is one of the world’s most fascinating sites of antiquity. Ephesus flourished as a prominent city and seaport between 600 B.C. and 500 A.D. We will start our private walking tour through Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, 4th century white marble chariot road that leads to the most striking building, which is the two-storey Library of Celsus.
 
Beautifully restored with its restored facade now the famed symbol of Ephesus, The Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus and parchment manuscripts, making it the 2nd largest in the ancient world after the library in Alexandria in Egypt. Ephesus Theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances.
 
You will also visit the ongoing excavations of the Greco Roman Houses of Ephesian Aristocrats (known as Terrace Houses) with their magnificent mosaics and frescoes being restored by archeologists as you visit the site.
 
In addition to the historic monuments, your excursion will also include a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, a lovely little chapel set in the hills behind Ephesus believed to be Virgin Mary’s last home.
 
At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate to Heavy
Net Price: Per Person € 188.50 based on 2 guests

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Ephesus Half Day Tour - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Ancient Ephesus
• Library of Celsus
• The Library
• Ephesus Theatre

 
Your English speaking guide will meet you at the Kusadasi cruise pier for your tour in Ephesus.
 
You will proceed to the remarkable Greco-Roman site of Ancient Ephesus. Dating back to the 11th century B.C., it has been excavated and restored since 1870s. It is one of the world’s most fascinating sites of antiquity. Ephesus flourished as a prominent city and seaport between 600 B.C. and 500 A.D. We will start our private walking tour through Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, 4th century white marble chariot road that leads to the most striking building, which is the two-storey Library of Celsus.
 
Beautifully restored with its restored facade now the famed symbol of Ephesus, The Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus and parchment manuscripts, making it the 2nd largest in the ancient world after the library in Alexandria in Egypt. Ephesus Theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances.
 
At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate to Heavy
Net Price: Per Person € 130.00 based on 2 guests

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Kusadasi Port - Three Ancient Cities; Didyma, Miletus & Priene (Full Day Tour)

SHORE EXCURSIONS
KUSADASI
THREE ANCIENT CITIES
 

Arrive in Kusadasi,you will meet your professional guide at the port and drive to three ancient cities.
 
Your first stop will be Priene. The ancient harbor city of Priene probably changed its location when the silt of the Meander River threatened to bury it. Now it is nearly 16 km away from the sea. The original place of the city has never been found but it was probably a peninsula with two harbors. Priene was laid out on a Hippodamian system of grid plan at the foot of a spectacular cliff on mount Mycale and contained many famous examples of Hellenistic art and architecture.All the streets intersect at the right angles.
 
Next, visit Miletus an ancient city located near the present Akkoy at the mouth of the Buyuk Menderes (Meander) River, owed its importance to its position on trade routes. It was one of the largest cities in Anatolia with a population of between 80,000 and 100,000. Highly prosperous, it founded many colonies and was the home of the 6C BC philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Thales, the town planner Hippodamus and architect Isidorus. Miletus seems to have produced geniuses the way Aphrodisias produced sculptors.
 
Lunch suggested at local restaurant.

Last, you will visit Didyma. The word Didyma meant "twins" and was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo which served a similar purpose as the Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city but a sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with a 19 km/12 m sacred road. However, this road may not have been constructed until the end of the 1C AD. In addition to pilgrimages made by sea, some festivals of drama, music and sports were held there every four years.
 
At the end of your tour, you can return to Kusadasi.
 
OUR PACKAGE RATE INCLUDES 

• 1 full day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver in Three Ancient Cities.
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program.
• Officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour.
• Welcome Package
• VAT taxes.

OUR  PACKAGE RATE EXCLUDES 

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  • At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Suggested lunch

Kusadasi Port - Biblical Tour of Ephesus ( Full Day tour)

Arrive in Kusadasi ,you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for private sightseeing.
 
First, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, where the Virgin is said to have lived the last years of her life. The building was rediscovered in the late 19^th century by Lazartis from Smyrna based on the vision of a German nun.  The site is officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church and visited by Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.
 
Then, visit Ephesus, famous throughout the ancient world for its Temple of Artemis.  You will first visit Odeon Theatre where the state affairs used to be held. Then, view The Temple of Hadrian is one of the main attractions at Ephesus, with a beautiful arch on the front facade and interesting reliefs of Medusa. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.
  
Next, you will visit the newly excavated spectacular The Terrace Houses on the Curetes street belonged to the rich people of Ephesus. Many of them were three-storied and had peristyles surrounded by rooms without windows but included frescoes and mosaics of mythological scenes. Some of the frescoes were scenes from the comedies of Menander and the tragedies of Euripides. They were luxuriously furnished private houses with fountains and central heating. Between the street and houses was a portico with a mosaic floor, behind which were shops.
 
Proceed to the Celsus Library is a Roman mausoleum and library built in the early 2nd century AD. The Library of Celsus was commissioned by the Julius as a mausoleum for his father, Roman governor of the Asian Provinces. It is one of the most beautifully reconstructed buildings in Ephesus, it has become an icon of the ancient city.

The Great Theatre, dates back to the Hellenistic period. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus which has the capacity of 25,000 seats. The theatre was used for concerts, plays and religious, political and philosophical discussions and for gladiator and animal fights. Marble Road, runs between the Library of Celsus and the theater and is a part of the sacred  walk way.  
 
Last, visit the Church of Mary that is a church of great historical significance located in Ephesus. It is also known as the Double Church, because it is thought one aisle was dedicated to the Virgin and the other to St. John, and the Council Church because the Council of Ephesus is believed to have been held here.

Lunch recommended at a local restaurant. 

