Blue Cruise Hints & Tips - Blue Cruise Turkey |
Hints & Tips
What alternatives exist in Blue Voyage?
For the type of Blue Voyage we offer, you don't have to hold
a skipper's license, nor do you need to be an avid sailor.
We provide you with a traditional wooden yacht which you
charter with crew. If you cannot get a group together so as
to take your own yacht, you still have the opportunity to
join one of our weekly cabin charter cruises. You might even
like to go for something racier, like a standard-sized
bareboat with an English-speaking skipper.
Which season is best for Blue Voyage?
The Turkish western Mediterranean region is known worldwide
for its near-perfect sailing conditions--the water is always
warm and there are plenty of beautiful islands to visit.
Many people travel via yacht each year to the Med to take
part in annual races or simply enjoy the sailing season.
Of course everyone is different and is looking for different
things from a holiday. Children, your work commitments and
age (!) all affect when you are able to go on holiday.
The months of May and October offer excellent sailing
conditions and the opportunity to go trekking or fishing.
And here is a special offer for those of you who want to
have an early start to the summer 2006. Click here for more
information.
The months of June, September and October is the best time
to explore the western coast islands and bays of southern
Turkey. Rain is rare. It is the most pleasant time of the
year. It is also before / past the high season for the
region's tourism industry, which reaches its peak during
July and August. September and October offer good winds,
although variable, and summertime temperatures during the
day with pleasant nights. You can swim through the middle to
end of October comfortably.
Between end of July and August, Turkey is extra busy with
the height of summer bringing thousands to the coastal
regions. July and August days are long and hot, and the
nights are warm.
What to take on a Blue Voyage?
Most of the time will be spent in a bathing suit, so it is a
good idea to bring at least two! For land trips, a pair of
long, light trousers and a shirt are advisable. Evenings may
be cool, certainly during the earlier and later months of
the year, so you are best to bring a pullover and a
windbreaker. We also suggest you pack your beach towel (not
provided on board), plenty of suncream,
snorkels/flippers/goggles if you plan on doing lots of
snorkelling and a sleeping bag if you are planning to sleep
on deck.
Bed linen and towels for use in the cabins are provided and
you should expect a set of sheets during the hot summer
months and a bottom sheet and a pique (thick cotton sheet)
during the spring and autumn months.
Your Turkish crew may not have a thorough knowledge of
English, so you might be advised to take a small traveller's
dictionary along with you for the voyage. Besides being
understood more easily, it is also a great way of picking up
a few words of Turkish.
We suggest you bring your belongings in a collapsible bag,
rather than a suitcase, as bags are much easier to stow
away, and also serve to limit how much you pack! You may
like to bring a light day pack for excursions ashore.
If you're on a prescribed medicine take them with you; you
may not find the same medicine in Turkey.
One final word of advice
Normal street shoes are definitely not acceptable on board a
yacht, we suggest you to bring soft-soled shoes for getting
around on deck.
Is Sailing possible on Gulet?
Gulets are motorsailers
Equipped with motors and with sails. Their top speed is just
a very leisurely 8-10 knots. Generally, gulets will rarely
sail, which means no participating in the actual sailing or
manoeuvring of the yacht, so sailing instruction is not an
option, yet some gulets (due to a different construction)
sail really well. On smaller charters (standard sailing
yachts) you will often sail the yacht together, which
enhances team spirit and gives you the change to learn how
to sail.
What itinerary should I choose?
It is rare that a day goes by without someone asking, where
is the best place to charter? Admittedly we are biased
towards the eastern Mediterranean. Most of all we recommend
the cruising ground in the south eastern coast of Turkey
stretching from Marmaris to Fethiye. There is so much to see
and do that it pays to have at least a tentative itinerary.
And for most people it takes years to really explore
everything this area offers. There are islands that are
awaiting exploration throughout this cruising area whether
you begin your trip from Marmaris or from Fethiye. You will
find hundreds of harbors and islands to explore. One-way
charters are also available between the ports of call.
What about Scuba Diving?
The diving area around Fethiye and Marmaris offer some of
the best preserved dive sites in the Mediterranean. Scuba
Diving in Turkish waters is permitted only under the
guidance and supervision of a licensed dive guide. In
keeping with these and other government regulations, we can
organize your diving days during the voyage lead by
experienced dive masters, all of whom hold licenses endorsed
by Turkish and international authorities. There are two main
dive bases in Marmaris and Fethiye from which we arrange
scuba diving. Both bases offer everything one would expect
from and international dive center. All equipment is in
excellent condition and 10 or 12 litre Scuba tanks and DIN /
INT connection parts are in good supply. In order to
participate as a diver, guests must have a recognized diving
license and a current medical report. It is possible to both
hire equipment from the base or bring your own.
Tipping
Tips are not included in the price of your tour.
Customarily, participants wish to tip the minibus driver,
guide, and yacht crew if they did a very good job. These
gratuities are completely at your discretion. Guidelines
based on past experience suggest $2 per guest per day for
your driver, $10 per guest per day for your guide(s) and $10
per guest per day as a pooled tip for the yacht crew. Tips
should be in cash.
