Relax on a Turkish Blue Cruise

When most people think of cruise ships they imagine huge ocean going liners equipped with all kinds of luxuries where guests are treated to five-star service as they are journeyed around the oceans, stopping over at busy resorts to disembark for sightseeing trips and excursions.

Cruising is still a very popular activity, particularly for older generations, who in some cases may have saved for many years before making their trip of a lifetime. Cruising along the southern coast of Turkey with one of the "Blue Cruise" companies is an altogether different proposition, but for the people who join one of these cruises, they are equally special as a holiday experience.

The south coast of Turkey is rapidly growing its profile as a major European holiday destination and, as well as the larger holiday resorts like Marmaris and Bodrum, there are many beautiful bays and coves that are still inaccessible by road. Travelling by sea brings all of these places within easy reach.

The boats used on the Blue Cruises are traditional Turkish craft known as Gulets. These are wooden built boats of varying sizes that are capable of taking between 6 and 20 guests at any one time. The boats have motors for use when required but can also travel under sail for the ultimate relaxing voyage. The Gulet is skippered by a captain who is helped by a crew of deckhands, chefs and other staff, who all work to ensure passengers have a perfect holiday. Although the boats are very comfortable inside this is not the typical luxury cruise provided the bigger cruise ships. What make these trips memorable are the peaceful and beautiful locations the ships are able to visit.

It is possible to charter a whole Gulet as a private party for exclusive use, but more commonly people charter a number of cabins and share the boat with other guests. Gulets are operated by private individuals as well as cruise operators who may run a fleet of boats.

It is still possible to charter very luxurious boats and one example is the Cobra Queen, a recently built Gulet providing 5 luxurious air-conditioned cabin accommodation for up to 10 guests. The boat is operated by a dedicated crew of 5 and the level of luxury includes en-suite bathrooms with massage showers and DVD/ TV and music systems.

The term Blue Cruise refers to the colour of the crystal-clear waters in this part of the Eastern Mediterranean where spectacular bays and coves are around almost every headland. As well as anchoring up in remote secluded locations the Gulets also use the popular marinas at Antalya, Gocek, Mamaris, and Bodrum. Guests typically book flights to Turkey for arrival at an airport such as Bodrum or Dalaman before being picked up by the cruise company and transported to their boat.

A typical day on a Blue Cruise involves waking to warm sunshine and eating breakfast on deck followed by a couple of hours cruising to a new location. The Gulet will then moor or anchor for lunch and maybe a spot of swimming or just relaxing in the shade during the hottest part of the day. After packing up lunch another short cruise usually takes the boat to another secluded cove or perhaps a modern marina for a more cosmopolitan overnight stay. The bigger boats also carry a choice of watersports equipment to enjoy during the frequent stops. Windsurfers, ribs and jet skis are just some of the extras carried by larger Gulets.

The Turkish author Cevat Sakir is credited with originating the Blue Cruise concept after he was exiled to the region for inappropriate political stories. He decided to get to know the coastline by going out with local fishermen and writing about the places he had seen and the interesting history of the region. He would take visiting intellectuals on trips around the Gulf of Gokova which then became known as Blue Cruises. Sakir has been honoured with a monument based on a bronze bust of Sakir being erected in front of the castle in Bodrum.