Next, you will see the Basilica of St. John,where John and the Virgin Mary went between 42 and 48 AD and lived. Three hundred years after the death of Saint John, a small chapel on the Ayasuluk Hill was constructed over his grave in the 4^th century AD. This church was replaced in the 6^th century AD by a huge basilica built by the Emperor Justinian, the impressive ruins of which are still visible.
 
Last, visit The Temple of Artemis also known less precisely as Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to Artemis completed around 550 BC at Ephesus. The monument was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
 
At the end of your tour, you can return to Kusadasi for some shopping in town or visit one of the carpet villages along the way before embarking the ship.  If you are not interested in shopping, please advise your guide that you would like to return directly to the ship. 
  
Inclusions:

• 1 full day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver in Ephesus
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program.
• Officially license, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour. 
• Welcome Package
• VAT taxes.

Exclusions: 

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  • At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Recommended lunch

 

Kusadasi Port - Ephesus & Didyma & Miletus (Full Day Tour)

Arrive in Kusadasi, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for private full day sightseeing. 

First, visit Ephesus, famous throughout the ancient world for its Temple of Artemis.  You will first visit Odeon Theatre where the state affairs used to be held. Then, view The Temple of Hadrian is one of the main attractions at Ephesus, with a beautiful arch on the front facade and interesting reliefs of Medusa. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.
 
Next, you will visit the newly excavated spectacular The Terrace Houses on the Curetes street belonged to the rich people of Ephesus. Many of them were three-storied and had peristyles surrounded by rooms without windows but included frescoes and mosaics of mythological scenes. Some of the frescoes were scenes from the comedies of Menander and the tragedies of Euripides. They were luxuriously furnished private houses with fountains and central heating. Between the street and houses was a portico with a mosaic floor, behind which were shops.

Proceed to The Celsus Library is a Roman mausoleum and library built in the early 2nd century AD. The Library of Celsus was comissioned by the Julius as a mausoleum for his father, Roman governor of the Asian Provinces. It is one of the most beautifully reconstructed buildings in Ephesus, it has become an icon of the ancient city.

The Great Theatre, dates back to the Hellenistic period. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus which has the capacity of 25,000 seats. The theatre was used for concerts, plays and religious, political and philosophical discussions and for gladiator and animal fights. Marble Road, runs between the Library of Celsus and the theater and is a part of the sacred  walk way.  
 
Then, you will drive approximately 1½ hours to visit the ancient cities of Miletus and Didyma.
 
Lunch suggested at a local restaurant.
 
Next, visit Miletus an ancient city located near the present Akkoy at the mouth of the Buyuk Menderes (Meander) River, owed its importance to its position on trade routes. It was one of the largest cities in Anatolia with a population of between 80,000 and 100,000. Highly prosperous, it founded many colonies and was the home of the 6C BC philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Thales, the town planner Hippodamus and architect Isidorus. Miletus seems to have produced geniuses the way Aphrodisias produced sculptors.
 
Last, you will visit Didyma. The word Didyma meant "twins" and was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo which served a similar purpose as the Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city but a sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with a 19 km/12 m sacred road. However, this road may not have been constructed until the end of the 1C AD. In addition to pilgrimages made by sea, some festivals of drama, music and sports were held there every four years.

OUR NET PACKAGE RATE INCLUDES 

• 1 full day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver in Ephesus, Didyma and Miletus.
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program
• Licensed professional  guide in English language.
• Officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour. 
• Welcome Package
• VAT taxes.

OUR NET PACKAGE RATE EXCLUDES 

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  •  At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Suggested lunch

 

Ephesus 3D Experience Full Day Tour – 6 hours

Ephesus 3D tour is an extraordinary experience offering an innovative way to visit Ancient Ephesus. Our 3D virtual tour brings you inside the site with accurate replicas of Ephesus, the Celcus Library, Great Theatre and more! By using this technology, you will see reconstructed major sites of the Ancient city. During this experience, your guide will further explain 7 sites; Odeon Theatre, Curetes, Trajan Fountain, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcus, Commercial Agora  and Arcadia way with a visual show of the Ancient Romans featuring live actors! Based on cutting edge technology and the master work of artists - our virtual tour is incredibly accurate.
 
Our team of artists, technicians and writers create each 3D tour with a great emphasis on colors, shapes, symmetry, sizes, compositions and proportions. Every element of the Ephesus 3D virtual tour is designed to convey the true atmosphere of the site.
 
Tour Duration: 6 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Net Price: Per Person € 130.00 based on 2 guests

Inclusions:

• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees and applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from Kusadasi Port
• Lunch at a typical Village Restaurant, included unlimited soft drinks and wine
   
  Not Included:
• Gratuities to driver and guide
• Personal expenses

Kusadasi: Ancient Ephesus Tour - 7 hours

An English speaking lecturer/guide will meet the guests at the exit of the cruise pier in KUSADASI.

After a short drive to Ephesus, the guests experience their private tour of this fascinating historical site. First, a visit will be made to the remarkable Greco-Roman archeological city of Ancient Ephesus, that flourished as a prominent cultural city and seaport between 600 BC and 500 AD.

The walking tour will begin along the Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, the 4th century white marble chariot thoroughfare whose most striking sight today is the two-story Library of Celsus. Uniquely beautiful, the Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus manuscripts making it the second largest library in the ancient world after the one in Alexandria, Egypt. The walk along the Royal Road also takes the visitors past the remains of some of the ancient city’s major civic buildings and temples as you move toward the Ephesus Theater from which St. Paul once preached to the Pagan Ephesians. The theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances in summertime.

Then move to see the ongoing excavations of the Greco-Roman places-the “Elite Yamac Homes of Antiquity” (Terrace Houses) with their magnificent mosaics and frescoes.

