We're taking the Turkey 13 day tour then spending one week Istanbul to Athens cruise. Should we book back-to-back or leave a week in between the two and just spend a full week before the cruise relaxing - either at the beach in Greece or spend a few extra days in Istanbul or a combo of the two? Concerned we might want a break after two full weeks of Rick Steve's tour.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
10130 posts
I did almost the exact same thing 2 years ago except it was a Gate 1 tour followed by the cruise. I went directly from one to another. Tour ended in the morning and I embarked in the afternoon.
A tour and a cruise are so different that changing from one to the other involved no hardship. I found I really enjoyed the combination. The cruise itself is the break.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3986 posts
I can't speak to the cruise, but I would suggest arriving at least a full day (or two) ahead to Istanbul before the RS tour to do things not covered by the tour, as there is a lot to see and do and the tour barely scratches the surface. If there is a foodie tour offered the day prior to your RS tour, I recommend doing that too. If offered it will be listed in the details of your tour documents.