alaska_planner Posted December 23, 2012 #1 Share Posted December 23, 2012 i just noticed how cheap NCL's european cruises are for january/february! especially the 10 day eastern med cruise - but i have no interest in spending 3 days in turkey (or any days in turkey for that matter)... apparently other people aren't interested either or the prices wouldn't be so bargain basement.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Anna & Sir Troy Posted December 23, 2012 #2 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I took advantage of the pricing and am really looking forward to going back to Turkey, especially Istanbul. I have been to "some" places around the world - Scotland, England, Mexico, Costa Rica, Egypt, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, numerous Caribbean Countries and US Cities; and Istanbul was far the most fascinating city I have ever been to. :) We passed up China or Japan to go do this sailing out of Rome and couldn't be more thrilled it's stopping in Naples and Athens. Funny thing is it's Olympia I could do without!! :p I'm STILL waiting for us to make it to Alaska though!! My parents did a trip there and said it was beyond compare... L.A.S.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted December 23, 2012 #3 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Forget where the ships is going just get in a suite and enjoy the ship time. before tax, Garden Villa, it dropped to $4500pp(1&2) for 10 days on the dec dates. courtyard for $200pppd Suite $100pppd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbsie65 Posted December 23, 2012 #4 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I have spent much time in Turkey and very much enjoyed it so unless you have visited and had a problem I can not see how you can judge somewhere without going first. Turkey is a massive country so I suggest taking time to travel around the many fascinating places - I live in Greece and even the Greeks shop and visit after there chequered history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokiePoq Posted December 23, 2012 #5 Share Posted December 23, 2012 We'd have loved to have had two days in Istanbul. Had hoped NCL would replace Egypt with Istanbul. We did one day in a substitute port in Turkey for the scheduled one due to rough seas. In an earlier cruise, we loved Ephesus (Izmir) and will consider a Turkey land tour as there is so much to see. On our December Jade cruise, we met folks from Europe who had apparently gotten rock bottom rates at the last minute. That works when you can come in on the train to Rome. For us in US, not so much due to airfare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkincc Posted December 23, 2012 #6 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Not sure what you have against Turkey. When my friend did their Med cruise, they liked Turkey so much, they came back for a land only vacation there later. I have other good reports also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted December 23, 2012 #7 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Love the Jade, is Gary CD. Time to get booked for Feb and look to upgrade when/if prices drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttilaTheFun Posted December 23, 2012 #8 Share Posted December 23, 2012 What's wrong with Turkey? Ephesus was great and even better than Pompeii and Istanbul was amazing. I went on a different cruise line and wished we had an overnight in Istanbul - clean, safe, modern, affordable, easy to get around, fascinating culture, good food... need I go on? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinkstarr Posted December 23, 2012 #9 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Istanbul is on my bucket list. Would love to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMH15 Posted December 23, 2012 #10 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I would JUMP on this except I have my Sun cruise in March that I booked 2 years ago. Would love to experience Istanbul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgkrudi Posted December 23, 2012 #11 Share Posted December 23, 2012 What's wrong with Turkey? Ephesus was great and even better than Pompeii and Istanbul was amazing. I went on a different cruise line and wished we had an overnight in Istanbul - clean, safe, modern, affordable, easy to get around, fascinating culture, good food... need I go on? :) THANK YOU! I often wonder why people have such a preconceived notion about various countries and cultures. Turkey is one of my favorite places, especially Istanbul. To the OP: have you ever actually BEEN to Turkey??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittergal1 Posted December 23, 2012 #12 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I have just booked the Eastern med cruise on the NCL Jade the prices were great for solo occupancy and I am very excited to spend 2 days in Istanbul . I have never been to Turkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaTraveller Posted December 23, 2012 #13 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Did the Spirit this summer, and I wished there was more than one day in Istanbul. What an amazing city. And as already mentioned, inexpensive. Historical, vibrant and a shoppers heaven. I don't like to shop, but loved it in the Grand Bazaar. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittergal1 Posted December 23, 2012 #14 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I have booked NCL Jade for March 27th great solo occupancy price I am very excited about visiting Istanbul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted December 23, 2012 #15 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I have booked NCL Jade for March 27th great solo occupancy price I am very excited about visiting Istanbul Don't know why the other person has no interest in Turkey but having done Istanbul and Ephesus on an Eastern Med cruise you should be excited. Istanbul is a great port to visit. Hopefully you are also doing Ephesus. That is another great Turkish port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted December 23, 2012 #16 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Istanbul is on my bucket list. Would love to go! Having been to Istanbul I think you have a very good bucket list! Istanbul and Ephesus are wonderful ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canagirl Posted December 23, 2012 #17 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Personally, I don't think the low prices are a reflection of the ports - rather a reflection of it being "off" season and much cooler, so perhaps not the ideal vacation time there for some people. I love cooler weather, would love to visit these ports and would jump on one of these cruises now if airfare wasn't necessary! I'm different than most and have visited Italy and Rome during the massive summer heat and would pick these temperatures over the summer no question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted December 23, 2012 #18 Share Posted December 23, 2012 We did a 12-night Med cruise on the Jade (RT Barcelona) four years ago in late Jan/early Feb, and we loved it. The normally crowded ports weren't crowded. Sure, cruising the Med in the winter isn't for everyone, but the lower temps made places like Egypt and Ephesus really comfortable. Earlier this week, my partner noticed NCL's low prices for this Jan. and Feb. She was pretty much calling me daily in amazement with each price drop. We'll be on another trip then, so we can't take advantage of these prices, but those are some great deals. As for Turkey, I don't know what the OP has against it, but we loved our day in Ephesus, and Istanbul is really high on our list of places to visit. I'd love to take a cruise that overnights there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azure Moon Posted December 23, 2012 #19 Share Posted December 23, 2012 If we didn't have a European cruise already scheduled, I'd hop all over the trips that stopped in Turkey. Turkey is on my bucket list as well. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xenagurl Posted December 23, 2012 #20 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I've only been there twice for short periods of time but Turkey is an amazing place that I'd love to spend more time in, and now that I think about it I might hope on the Jade in Feb for this sailing. :) Thanks for the reminder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittergal1 Posted December 23, 2012 #21 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Yes Ephesus is one of the places to visit but we cruise to Izmir which I believe is over an hours drive away and very expensive with the cruise ship can we get there independently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted December 24, 2012 #22 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yes Ephesus is one of the places to visit but we cruise to Izmir which I believe is over an hours drive away and very expensive with the cruise ship can we get there independently? I used Ephesus Shuttle for both Ephesus and Istanbul. They were very good and not very expensive. Much better than the cruise line rates. If you can get a group out of your Cruise Critic roll call they will give an even lower price than their standard rates. Check your roll call, there may already be independent tours being organized you can join. We picked them from reading trip reports on the Cruise Critic port of calls board. There are also several other companies mentioned on the port of call board that will pick you up at Izmar that sounded good. You can certainly do it independently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted December 24, 2012 #23 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yes Ephesus is one of the places to visit but we cruise to Izmir which I believeis over an hours drive away and very expensive with the cruise ship can we get there independently? When we were on the Jade (see above), we too docked in Izmir. Several of us on our Roll Call had arranged a private shore excursion to visit Ephesus (including the Terrace Houses), the Temple of Artemis, and the Mary House using Ekol Tours. Our guide (the fabulous Yelda Celik) was phenomenal; our day with her in Ephesus was the most fantastic single day of our wonderful trip. (Get off the ship as early as you can, and beat the buses to the Mary House and Ephesus....) The prices were very reasonable. Ekol is one of several highly-recommeded private tour operators in that part of Turkey. If you haven't already done so, please go over to the Ports of Call Board (Europe/Other Med Ports), and you'll find Ekol as well as others recommended, and a great deal of info about the private tours. If you visit Ephesus, the Terrace Houses are a must, but the ship tours are too big to be allowed in. Have a great trip; here's a little bit of Ephesus to whet your appetite. (photos by turtles06) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittergal1 Posted December 24, 2012 #24 Share Posted December 24, 2012 wow looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted December 24, 2012 #25 Share Posted December 24, 2012 wow looks great It is and the Terrace House that Turtle mentioned is a must do. All the independent tour companies offer it as an add on to their tour. The add on is because there is an admission charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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