From here, the guests will proceed to the small, but distinguished and rightly famous Ephesus Museum with unique examples of the very best Greco-Roman sculpture in the world, and with an exciting new display of Medical instruments from that era.

Finally, drive up the mountainside to visit to the so-called House of the Virgin Mary, a lovely chapel set in the hills behind Ephesus, said by some to be the last home of the Virgin Mary, where St. Paul took her for her safety away from the Pagan Ephesians.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel or to your cruise ship.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to Greco-Roman city of Ephesus' history and culture

*The tour covers the main highlights of the ancient city

Tour Duration : 6-7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: High

Included: Transportation by a cheaffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Kusadasi: Priene Day Tour - 7 hours

The guests will be met by a lecturer/guide at the exit of the pier in KUSADASI and drive south to visit Priene.

This ancient city is not especially large, but has an unusual intimacy and charm, in part because so many historical private houses have survived to this day. All the monuments you will see, date from the Hellenistic period, and all of them are aligned according to a strict grid-plan of the kind developed by Hippodamos, a native of neighboring Miletus. The monuments include the Temple of Zeus, a council chamber, and a small amphi-theatre. Yet Priene’s greatest treasure is its Temple of Athena, which was considered the masterpiece of the architect Pytheos who also designed the Mausoleum at Halicarnassos (Bodrum) known to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

After exploring Priene, the guests will cross the broad flood-plain of the river Maeander to continue to Miletus. This was once a major port but silt carried down by the River Meander blocked its harbor centuries ago. The ancient harbor is now several miles from the sea. The town is laid out according to a grid-plan designed by Hippodamos, which centers on three spacious agoras (marketplaces) today. The most striking features of the site today are the Baths of Faustina and the massive Roman Theatre.

A paved Sacred Way leads from Miletus to Dydima, not a classic town but rather a sacred precinct centering on a colossal Temple of Apollo surrounded by a double colonnade of no less than 108 huge columns. Work on the temple continued for 500 years, but its design was so ambitious that, when work was abandoned in the 4th C. AD, it was still unfinished. Even unfinished and in ruins, the temple at Dydima remains to be one of the most awe-inspiring antique monuments to be found anywhere around the Eastern Mediterranean.

At the end of the tour, the guests will be escorted back to their hotel or to the pier in KUSADASI.

Added Value:

*The tour covers the main highlights of Priene, Miletus and Didyma

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chaeffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Kusadasi: The Greco-Roman City of Ephesus & the Wine-making Village of Sirince - 7 hours

At 8:30 am, an English speaking private lecturer/guide will meet and greet you outside the Bonded Area of the Kusadasi cruise pier. You will then be escorted to your chauffeur driven private deluxe air-conditioned vehicle, for a comfortable ride of about half an hour to the remarkable Greco-Roman archaeological site of Ancient Ephesus. Dating back to the 11th century B.C., it has been painstakingly excavated and restored and is one of the world’s most fascinating sites of antiquity. Ephesus flourished as a prominent city and seaport between 600 B.C. and 500 A.D. We will begin our private walking tour along Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, a 4th century white marble chariot thoroughfare whose most striking sight is the two-story Library of Celsus.

Uniquely beautiful, with its restored facade now the famed symbol of Ephesus, the Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus manuscripts making it the 2nd largest in the ancient world after the library in Alexandria, Egypt. Your walk along the Royal Road will also take you past the remains of some of the ancient city’s major civic buildings and temples as you move toward the Ephesus Theater from which St. Paul once preached to the Ephesians. The theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances.

You will also visit the ongoing excavations of the Greco Roman PALACES the ''ELITE YAMAC HOMES OF ANTIQUITY'' (Terrace Houses) with their magnificent mosaics and frescoes being restored by archeologists as you visit the site.

Next visit will be to the old Greco-Turkish Village of SIRINCE, located approximately 18 miles away from the Kusadasi pier. The town itself houses about hundreds of old local Greek homes which have been superbly renovated and opened to the public.. The town also houses an authentic local market where different agricultural products are sold.

Following lunch (at your own cost) at the celebrated local Bizim Ev (meaning “Our House”) Restaurant in Sirince, you will stop by the famous wine cellar of this village, to be welcomed by the owner, and will taste his white or red wines, produced in the same style as in the old days from grapes at the vast vineyards of the Aegean Region.

You will then be returned to Kusadasi where you may explore or shop at the charming local marketplace, while your guide will escort and assist you until you wish to return to the pier to board your ship by 4 pm.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to Ephesus and Sirince

*The tour covers Ephesus and the wine-making village of Sirince

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chauffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Istanbul Port - Treasures of Istanbul (Full Day Tour)

PORT: ISTANBUL

TREASURES OF ISTANBUL

Full-Day Tour

Arrive in Istanbul, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your full- day of private sightseeing.

Your private tour of Istanbul begins with a visit to the Hippodrome, which was one of the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire. You will take a short walk to the Blue Mosque, completed in 1616, it is a triumph of harmony, proportion and elegance. The mosque was a part of a complex also including, tombs, fountains, kitchens, and a bath. The blue Iznik Tiles covering the walls have given the mosque its popular name, Blue Mosque.

Hagia Sophia Mosque is mostly known as one of the most valuable and fascinating structures in the world of art and architecture. It deserves to enter to the collection of the rare works by challenging to the time. The walls of this beautiful piece of architecture are decorated with gorgeous mosaics. UNESCO accepts Hagia Sophia as The World Heritage because of architectural beauty.

** St. Sophia is a mosque and you need to remove your shoes and cover your head, shoulders, knees. It is advised to dress respectfully during visiting.