Passport & Visa
All U.S. and most European citizens, even infants, need a
valid passport to enter Turkey for stays of up to 90 days.
U.S. citizens also need to purchase a visa, which can be
done at the official point of entry for $20 USD (as of 01
April 2004), UK citizens purchase visa for 10 GBP, most
European nationals purchase visa for 10 Euro.
Canadian citizens need only a valid passport to enter Turkey
for stays of up to 90 days. Children under 16 may be
included on a parent's passport but must have their own to
travel alone.
Citizens of the United Kingdom need a valid passport to
enter Turkey for stays of up to 90 days. Children under 16
may travel on an accompanying parent's passport. U.K.
citizens also need to purchase a visa, which can be done at
the point of entry for £10.
Duty Free
Arrival
You are allowed to bring in 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200
grams of tobacco, 1 1/2 kilograms of instant coffee, 500
grams of tea, and 2 1/2 liters of alcohol. Register all
valuable personal items in your passport at your embassy on
entry. Items in the duty-free shops in Turkish airports, for
international arrivals, are usually less expensive here than
in European airports or in flight.
Departure
Same as arrival you are allowed to take same quantity of
goods with you (as eu duty free agreement).
As a foreign visitor, you can claim back the tax you pay on
your purchases and receive immediate cash refund on
departure at most international ports of Turkey.
For more information visit www.globalrefund.com
Time
Turkish standard time is 2 hours ahead Greenwich Mean Time,
1 hour ahead of Central European Time, and 7 hours ahead of
Eastern Standard Time.
Transportation
The intercity buses in Turkey are usually of very high
standard (Mercedes model coaches, and all air-conditioned),
but if you travel on a smaller bus, it might not have
air-conditioning. Drinking water is always served on
midibuses and large buses free of charge. Also an attendant
will offer Lemon cologne or tissue for refreshment, it is
very typical in Turkey.
The largest bus companies like Ulusoy, Pamukkale, Varan and
Kamil Koc are serving most of the routes. You can buy the
tickets from the bus station or one of the bus companies
offices in Marmaris, most of which are located in Tansas
supermarket area.
Local 'Dolmus' minibus runs to the center of every resort in
Turkey, fee is approximately 25 - 45 pence. There are bus
stops along the route, as of 2001 the minibuses stop only at
those stops.
Taxis are recognized by their yellow colour. The fare shown
on the
meter reads according to the distance travelled. Better take
a dolmus still - taxi is expensive in resorts!
Money
In resorts there are ATM machines near every bank and large
supermarkets like Tansas and Migros, also in most places you
will be able to pay by credit card, be it a shop or a
restaurant. Most Turkish banks charge commission on cash
back and cash advances so may be asked to cover this cost.
Also most places accept foreign currency for payments. You
can cash your Travellers cheques at any exchange bureau,
however check the commission rates, as the exchange rate
displayed outside is usually the Selling rate. You can also
check the daily rate of TL on our website.
Banks
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 09.00- 12.00 and 13.30 17.00
Certain Banks open on Saturdays half day and during lunch
hours.
Exchange Offices are open everyday until around 11.00pm.
Foreign Currency, Travellers Cheques, and Credit Cards are
accepted in Turkey except the Scottish Pound and torn or
damaged notes.
Communication & Phone System
Turkey has international direct-dial telephones, telegraphs,
telex, facsimile, and express mail. You can place
international calls quickly and easily from your hotel. As
hotels sometimes add service fees to telephone charges, it
is wise to ask about cost before you call. City newsstands
carry most international publications.
Public telephones are conveniently located throughout the
country. Pay phones are available operated with telephone
cards, recognized by the green color and Turk Telecom sign
on them. The telephone cards of 30, 60, 100 and 120 units
are sold at the post offices, small markets, book stores.
Electrical Appliances
The voltage is 220 Volts AC in all parts of the country.
Sun Protection
The temperatures rise to a high of 45oC in August so high
factor suntan lotion is essential. Keeping hydrated with
water only is a must!
Children should be well covered with hats and hydrated.
Medicine & Health Services
In the resorts there are private and state hospitals and
many private clinics.
Medical facilities are up-to-date and equipped to cope with
the majority of medical problems. There are multilingual
doctors and dentists all around the resorts open during
weekly business hours. For emergency medical care, you may
contact our office or your captain to request a doctor's
visit in port. If you're on a prescribed medicine take them
with you; you may not find the same medicine in Turkey.
Shopping
Turkey is known by many as a shopper's paradise with rich
variety of the craft mean that it is impossible to resist
buying. Main shopping resorts are Fethiye, Bodrum, Marmaris,
Antalya, Alanya, and Istanbul Grand Bazaar.
Unlike a European country there is a great range of places
in which to shop in Turkey, from modern boutiques to
colourful bazaars and bustling markets.
In virtually every instance, carpets, fine leather, precious
jewelry, gold in particular are a better buy here in Turkey
than they are in other parts of Europe.
Language
Most of the Turks you will meet -- crew members, hotel and
restaurant staff, shop-keepers will speak at least some
English, and many will be fluent. German and French are also
widely spoken in Turkey.
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