Seeking information on the Blue Cruises in a gulet around the Lycean coast.??Looking to sail from Fethiye east as far as possible east (one way) towards Olympos, the first week of August. At least to Finike. Aiming to stop at Oludeniz, Demre, Kekova, Butterfly Valley, and Kapitas Beach.??Any suggestions on cabin rentals or recommended boats? Prefer an older crowd and couples. Have a week max. Do you recommend making reservations???As an alternative, can you take multiple mini-cruises from port to port heading east? ??Thanks in advance for your valuable input.
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Seattle, USA
990 posts
Gulet cruises vary wildly in quality and ambiance. I would not reserve in advance unless you are working with an agent or a Turkish friend who knows what you are looking for. It really isn't necessary to book in advance. Just go down to the harbor area and begin negotiating. (Or, in the alternative, you could ask for advice from your hotel, but they may well get kickbacks from some of the gulet owners and may steer you there, whether they fit your needs or not.)
Ask about what is included--meals or snacks? Is alcohol included or provided separately? (That's a good way to tell if you are getting a "party boat"--although I enjoy a nice cold beer myself, I wouldn't take a boat that promised unlimited alcohol!) Ask about music--what kind, how loud, is it on constantly? Another indication that the atmosphere may be of the party-hearty variety. Ask about the number and length of stops. Will they moor for hours somewhere hoping to pick up additional passengers? If the weather is bad, will they just return to port? How much, if any, of your money will be refunded?
As for prices--we did a gulet cruise four years ago. They initially quoted one price in euros--we laughed it off and countered aggressively. In the end, we paid a number half of what was initially asked--in Turkish lira. In other words, about a quarter of the asking price. Depending on the business of the trade, you might well do better than that.