Lunch recommended in an old Ottoman House. You can taste delicious Turkish cuisine in a lovely garden setting.

Next, you will visit the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. It is located on the promontory jutting out between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The construction of the Topkapi Palace was completed between 1465 and 1478. Being the imperial residence of the sultan, his court and harem, the palace was also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. .

Last, you will continue to explore ninety-two streets of the famous Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish Handicrafts, Oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs all sold in small shops next to each other. The streets are named according to the trades, such as gold and silver sellers, carpet sellers, booksellers, etc
At the end of your day, you will return to the port to embark your ship.

Includes:
- 1 full- day of private sightseeing in Istanbul
- Licensed professional guide in English language
- Air- conditioned luxury vehicle with professional driver
- Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
- Bottled water provided throughout the tours
- Welcome package
- VAT tax

Not included:
- Gratuities to guide and driver
- Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary
- Personal expenses of the guests
- Recommended lunch

Istanbul Port - Byzantine Highlights- (Half Day Tour)

PORT: ISTANBUL
BYZANTINE HIGHLIGHTS
Half-Day Tour

Arrive in Istanbul, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your half day Byzantine Highlights tour.

First, your private tour of Istanbul begins with a visit to the Hippodrome, which was one of the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire.

Hagia Sophia Mosque is mostly known as one of the most valuable and fascinating structures in the world of art and architecture. It deserves to enter to the collection of the rare works by challenging to the time. The walls of this beautiful piece of architecture are decorated with gorgeous mosaics. UNESCO accepts Hagia Sophia as The World Heritage because of architectural beauty.

** St. Sophia is a mosque and you need to remove your shoes and cover your head, shoulders, knees. It is advised to dress respectfully during visiting.

Then, you will visit the Underground Cistern, a fiant reservoir built by Justinian in the 6th century to bring water to the city to be used in the palaces. It is 70 meters wide and 140 meters long, with a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of water. It has 336 beautiful columns that support the cistern, two of which are carved with the head of Medusa on the plinth.

Last, you continue to explore ninety- two streets of the famous Grand Bazaar, the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish Handicrafts, Oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs all sold in small shops next to each other.

At the end your morning experience at 1:00pm, you will return to the port and embark your ship.

Includes:
- 1 half-day of private sightseeing in Istanbul
- Licensed professional guide in English language
- Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
- Private Air-conditioned VIP vehicle with professional driver
- Bottled water provided throughout the tours
- Welcome Package
- VAT taxes

Not included:
- Gratuities to guide and driver
- Personal expenses of the guests
- Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary

Istanbul Port - Cultural Istanbul-(Full Day Tour)

PORT: ISTANBUL
CULTURAL ISTANBUL
Private Full-Day Tour

Arrive in Istanbul, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your private full- day sightseeing.

First, you will visit the Suleymaniye Mosque. Built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan on the order of Sultan Suleiman I (Suleiman the Magnificent), the Suleymaniye Mosque dominates the third hill of old Istanbul, and is strikingly graceful and less ornate than many other imperial mosques, thus lending itself to meditation and quiet reflection.

Next, you will visit the Church of St. Saviour in Chora. After St. Sophia, St.Saviour Chora is the most important Byzantine Church in the city. It was built in the 11th century AD. The walls are decorated with breathtaking 14th century AD frescoes and mosaics. The mosaics relate to the life story of Virgin Mary and the life of Christ.

Lunch recommended at Hamdi Restaurant serving traditional Turkish Kebaps.

Then, you will discover the Egyptian Bazaar; the second largest covered market in Istanbul. It was constructed in the 1660s as part of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) complex. The name derives from the herbs, and spices imported from or through Egypt. It is still the best place to buy Turkish delight, dried fruit, exotic spices and herbs.

You will continue to explore ninety-two streets of the famous Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish Handicrafts, Oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs all sold in small shops next to each other. The streets are named according to the trades, such as gold and silver sellers, carpet sellers, booksellers, etc.

Visit the 16th Century palace of the Sultan’s Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasa, which today houses the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum.  The museum contains what many consider to be the finest collection of Islamic artifacts in the world. The museum is well laid out and contains more rare examples of ceramics, Koran cases, calligraphy, textiles, metalwork and illuminated manuscripts. Its antique carpet exhibit is renowned; the carpets, kilims and prayer rugs form one of the richest and oldest collections in the world.
 

At the end of your day, you will return to the port to embark your ship.
 

Includes:
- 1 full- day of private sightseeing in Istanbul
- Air- conditioned luxury VIP vehicle with a professional driver
- Licensed professional guide in English language
- Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
- Bottled water provided on the vehicles.
- Welcome package
- VAT taxes

Not included:
- Gratuities to guide and driver
- Personal expenses of the guests
- Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary
- Recommended lunch    

Istanbul Port - Ottoman Collection - (Half-Day Tour)

PORT: ISTANBUL
OTTOMAN COLLECTION
Half - Day Tour

Arrive in Istanbul, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for a half - day Ottoman Collection tour.

Your private tour of Istanbul begins with a visit to the Blue Mosque, completed in 1616, it is a triumph of harmony, proportion and elegance. The mosque was a part of a complex also including, tombs, fountains, kitchens, and a bath. The blue Iznik Tiles covering the walls have given the mosque its popular name, Blue Mosque.

Next, you will visit the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. It is located on the promontory jutting out between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The construction of the Topkapi Palace was completed between 1465 and 1478. Being the imperial residence of the sultan, his court and harem, the palace was also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. 

Last, you will continue to explore ninety- two streets of the famous Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish Handicrafts, Oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs all sold in small shops next to each other. The streets are named according to the trades, such as gold and silver sellers, carpet sellers, booksellers, etc

At the end of your morning visits approximately at 1:00pm, you will return to the port to embark your ship.

Includes:
- 1 half-day of private sightseeing in Istanbul
- Licensed professional guide in English language
- Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
- Private Air-conditioned VIP vehicle with professional driver
- Welcome Package
- Bottled water provided throughout the tours
- VAT taxes

Not included:
- Gratuities to guide and driver
- Personal expenses of the guests
- Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary

Istanbul Full Day Sightseeing plus Private Bosphorus Cruise - 8 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Dolmabahce Palace
• Cruise on Bosphorus
• Rüstem Pasha Mosque
• Spice Bazaar

Your English-speaking, private guide will meet you at the cruise pier for your full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul.
 
First, you will proceed to explore the 19th Century Dolmabahce Palace to experience its eclectic style of architecture with Baroque and Rococo touch. Compared to Topkap? Palace, Dolmabahçe is more westernized in its architectural style. You will enjoy its elaborate interior decoration.
 
You will next board a private motor yacht for a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus, which has been a geopolitically important strait between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. You will pass by some magnificent palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
 
Next, you will see the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, which is among the city's architectural gems. This is the first example of the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan building a mosque to an octagonal plan. Beautifully proportioned and the interior is covered in some of the most exquisite Iznik tiles ever produced. The tiles, made at the height of Iznik's supremacy, have a good deal of the famous red color that was the envy of other tile makers (blue, yellow, white and green were easy colors to produce, but red was extraordinarily difficult.
 
You will explore the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar). It was constructed in the 17th Century as a part of the New Mosque complex. This oriental market is the best place to buy Turkish delight, exotic spices, herbs, Turkish coffee and tea.
 
Before you will be transferred back to the port, your guide will take you to the backstreets of the Spice Bazaar to taste a traditional Ottoman drink: Boza (fermented millet) at the famous Vefa Bozacisi.
 
At the end of the tour, your private guide will transfer you back to your hotel or cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate


Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• 2 Hour Bosphorus Cruise with Private Yacht
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Istanbul Half Day Sightseeing plus Private Bosphorus Cruise - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

Your English-speaking, private guide will meet you at the cruise pier for your half day sightseeing tour of Istanbul.
 
First, you will proceed to explore the 19th Century Dolmabahce Palace to experience its eclectic style of architecture with Baroque and Rococo touch. Compared to Topkap? Palace, Dolmabahçe is more westernized in its architectural style. You will enjoy its elaborate interior decoration.
 
You will next board a private motor yacht for a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus, which has been a geopolitically important strait between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. You will pass by some magnificent palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
 
At the end of the tour, your private guide will transfer you back to your hotel or cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• 2 Hour Bosphorus Cruise with Private Yacht
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Jewish Heritage Half Day Tour (Istanbul) - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Galata Quarter
• Ahrida Synagogue
• Jewish Museum
• Grand Bazaar

 
Your English-speaking, private guide will meet you at the cruise pier for your half day sightseeing tour of Istanbul.
 
Your private tour will start with a visit to the old Galata Quarter, a Jewish quarter for centuries. Visit to the Galata Tower, which was built in 1303 by immigrants from Genoa, Italy. A medieval stone tower in the heart of Pera quarter just to the north of the Golden Horn. One of the city's most striking landmarks, it is a high, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and affords a panoramic vista of Old Istanbul and its environs. You will enjoy the spectacular view of the city.
 
Next visit will be to the Ottoman Baroque style Ahrida Synagogue originally built in the 15th century and is the earliest synagogue in Istanbul.  The original 20-foot long oak bimah (teva), shaped either like Noah’s Ark or, like the Ottoman ship which brought the Sephardim to freedom from Spain to Turkey, can still be seen. 
 
Your private tour will continue with a visit to the Jewish Museum of Turkey, which is housed in the former Zulfaris Synagogue, aims to “collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret and disseminate knowledge about the cultural heritage of the Turkish Jews.” It captures 700 years of amiable relations between Jews and Turks, beginning in 1326 with the Ottoman conquest of Bursa. The building itself dates from the early 19th century, although there is evidence of a Synagogue in the same spot in the 17th century. The Synagogue functioned as a place of worship for over a century, and was reopened as the Quincentenial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews (Jewish Museum of Turkey) in 2001.The Museum contains various exhibits relating to Jewish history in Istanbul and is fitted with information panels, maps and some touch screen information booths.
 
Lastly visit the famous Grand Bazaar, the largest and the oldest covered Bazaar in this part of the world with more than 4000 small shops. You will see a great variety of Turkish handicrafts, handmade oriental carpets, jewelry and many souvenirs within the old market.
 
At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon (not available on the Sabbath or Jewish Holidays)
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Old City of Istanbul Full Day Tour - 8 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Roman Hippodrome and Egyptian Obelisk
• Blue Mosque
• Haghia Sophia
• Topkapi Palace
• Basilica Cistern
• Grand Bazaar

 
Your English-speaking, private guide will meet you at the cruise pier for your full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul with a deluxe air-conditioned mini-van.
 
You will first visit the Roman Hippodrome, along with the Egyptian Obelisk, and then proceed to the Blue Mosque, which was built in between 1609-1616. The Blue tiles cover the walls have given its popular name “Blue Mosque”.
 
Next visit will be to one of the great monumental buildings of the world Haghia Sophia that was built by Emperor Justinian in 537. It has remained as the greatest church until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. The great dome and its gallery were covered with gold mosaics and still survive.
 
Proceed to the magnificent Topkap? Palace, which has been the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost four centuries. Besides being the residence of the Sultan and his family, Topkap? was also the seat of the Ottoman Divan. 5000 people lived in the palace. You will see the Sultan’s Treasury and the Holy Relics exhibition.
 
You will continue to the Underground Cistern (Basilica Cistern), which is the most unusual structure in the city. This was a vital part of defense system of the city as a big water reservoir, which can hold 18 million gallons of water.
 
Lastly visit the famous Grand Bazaar, the largest and the oldest covered Bazaar in this part of the world with more than 4000 small shops. You will see a great variety of Turkish handicrafts, handmade oriental carpets, jewelry and many souvenirs within the old market.
 
Before you are transferred back to your hotel or the cruise pier, you will visit the best baklava factory to taste this awesome dessert.
 
At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the cruise pier.
 
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Old City of Istanbul Half Day Tour - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Roman Hippodrome
• Egyptian Obelisk
• Blue Mosque
• Haghia Sophia –OR– Topkapi Palace
• Grand Bazaar

 
Your English-speaking, private guide will meet you at the cruise pier for your half day sightseeing tour of Istanbul with a deluxe air-conditioned mini-van.
 
You will first visit the Roman Hippodrome, along with the Egyptian Obelisk, and then proceed to the Blue Mosque, which was built in between 1609-1616. The Blue tiles cover the walls have given its popular name “Blue Mosque”.
 
*Next visit will be to one of the great monumental buildings of the world Haghia Sophia that was built by Emperor Justinian in 537. It has remained as the greatest church until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. The great dome and its gallery were covered with gold mosaics and still survive.
 
OR
 
*Next visit will be to the magnificent Topkap? Palace, which has been the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost four centuries. Besides being the residence of the Sultan and his family, Topkap? was also the seat of the Ottoman Divan. 5000 people lived in the palace. You will see the Sultan’s Treasury and the Holy Relics exhibition.
 
Lastly visit the famous Grand Bazaar, the largest and the oldest covered Bazaar in this part of the world with more than 4000 small shops. You will see a great variety of Turkish handicrafts, handmade oriental carpets, jewelry and many souvenirs within the old market.
 
At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the cruise pier.
 
* You have the option to choose Topkapi Palace or St. Sophia
 
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

Not Included:

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Istanbul Port - Private Bosphorus Cruise (Half Day)

Arrive in Istanbul, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your private cruise on the Bosphorus and visit to Grand Bazaar. 

You will transfer to pier to embark your private yacht for an exciting cruise on the Bosphorus, the narrow strait of water separating the Asian and European continents and the lifeblood of Istanbul.  Passing along the shores of the Bosphorus you will view magnificent palaces, restored Ottoman villas, impressive fortresses and the waterside residences of Istanbul’s elite.  Enjoy soft drinks tea and coffee on the motor yacht and see a different perspective of Istanbul, described by a Byzantine visitor in the 12^th century as “the city of the world’s desire”. Cruise takes approximately 1½hours.
 
Then, you will visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of handicrafts, carpets, rare jewels and souvenirs all sold in small shops next to each other. The merchants are selling everything from antiques, home wares, books, copper ware, ceramics, gold and inexpensive souvenirs. Venture into the hidden courtyards or hans, lookout for marble fountains and ornate kiosks.  Streets are named according to the trades and the most oriental atmosphere in Istanbul is found in the bazaar.
 
At the end of your experience, approximately at 1:00pm, you will return to the port to embark your ship.
 
Inclusions:

• 1 half day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• Services of an officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Bosphorus cruise on a private yacht for 1½ hours.
• Bottled water provided through the tour. 
• Welcome Package.
• VAT taxes.

Exclusions:

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  •  At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests

Istanbul Port - Private Cooking Class in a Local Home with Market Visit

Arrive in Istanbul,  you will meet your professional guide, outside of the terminal building at the port for your private cooking class experience at Turkish Flavours.
 
First you will embark on a culinary tour in the  Spice Market, you will stop at one of the most famous spice shops and taste the different spices that you will use during your class.  After your culinary tour in the Spice Market, you will take a local ferry to Kadikoy, on the Asian side of Istanbul  to transfer to the local home.
 

You will enjoy the workshop for your cooking experience. You will cook some traditional Turkish food with a professional chef. You will have lunch with the food you prepared and have a chance to taste what you have cooked with local wine. Put your chef hats on and get cooking! Learn authentic recipes from local experts & chefs on a one of a kind private cooking class in Istanbul.

 At the end of your experience, you will return to the port .

Inclusions:

• Private Cooking Class experience.
• A deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program.
• Services of an officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Local ferry tickets.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour. 
• Welcome Package.
• VAT taxes.

Exclusions:

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  •  At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests

Istanbul Port - Private Culinary Walking Tour ( Half Day Tour)

Arrive in Istanbul, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your half day culinary adventure through the Spice Bazaar. 

You will visit the Egyptian Bazaar, the second largest covered market in Istanbul.  It was constructed in the 1660s as part of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) complex. The name derives from the herbs, and spices imported from or through Egypt. It is still the best place to buy Turkish delight, dried fruit, exotic spices, herbs, nuts, Turkish apricots and  cavier.  Around the bazaar , you can also find the cheese shops, fruits and vegetables. 
 
After your experience, you can have a break at one of the Turkish tea shops in the bazaar area and enjoy a Turkish or herbal tea.
 
At the end of your morning visits approximately at 1:00pm, you will return to the port.
 
Afternoon at leisure.
 
Inclusions:

• 1 half day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• Licensed professional guide in English language.

• Services of Sea Song Tour’s English speaking, officially licensed guide throughout the tour program.

• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided through the tour. 
• Welcome Package.
• VAT taxes.

Exclusions: 

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  •  At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests

Istanbul - At Your Leisure Tour - 8 Hours (Provided by Travelive)

At Your Leisure Option: Please see below for details on this option.

You decide where to go and what to see.

Included:

• Private Luxury Sedan with English-Speaking guide and driver for 8 hours
• Bottled water in the vehicle
• Gratuities to guide and driver**

Excluded:

• Cost of meals and refreshments other than bottled water
• Entrance fees
• Items of personal nature

*Mileage restrictions may apply.
**Gratuities have been prepaid. Additional gratuities are at guest’s discretion.

 

Istanbul: Jewish Heritage Tour - 7 hours

An English speaking officially licenced lecturer/guide will meet the guests at the exit of the Istanbul cruise pier at 09:00 am, with a sign reading their names, for a private sightseeing tour of Istanbul.

First visit of the day is to the Galata Tower which was built in 1303 by immigrants from Genoa, Italy. While sipping your Turkish coffee there, you will be amazed at the spectacular view of the Golden Horn and the old buildings located on its shores depicting how Istanbul looked hundreds years ago.
The private tour will continue with a visit to the Neve Shalom and the oldest Synagogue in Istanbul- the Ahrida Synagogue, built around 1470 by Jewish immigrants from Macedonia.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant close to the sites.

The guests will be then taken to the Jewish Museum of Turkey. There is evidence that this building as a former synagogue existed in 1671. However the actual building was re-erected over its original foundations presumably in the early 19th Century. Zulfaris Synagogue has opened its doors as the Jewish museum in 2001. Continue to visit the Balat section, where the Star of David appears.

At the end of the day,a private lecturer/guide will take the guests back to the cruise pier.

Closed weekly days for sites/museums:
• Synagogues are closed on Saturdays and Sunday
* Neve Shalon Synagogue is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
• Zulfaris Synagogue (Jewish Museum) is closed on Saturdays.

* Please forward us a copy of your guests’ passport page with the photo, as required by the Chief Rabbi of Istanbul, to obtain His official approval for the synagogue visits in Turkey.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to Istanbul's Jewish history and culture

*The tour covers the main highlights of the Jewish Heritage in Istanbul

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a cheaffeur driven a/c private vehicle, a licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Istanbul: Edirne Highlights - 11 hours

An English speaking private lecturer/guide will meet you at Istanbul cruise pier at 8 am and you will be driven to Edirne (approx. 3 hours), known formerly as Adrianople and was the second capital of the Ottoman Empire. Edirne is situated in Thrace, in westernmost Turkey on the border of Greece and is known for the Selimiye Mosque, built in the 16th century by the famous architect Sinan. The mosque's main structure comprises 18 small domes dominated by a huge central dome on 8 columns with 3 balconied minarets on 4 sides.

The tour will include visits to Selimiye & Complex (Vakiflar), Turkish - Islamic Works Museum The works are exhibited in the room numbered 14 in Dar - ül Tedris Madrasa in the courtyard of Selimiye Mosque with the Archaeological and Ethnographical Museums, In the hand works part, there is a village kitchen, Carpet, Kilim and Rush Mat weaving looms are located and other incredible mosques such as the Yildirim Mosque, Uc Serefeli Mosque and the Beyazit II Mosque.

Lunch will be served at local restaurant close to the sights, at your own cost.

There are also impressive caravanserais such as the Rustem Pasha and the lively restored Arasta and Bedesten bazaars. You may also see some beautiful Ottoman bridges in Edirne and around the area, such as Uzunkopru, which was also built by the architect Sinan. In the evening You will be transferred back to your cruise ship around 7 pm.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to the former Ottoman capital city of Edirne

*The tour covers the main highlights of the city

Tour Duration : 10-11 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a cheaffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Istanbul: Highlights - 7 hours

 An English speaking officially licenced lecturer/guide will meet the guests at the exit of the Istanbul cruise pier at 08:30 am, with a sign reading their names, for a private sightseeing tour of Istanbul.

The private tour program will start with the Roman Hippodrome that was a colossal stadium housing horse races around which the socio-political life of the Roman capital was centered. In its great days, it was 1575 feet long, 384 feet wide and held 100,000 spectators. It was the site of chariot racing, gladiator fights, circuses, inaugurations and triumphal parades.

The tour will continue with a visit to the Blue Mosque- the masterpiece of 17th century Ottoman Architecture, famous for its unique hand made original Iznik Tiles impressing the guests with their rich dominant blue colors and oriental patterns. They have become collectors’ items today, auctioned at celebrated houses like the Sotheby’s.

Next visit will be to the Topkapi Palace and its Imperial Treasury Section that was the center of Ottoman Empire’s Government Seat ruling most of the Middle East and the Eastern Europe from this palace for 500 years.

Lunch will be served at a recommended local/select restaurants close to the sites.

In the afternoon, visit the World famous Hagia Sophia (The Church of Divine Wisdom), one of the extraordinary masterpieces in the history of World architecture. When a previous church on this site was burned during the Nikka Revolt in 532, Justinian ordered his architect, Isidorus, to build a structure worthy of his empire. Hagia Sophia was completed in only five years and was dedicated on Christmas Day of 537. The building inspired countless generations by its innovations in weight support and construction techniques and what a dome it was: the popular belief was that ‘the dome was suspended from Heaven by an invisible golden chain’. In reality it was work of men, but a worldly simulator of the Heavens

Finally, visit the Grand Bazaar, more dazzling than any other oriental bazaar, built in 1461 and in service ever since. It contains 3,500 shops employing more than 20,000 people all under one roof. Everything imaginable in the world is for sale here, glittering gold and silver jewelry, antique tiles, leather, and souvenirs. Just seeing and experiencing this fascinating bazaar is a memorable experience.

At the end of today’s private tour, the guests will be transferred back to the cruise pier.

• Closed weekly days for sites/museums:
• St. Sophia is closed on Mondays
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and official holidays.

Highlights:

• Great introduction to Istanbul's history and culture

• The tour covers the main highlights of the city

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chauffeur driven a/c private vehicle, licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Istanbul: Private Art Collections - 7 hours

An English speaking private lecturer/guide will meet you at at the Istanbul cruise pier at 9 am for departure by chauffeur driven a/c deluxe minivan, to start your private sightseeing tour of Istanbul.

Today’s private tour will start with a visit to the Istanbul Modern Museum of Art, situated at the shores of the Bosphorus. Istanbul Modern Museum of Art exhibits Turkey’s art heritage, and creates a platform for Turkish peoples’ creativity, dynamism, cultural identity and universal values.

A drive along the scenic Bosphorus Avenue will take you to the Family Villa of the Sabanci’s, the Internationally successful Turkish industrialist, now housing Mr. Sabanci’s lifetime collection of rare art pieces and celebrated paintings by Int’l and local masters, displayed in his former Family Home, recently donated to his Foundation as a Private Museum.

Lunch will be served at a local seafood restaurant by the shores of the Bosphorus (at your own discretion and cost).

After lunch, you will visit Private Museum of Lady Sadberk, donated to the nation by art-loving wife of Vehbi Koc, another leading industrialist. The beautiful, late-Ottoman wooden mansion contains a fabulous collection of Turkish arts and crafts, including jewelry, silverware, and Iznik ceramics of the classic period.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel/cruise pier by 4 pm.

Closed weekly days for sites/museums:

• Istanbul Modern Museum is closed on Mondays.

• Sabanci: Museum is closed on Mondays.

• Lady Sadberk Han Museum is closed on Wednesdays.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to Istanbul's art culture

*The tour covers the main highlights of art in the city

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chaeffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Istanbul: Private Yacht Cruise along the Bosphorus - 7 hours

An English speaking officially licensed lecturer/guide will meet the guests at the Istanbul cruise pier at 09:00 am for a private sightseeing tour of Istanbul.

Today’s tour will start with a visit to the Dolmabahce Palace- the largest and the finest example of Ottoman Baroque Architecture, a monument to the Ottomans’ westernization process in the 19th century. The Ottoman response to the overwhelming changes in the post-renaissance world was rapid westernization, initiated in the imperial lifestyle at first that gave way to the creation of a series of baroque-style European-fashion palaces on the shores of the Bosphorus.

You will then board a private boat for a cruise on the Bosphorus against the majestic skyline of Istanbul. Your private boat will cruise along the romantic Bosphorus visiting both the Europe Side and the Asia Side of Istanbul by the shores of local fishing villages, en route when it is possible to take memorable photos of the fascinating environments including the 15th century Rumelihisar? Fortress, the Summer Palaces of Lady Ottoman Sultans, and the historical Wooden Houses (Yalis) of famous Turkish families. The cruise ends on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Lunch will be served at a local seafood restaurants in Kanlica Village by the Bosphorus.

After lunch, you will proceed to the top of the Grand Camlica Hill, where you will enjoy the panoramic view of the European side of Istanbul.

Your private tour will continue with a visit to the Beylerbeyi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans in late 19th and early 20th century.

After this visit, a scenic drive on the Asian shores of the Bosphorus will take you to the Kanlica Village where you will have a taste of the famous “local yogurt” and “apple tea” in a local café by the Bosphorus.

At the end of the day, the lecturer/guide will take the guests back to the hotel/cruise ship by 4 pm.

Closed weekly days for sites/museums:

• Dolmabahçe Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays.

• Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to Istanbul's history and culture

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chauffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Istanbul: The 16th Century Masterpieces of Sinan the Architect - 7 hours

Your English speaking private guide will meet you at the Istanbul cruise pier at 9 am for a private full day sightseeing tour of Sinan the architect’s Istanbul buildings.

The private tour will start with a visit to Rustem Pasha Mosque. It was designed by famous “Sinan the Architect” for Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha. Rustem Pasha Mosque is famous for its exquisite Iznik tiles, set in beautiful floral and geometric designs, which cover not only the facade of the porch but also the walls and columns.

Continue to Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, which is the most important of all the imperial mosques in Istanbul. Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife are both buried here and the mosque is considered the most beautiful of the city’s Imperial mosques. It was built between 1550 and 1557 by Sinan, and is erected on the crest of a hill. The mosque is conspicuous by its great size, and has four minarets – one in each corner of the courtyard. The interior is also spectacular; the mihrab (prayer niche facing Mecca) and the mimber (pulpit) are finely carved in white marble, and there are magnificent stained glass windows.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant close to the sights (at your own discretion and cost).

In the afternoon, you will visit the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque located in the Edirnekapi neighborhood near the Byzantine city walls. Located on the peak of the Sixth Hill near the highest point of the city, the mosque is a prominent landmark in Istanbul. The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque was designed by "Sinan the Architect" for the favorite daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent, Princess Mihrimah.

Last visit of the day will be to the Sehzade Mosque which was commissioned by Sultan Suleiman in memory of his eldest son by Hürrem, Prince Mehmet, who died the age of 21. It was the first major commission by the Imperial Architect Sinan and was completed in 1548. It is considered by architectural historians as Sinan's first masterpiece of classical Ottoman architecture.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel/cruise ship by 4 pm.

Added Value:

*Great introduction to Sinan the Architect's masterpieces

*The tour covers the masterpieces of Sinan the Architect in Istanbul

Tour Duration : 7 hours

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chauffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses