Tour the icons of Istanbul and Turkey’s enthralling Cappadocia region, a bizarre landscape of volcanically formed rock chimneys, houses carved out of sheer cliffs and sprawling underground cities.

Hinweis: Due to the amount of walking during the day tours, at times over uneven natural ground and /or steps, this program is not recommended for guests who have walking or mobility difficulties or for those guests who rely on a wheelchair or scooter. Guests also must be able to get in and out of the tour coaches with little to no assistance.

Any guests travelling with CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour. Oxygen concentrators (POC) are not permitted on the flight.

The below represents a sample itinerary. Sites visited in Istanbul will depend on flight times and the day of the week as each site has closure days. Every effort will be made to include as many sites as possible given the circumstances of your voyage date. Please refer to the emailed Final Cruise Documents that you will receive approximately 21 days before sailing for your actual itinerary based on these factors. Should there be closures, alternate sites may be substituted and should flight times not allow certain visits, they will either be removed or moved to another day in the program.

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Upon arriving at the International Airport in Istanbul, you will be met and transferred to the Intercontinental Istanbul Hotel or similar hotel in Istanbul for check-in.

When you arrive, please proceed to exit gate #8 where you will be met by our local ground team.

The remainder of the day will be spent at leisure, allowing time for you to settle in or explore the city on your own. Mahlzeiten in eigener Regie.

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After breakfast at the hotel and then check out, enjoy a drive through Istanbul to see some of its marquee attractions.

Stop for a visit of the phenomenal Blue Mosque. One of the few mosques with six minarets, the Blue Mosque was constructed in the early 17th century under the direction of Sultan Ahmet I, who was only 19 years old at the time. The exterior of the mosque is notable for its cascade of domes that seem to spill down from the central dome. Inside, the ceiling is lined with the 20.000 blue tiles for which the mosque is named.

You will also see the Hippodrome which is partially excavated to reveal some of the seats, columns, statues, and obelisks that were once part of this arena. Chariot races, coronations and parades all took place at the Hippodrome, which first appeared in 203 A.D. About 130 years later, Constantine the Great expanded and reshaped the arena so it could hold approximately 100.000 spectators.

Next you will visit the 15th Century Topkapi Palace, which was expanded under the reign of almost every sultan over the next 400 years. Today, it is a maze of lavishly decorated buildings and courtyards that reflect its most glorious years as the political center of the Ottoman Empire.

After lunch in the Sultanahmet area proceed to the airport for a flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for check in. Dinner is included before you retire for the evening.

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Following breakfast at your hotel, you will depart for a full-day, all-encompassing tour of the area.

A scenic drive brings you to the Underground City, a massive living complex beneath the surface that includes churches, stables, wineries and storage rooms. It is the deepest of the 36 underground cities in the Cappadocia region and has airshafts carved at least 300 feet into the rock. Although the city was probably never used for long stays, it served as an excellent defensive hideout during the early Christian period. There are approximately 600 doors leading into the underground city, all of them hidden in courtyards on the surface.

Continue to the nearby Village of Sinasos, a former Greek village. Explore More cave architecture awaits you in nearby Zelve, which was an important settlement and religious area between the 9th and 13th centuries. The now abandoned settlement is spread over three valleys, which also contain numerous pointed chimneys with large stems.

Next, drive to Çavusin Village is a small, historic settlement located in the heart of Cappadocia, which can be found nestled between the towns of Avanos and Goreme, within a valley that has gradually widened over time Turkey.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before driving to Avanos which lies nearby and as you will discover, is known for pottery making. The clay has a beautiful reddish hue and comes from the banks of the Kizilirmak River that flows through town. Locals still live in the rock-cut dwellings and stone houses. The village has variety of historical sites such as ruins from the Christian monks and a few churches (including the Church of St. John the Baptist, which was carved into the rock in the 5th century).

By evening, you will return to the hotel for dinner and spend the remainder of the evening at leisure.

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After breakfast depart for a full-day tour. The landscape you will see is stunningly surreal, almost lunar-like. Created by volcanic eruptions and shaped by thousands of years of erosion, the terrain features soaring fairy-tale rock chimneys and ancient dwellings carved out of the rocks. Few places on earth are so visually arresting.

Venture towards Uchisar, whose natural rock citadel is the highest point in Cappadocia and visible from a great distance.

Continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, which contains the best-preserved examples of cave churches. You will notice that the frescoes adorning the walls are still brightly colored, even after centuries of exposure.

Next visit Pasha Bag village, which was an important settlement and religious area between the 9th and 13th centuries. The now abandoned settlement is spread over three valleys, which also contain numerous pointed chimneys with large stems and the remains of a monastery.

Enjoy lunch at a local Kosebasi restaurant followed by a visit to the nearby Pigeon Valley, named for the thousands of pigeon houses that have been carved into rock cliffs since ancient times.

Following the visits, there will be shopping opportunity before you return to your hotel for some time to freshen up before a lovely dinner outing. Drive to the Red Valley; one of Cappadocia’s most beautiful natural wonders with its surreal rock formations, pinkish-red colors, and ancient cave churches. Arriving just before sunset and with champagne in hand, watch all the colors blend together to create a spectacular landscape. This is truly the best place to end the day in Cappadocia. From there, you will proceed to Uçhisar for a delicious dinner in one of it’s local restaurants.

Following this spectacular evening, return to your hotel.

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Depending on flight time, enjoy breakfast at the hotel or a breakfast box will be provided. Check out and transfer to the airport for a return flight to Istanbul.

Upon arriving in Istanbul, transfer to the Sultanahmet area for lunch. Continue with a tour of the Hagia Sophia, which was originally built as a church and later became a mosque. Today, the Hagia Sophia (meaning “Holy Wisdom”) is a museum containing phenomenal mosaics, Christian and Muslim religious art and remnants of the church that stood here until 532 A.D., when it was burned in a riot.

You will then tour the Spice Market, a locale so energetic and bustling that it’s difficult to know where to look first. Aromas waft through the air, the cacophonous sounds are constant, and it’s always crowded with shoppers haggling for the best possible prices. In a word, it’s wonderful.

Following your tour, proceed to the pier for embarkation.

Landprogramm – Schritt für Schritt:

• Hinweis: Die Reihenfolge der besuchten Sehenswürdigkeiten kann abweichen, um Verkehrsstaus zu vermeiden. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direktflüge können nicht garantiert werden.

• Reiserouten mit den aktuellsten Details (zu diesem Zeitpunkt) werden ausgestellt, wenn Sie Ihre endgültigen Kreuzfahrtunterlagen 21 Tage vor der Kreuzfahrt per E-Mail erhalten. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.

• Die Hotels, die in Ihrem Landprogramm enthalten sind, entsprechen den Hotels in diesem Dokument, falls Sie vor Beginn des Landprogramms keine anderen Informationen erhalten haben.

• Gäste, die nicht wie vereinbart an Tag 1 eines geplanten Landprogramms erscheinen, zählen als „Nicht erschienen“. Ihr Platz im Hotel wird dann freigegeben.

Zusätzliche Übernachtungen

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program.

• Sollten Sie Extraübernachtungen über die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft buchen, holen wir Sie Ihren Flugzeiten entsprechend ab und bringen Sie zum Hotel. Check-in ist um 14:00 Uhr (Änderungen vorbehalten). Mahlzeiten außer dem Frühstück sowie Aktivitäten organisieren Sie bis zum 2. Tag des Programms in Eigenregie.

• Wenn Sie einen frühen Flug gebucht haben, empfehlen wir, eine zusätzliche Übernachtung zu buchen, da Ihr Zimmer nicht vor 14:00 Uhr bezugsfertig sein wird.

• Wenn Sie zusätzliche Übernachtungen selbst buchen, ist der Transfer nicht inbegriffen.

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Arrive in Istanbul via your international flight and transfer to your hotel.

2:0om Check-in time is at 14:00 Uhr; early check is not guaranteed.

Meals on own today

Overnight at the Intercontinental Istanbul Hotel or similar

Abholung und Transfer

• Die endgültigen Kreuzfahrtdokumente werden 21 Tage vor Beginn der Kreuzfahrt per E-Mail gesendet. Die Telefonnummer des Betreibers vor Ort finden Sie auf der 1. Seite, sollten Sie den Betreuer für die Abholung nach Ankunft am Flughafen nicht finden. Beachten Sie, dass der Betreuer möglicherweise anderen Gästen hilft und nicht sofort sichtbar ist, wenn Sie den Gepäckabholungs- und Zollbereich verlassen.

• Halten Sie nach einer Person mit einem Schild mit dem Logo der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft und möglicherweise Ihrem Namen Ausschau. Bitten Sie im Zweifel Mitarbeiter des Flughafens um Hilfe, um zum Treffpunkt für Transfers zu gelangen oder unseren Betreuer zu informieren.

• Abholung und Transfer werden für Gäste organisiert, die am ersten Tag des Landprogramms anreisen oder wenn zusätzliche Übernachtungen über die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft gebucht werden. Die Abholung erfolgt entsprechend den Flugdaten, die Gäste bitte mindestens 14 Tage vor Beginn der Kreuzfahrt einsenden. Gäste, die vor Beginn der Reise in Eigenregie anreisen, erhalten keinen Transfer.

• Sollten wir Ihre Flugdaten nicht erhalten haben oder sich Ihre Flüge ändern, ohne dass das Destination Services Team an Land darüber informiert wurde, können wir keinen Transfer bereitstellen. Gäste müssen in diesem Fall auf eigene Kosten zum Hotel des Landprogramms reisen. Bitte kontaktieren Sie umgehend die Reservierungsabteilung, sollten sich vor der Abreise Flugdaten ändern.

DAY 2 – timings subject to change depending on actual flight times which can change up to the time of departure

Frühstück im Hotel

07:45 Uhr Check out and depart from your hotel

09:00 Uhr Visit the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome

10:00 Uhr Visit Topkapi Palace

12:00 Uhr Lunch at a local restaurant

13:30 Uhr Depart for the airport

14:30 Uhr Arrive at the airport and check in

16:05 Uhr Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia (flight details TBA and subject to change)

17:35 Uhr Arrival in Cappadocia, collect luggage

18:00 Uhr Transfer to your hotel for check-in

19:00 Uhr Dinner at the hotel and overnight

Overnight at the Utopia Cave Hotel or similar hotel

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Frühstück im Hotel

09:00 Uhr After breakfast depart for the underground city.

09:30 Uhr Visit the underground city.

11:30 Uhr Visit Sinasos Village

12:45 Uhr Visit the Çavusin Village

13:30 Uhr Lunch at a local restaurant

14:00 Uhr Orientation tour to Avanos town and shopping stop

17:45 Uhr Return to the hotel for dinner

Overnight at the Utopia Cave Hotel or similar hotel

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Frühstück im Hotel

09:00 Uhr Depart for a full day tour in Cappadocia

09:30 Uhr Visit Göreme Open Air Museum including Tokali Church

11:15 Uhr Visit Uçhisar Castle

11:45 Uhr Visit Pasha Bagi Village

12:30 Uhr Visit Dervent Valley

13:00 Uhr Mittagessen in einem Restaurant vor Ort

14:15 Uhr Visit Pigeon Valley

14:30 Uhr Shopping opportunity

15:45 Uhr Return to your hotel for some time at leisure

19:00 Uhr Sunset tour in Red Valley with exclusive champagne service

20:00 Uhr Farewell dinner at a local restaurant

21:45 Uhr Return to your hotel

Overnight at the Utopia Cave Hotel or similar hotel

DAY 5 timings subject to change depending on actual flight times which can change up to the time of departure

06:30 Uhr After breakfast depart for Cappadocia airport

Depending on flight time a breakfast box may be provided

07:30 Uhr Arrive at the airport and check-in

08:40 Uhr Flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul (flight details TBA and subject to change)

10:10 Uhr Arrive in Istanbul, collect luggage, proceed to lunch venue

12:00 Uhr Lunch in a local restaurant

13:30 Uhr Visit the Hagia Sophia

14:30 Uhr Visit the Spice Market

15:45 Uhr Proceed to the port

16:30 Uhr Approximate arrival to the ship for embarkation

Closed days of attractions:

If an attraction is closed on one of the dates, an alternate site will be visited. Details will be provided in your final cruise documents to be received 21 days before sailing.

•Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays

•Hagia Sophia is closed during prayer hours on Fridays

•Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays

Voraussichtliches Wetter:

Expect significant temperature differences between day and night in Cappadocia. Spring begins in March and lasts until May, and the average temperature for this season is approximately 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). This is also when the region gets most of its rainfall. However, the rain usually comes in short intervals and lasts on average for only two hours. Von Juni bis August ist Sommer.

Summers in Cappadocia are very hot, with daytime temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). However, nighttime temperatures fall into the 20’s Celsius (in the 70’s Fahrenheit). Autumn starts in September and ends in November and is the high season for Cappadocia travel. Average temperature at this time is in the 20's Celsius (in the 70’s Fahrenheit).

Was Sie mitbringen sollten:

Due to the uneven walking surfaces, sport shoes are highly recommended. Also, pack sunscreen, light comfortable clothing and shoes, and a light jacket for the evenings. Bitte achten Sie darauf, dass Sie in den Moscheen dezente Kleidung tragen. Schultern und Beine müssen bedeckt sein.

Währung:

Turkish Lira (TL).

Stromspannung:

220 Volt AC/50 Hz throughout Turkey. We recommend you bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Erforderliche Papiere und Visa:

A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required and an e-Visa is required for all U.S. Citizens entering Turkey. Please check with your local embassy for any further visa requirements for your nationality.

RSSC will require guest passport details within 75 days of sailing as hotels and airlines are requiring these details for reservations and ticketing. Please ensure the most up to date details are added to your booking before this time. Rooms and flight tickets will not be guaranteed without this information. Should you be waiting for new passport details, submit what you have and then provide new details once secured. Bring both passports with you for this journey for check in for flights.

Gepäck:

It is recommended for time saving to bring only a carry-on to Cappadocia. Guests are permitted to bring 1 carry-on not to exceed 23x40x55 in size and 8kg (17 lbs) in weight and one personal item not to exceed 40x30x15 and 4kg (8 lbs) in weight. In your hand luggage, you can only carry liquids, aerosols, and gels in containers of no more than 100 milliliters. These containers must be placed in a transparent plastic bag. Volume of this resealable plastic bag must not be more than 1 liter per passenger.

Your main luggage will be stored in a secure office in Istanbul until your return. Please make sure to label any luggage staying behind appropriately and remember to take all medications and documents with you.

Carriage of CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations):

1. Guests must provide in advance a picture of the CPAP equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type)

2. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at RSSC at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).

3. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises nor our local ground operator be responsible for.

4. Personal oxygen concentrators are not permitted on the flights.

Unterkunft:

Intercontinental Istanbul Hotel

Gümüssuyu Mahallesi, Asker Ocagi Caddesi No:1, 34437 Beyoglu/Istanbul, Turkey

+90 212 368 44 44

Utopia Cave Hotel

Dua Yeri Mah. Istiklal 1 Sok. No: 6, 50400 Urgup, Nevsehir

Telefon: +90 384 341 57 47

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen circumstances. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and guests would be notified in advance of travel. If guests are not notified prior to travel of any changes, then the hotels listed above will be used.

Im Programm enthalten:

•1 night at the Intercontinental Istanbul Hotel or similar (club level room)

•3 nights at the Utopia Cave Hotel or similar (deluxe room)

•Breakfast or breakfast boxes depending on flight times

• Flughafentransfers

•Porterage at the airport

•Service of an English-speaking tour guide throughout the program or a local guide depending on the number of guests booked on the package

•Air-conditioned vehicles

•Entrance fees to the visited sites and museums

•Two lunches and dinners in Cappadocia and one lunch in Istanbul

•Excess luggage storage in Istanbul

•Domestic flights per the itinerary (direct flights not guaranteed)

Bitte beachten Sie: Gäste, die ihre eigenen Flüge buchen (unabhängig von der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft), sind dafür verantwortlich, dass sie der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft die aktualisierten Abreiseinformationen mitteilen, sodass der Transfer arrangiert werden kann. Wenn Sie unabhängig von der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft weitere Nächte buchen, kann bei Anreise kein Transfer bereitgestellt werden. Wenn wir nicht bis mindestens 14 Tage im Voraus Ihre Flugdaten erhalten, werden keine Transfers bereitgestellt.

Nicht im Programm enthalten:

•Beverages with alcohol on the tours

•Gratuities for guides and drivers

• Persönliche Ausgaben

• Alle Mahlzeiten, die nicht oben angegeben sind

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar, room service and laundry

•Excess or overweight luggage on the flights

•Hot air balloon ride (guest may speak to their guide during the program regarding this option)

Hinweis: Mehrtägige Landausflüge umfassen in der Regel ausgedehnte und längere Unternehmungen, während kürzere Ausflüge ein moderateres Programm bieten. Alle Programme sind jedoch verschieden, und die Teilnehmer sollten sich auf unterschiedlichen Untergrund einstellen, z. B.: Steigungen, Kopfsteinpflaster, Sand, Kies oder naturbelassene Wege. Gelegentlich wird auch Treppensteigen verlangt. Rollstuhlfahrer und Gäste mit eingeschränkter Mobilität wenden sich bitte im Voraus an die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft und erkundigen sich, ob die gewünschten Ausflüge ganz oder nur teilweise für ihre individuelle Situation geeignet sind. Dem Wetter angemessene Kleidung, Kopfbedeckung, Sonnenbrille und flache, bequeme Wanderschuhe werden generell empfohlen.

Hinweis: Alle Programme an Land sind beschränkt und gelten vorbehaltlich der Verfügbarkeit. Programme, bei denen nicht die Mindestanzahl an erforderlichen Teilnehmern erreicht wird, können gestrichen werden. Die aufgelisteten Preise unterliegen Änderungen aufgrund von unerwartet eintretenden Kostensteigerungen für Transport, Landprogramme und Währungsschwankungen. Einmal erworben, ist der Preis garantiert und unterliegt keinen weiteren Änderungen. Landprogramme sind spätestens 90 Tage vor dem Start der Kreuzfahrt zu buchen. Stornierungen, die 90 Tage oder weniger vor dem Abfahrtsdatum erfolgen, unterliegen einer Stornogebühr von 100 %. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Gäste, die nicht wie vereinbart an Tag 1 eines geplanten Landprogramms erscheinen, zählen als „Nicht erschienen“. Ihr Platz im Hotel wird dann freigegeben.

Preis: 2.199 $ pro Gast bei Doppelbelegung.

Die KOSTENLOSE Übernachtung vor der Kreuzfahrt in einem Luxushotel kann nicht mit dem Hotel- und Landprogramm kombiniert werden. Sofern zutreffend, wenden Sie sich an Regent Seven Seas Cruises oder unser Reisebüro, um Informationen zu den Preisen für mehrere Übernachtungen in einem Hotel vor der Kreuzfahrt zu erhalten. Sonderangebote für Landprogramme unterliegen den Geschäftsbedingungen.

Experience the joys of Istanbul with visits to some of the most memorable landmarks of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires including The Palace of Porphyrogenitus, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, the underground cistern and Topkapi Palace to name a few. Also enjoy a sunset cruise along the legendary Bosphorus and ample time in the evenings to enjoy the culinary delights of Turkey at your leisure. Your Club Access room at the Ritz Carlton includes the service of a dedicated Concierge who can assist you in planning your evenings.

HINWEIS: Due to the amount of walking during the day tours, at times over uneven natural ground and /or steps, this program is not recommended for guests who have walking or mobility difficulties or for those guests who rely on a wheelchair or scooter. Guests also must be able to get in and out of the tour coaches with little to no assistance. The Underground Cistern and St. Sophia Museum both include many steps and/or inclines and are not suitable for wheelchair access.

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Arrive at the airport in Istanbul (Istanbul Grand Airport or IGA) and transfer to the hotel. Check-in time is 14:00 Uhr, leaving the remainder of the day to do as you please.

Depending on the time of your arrival, you might shop or dine nearby before spending the evening at the hotel.

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Enjoy breakfast at your hotel either in the restaurant or the Club Lounge and then meet your guide in the lobby for a tour that will concentrate on the Byzantine history of this unique city.

Your first visit will be to the oldest settled areas of the city located around the Golden Horn. Visit Tekfur Palace, The Palace of Porphyrogenitus. This palace served as part of the Blachernae palace complex which was often used by Byzantine emperors starting from the 12th century. As of the 16th century, the building was later named by Europeans as the Great Palace of Constantinople (Palatium Constantini), and later on as the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus. Today it has been restored and serves as a museum.

Proceed next to Pantokrator Monastery which is located on the fourth hill of Constantinople overlooking the Golden Horn. Originally serving as a large monastic complex with a hospital, it was eventually converted into a mosque following the conquest of Istanbul and today it serves as Molla Zeyrek Mosque.

Pass through one of the largest markets in the city called the “Women’s Market” in order to reach the tour coach. From here it’s a short drive to Chora Church which is the second most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul, famous for its magnificent frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible.

Recently renovated, it is now open to the public as a mosque and a museum.

Lunch will be taken at a popular restaurant in the old city.

After lunch proceed to the Hippodrome which has been partially excavated to reveal some of the seats, columns, statues and obelisks that were once part of the arena. Chariot races, coronations and parades all took place at the Hippodrome, which first appeared in 203 A.D. About 130 years later, Constantine the Great expanded and reshaped the arena so it could hold approximately 100.000 spectators.

Your next visit will be at the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church and Ottoman mosque that is now converted to both a mosque and a museum. Although the earliest two versions were destroyed, this Hagia Sophia dates from 537 A.D., and is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It served as Istanbul’s principal mosque for nearly 500 years and became the model for the Blue Mosque.

No visit to Istanbul would be complete without viewing the famous Underground Cistern. This giant reservoir used to supply water to the city for many centuries.

Your final stop for the day will be at the Spice Market, a locale so energetic and bustling that it’s difficult to know where to look first. Aromas waft through the air, the cacophonous sounds are constant, and it’s always crowded with shoppers haggling for the best possible prices. In a word, it’s wonderful.

At the end of the tour, return to your hotel where dinner and the remainder of the day are at your leisure.

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Enjoy breakfast at your hotel either in the restaurant or the Club Lounge and then meet your guide in the lobby for a tour of discovering the Ottoman highlights of Istanbul.

Being the day with a visit to the incredible Blue Mosque. This is one of the few mosques with six minarets. It was constructed in the early 17th century under the direction of Sultan Ahmet I, who was only 19 years old at the time. The exterior of the mosque is notable for its cascade of domes that seem to spill down from the central dome. Inside, the ceiling is lined with 20.000 blue tiles for which the mosque is so aptly named.

Next you will visit the 15th Century Topkapi Palace, which was expanded under the reign of almost every sultan over the course of four hundred years. Today, it’s a maze of lavishly decorated buildings and courtyards that reflect its most glorious years as the political center of the Ottoman Empire. Time permitting, you will also have the opportunity to visit the Harem section of the Palace that has been the subject of many novels and stories.

Lunch will be enjoyed at a typical local restaurant that serves samples of both Ottoman and Turkish cuisine.

After lunch, enjoy an opportunity to browse through the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and the oldest covered marketplace. It contains more than 5.000 shops selling an amazing range of merchandise. Jewelry, carpets, antiques, old coins, furniture, prayer beads and copperware are only a few of the items in the bazaar, which has been operating since the 15th century. Brush up on your bargaining skills for this visit!

Return to your hotel for some time to freshen up and relax before departing for a leisurely sunset cruise on the Bosphorus, the famed strait that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and perhaps even more important serves as a boundary between Europe to the west and Asia to the east. Passing palaces, wooden mansions and even modern villas along the way, you will experience Istanbul from an entirely different perspective, one you’ll not soon forget. Along the way, enjoy local drinks and light canapés on the boat. (Hinweis: boat may not be exclusive to the group)

Zurück im Hotel steht Ihnen der Rest des Tages zur freien Verfügung. Ihr Dinner organisieren Sie in Eigenregie.

Tag 4:

On this last day in Istanbul, you will discover the Asian portion of Istanbul. After breakfast and check-out (don’t forget to settle and incidentals), meet your guide and begin your tour.

Cross over from Europe to Asia via the shortest way in the world, the first bridge over the Bosphorus. On the Asian side, you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer palace of the Ottoman Sultans.

You will have time to stroll at the waterfront and then continue to visit Kuzguncuk, one of the oldest residential areas of the city on the Asian shores. This is the place where Turks, Armenians and Greeks lived in harmony for many years.

At the conclusion of your tour, you will drive to the pier, bid your guide farewell and embark the ship.

Landprogramm – Schritt für Schritt

• Die Reihenfolge der besuchten Sehenswürdigkeiten kann abweichen, um Verkehrsstaus zu vermeiden. Die angegebenen Zeiten sind nur Richtwerte und dienen an dieser Stelle nur Informationszwecken. Änderungen vorbehalten.

• Reiserouten mit den aktuellsten Details werden ausgestellt, wenn Sie Ihre endgültigen Kreuzfahrtunterlagen 21 Tage vor der Kreuzfahrt per E-Mail erhalten. Bei Ankunft in Ihrem Hotel erhalten Sie eine finale Reiseroute von unserem Betreiber vor Ort mit einem Willkommensbrief. Bitte sehen Sie sich den Brief und die finale Reiseroute genau an, falls weitere Änderungen vorgenommen wurden.

• Die Hotels, die in Ihrem Landprogramm enthalten sind, entsprechen den Hotels in diesem Dokument, falls Sie vor Beginn des Landprogramms keine anderen Informationen erhalten haben.

• Gäste, die nicht wie vereinbart an Tag 1 eines geplanten Landprogramms erscheinen, zählen als „Nicht erschienen“. Ihr Platz im Hotel wird dann freigegeben.

Zusätzliche Übernachtungen

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

• Sollten Sie Extraübernachtungen über die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft buchen, holen wir Sie Ihren Flugzeiten entsprechend ab und bringen Sie zum Hotel. Check-in ist um 14:00 Uhr (Änderungen vorbehalten). Mahlzeiten außer dem Frühstück sowie Aktivitäten organisieren Sie bis zum 2. Tag des Programms in Eigenregie.

• Wenn Sie einen frühen Flug gebucht haben, empfehlen wir, eine zusätzliche Übernachtung zu buchen, da Ihr Zimmer nicht vor 14:00 Uhr bezugsfertig sein wird.

• Wenn Sie zusätzliche Übernachtungen selbst buchen, ist der Transfer nicht inbegriffen.

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Fly into the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA)

You are met and transferred to your hotel

14:00 Uhr Check-in time at the hotel

Early check-in is not guaranteed without an extra night booked

Der Rest des Tages steht zu Ihrer freien Verfügung

Meals are on your own today – see the Club Room for complimentary options

Overnight at the Ritz Carlton or similar hotel

Abholung und Transfer

• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you cannot locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the program representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Upon arrival, claim luggage, clear through customs, and proceed to the arrival hall of the terminal (porters and trolleys are available inside the luggage claim area)

•From this point, follow the airport’s signs to EXIT GATE NUMBER 8 and go outside the terminal building.

•Local ground staff will be waiting outside, in front of exit gate 8 with logo signs – they are not permitted inside with signs.

• Abholung und Transfer werden für Gäste organisiert, die am ersten Tag des Landprogramms anreisen oder wenn zusätzliche Übernachtungen über die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft gebucht werden. Die Abholung erfolgt entsprechend den Flugdaten, die Gäste bitte mindestens 14 Tage vor Beginn der Kreuzfahrt einsenden. Gäste, die vor Beginn der Reise in Eigenregie anreisen, erhalten keinen Transfer.

• Sollten wir Ihre Flugdaten nicht erhalten haben oder sich Ihre Flüge ändern, ohne dass das Destination Services Team an Land darüber informiert wurde, können wir keinen Transfer bereitstellen. Gäste müssen in diesem Fall auf eigene Kosten zum Hotel des Landprogramms reisen. Bitte kontaktieren Sie umgehend die Reservierungsabteilung, sollten sich vor der Abreise Flugdaten ändern.

TAG 2

AM Breakfast in the hotel restaurant or the Club Lounge

08:30 Uhr Depart for an orientation tour of Istanbul

09:45 Uhr Visit Tekfur Palace

10:45 Uhr Visit Zeyrek Mosque and Women’s Market

12:00 Uhr Visit Chora Mosque

13:15 Uhr Lunch at a local restaurant

14:30 Uhr Visit the Hippodrome and St. Sophia

15:45 Uhr Visit the Underground Cistern

16:45 Uhr Visit the Spice Market

18:15 Uhr Return to your hotel

The evening is at leisure, dinner on own

Overnight at the Ritz -Carlton Hotel or similar hotel

TAG 3

AM Breakfast in the hotel restaurant or the Club Lounge

08:30 Uhr Depart for a visit of the Blue Mosque

10:15 Uhr Visit Topkapi Palace (Harem section visited if time allows)

12:30 Uhr Lunch at a local restaurant

14:00 Uhr Visit the Grand Bazaar

16:30 Uhr Arrive back at the hotel to freshen up before evening activity

Perhaps grab a bite to eat from the Club Lounge

19:00 Uhr Sunset cruise on the Bosphorus

19:15 Uhr Cruise on the Bosphorus with drinks and canapes

21:30 Uhr Return to the hotel

Overnight at the Ritz Carlton or similar hotel

TAG 4

AM Breakfast in the hotel restaurant or the Club Lounge

08:30 Uhr Depart for and visit Beylerbeyi Palace

10:30 Uhr Free time at Beylerbeyi waterfront and photo stop

11:15 Uhr Visit Kuzguncuk

12:00 Uhr Orientation drive on the Asian side

13:30 Uhr Arrive at the port for embarkation

Operational Note

Museums are closed on certain days in Istanbul and substitutions will apply as follows:

•Topkapi Palace - closed on Tuesdays, replaced with Beylerbeyi Palace

•Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Zeyrek Mosque and Chora Mosques are closed on Fridays until 14:00 Uhr. If the program falls on a Friday, the order of the sites visited will be changed to make sure all visits are possible

•Grand Bazaar - closed on Sundays (no substitution will be made)

•All sites and museums are closed until 14:00 Uhr on the first day of the Religious Holidays; Grand Bazaar and Spice Market will remain closed throughout the Religious Holidays.

Should sites be closed on a day that you are scheduled to visit, alternate sites will be visited and if possible, the original site will be seen on the other day. Our local operator will do their utmost to ensure that you see all the sites listed in this itinerary and when necessary, make appropriate substitutions. There may be times when a replacement site is not possible. This itinerary is to be used as a sample and guests should refer to their emailed Final Cruise Documents received approximately 21 days before sailing for their actual itinerary based on these factors.

Voraussichtliches Wetter:

Summers are hot and humid with temperatures averaging 25-30C (78-88F) from June to August, occasionally rising beyond 35C (104F).

Average temperatures:

April - ranges from a high of 62°F (16°C) to a low of 48°F (9°C).

May - ranges from a high of 70°F (21°C) to a low of 57°F (14°C).

October - ranges from a high of 68°F (20°C) to a low of 58°F (14°C).

Was Sie mitbringen sollten:

The program is casual throughout. Bring good walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, camera, charger, light sweater or jacket for cooler mornings or evenings, ladies - headscarf

Clothing Note: There is a strict dress code at all the mosques and churches in Istanbul. Ladies will be required to cover their heads; no shorts above knee length; tank tops and sleeveless shirts are not permitted for both males and females. Shoes will need to be taken off when visiting mosques; bags will be provided for the shoes.

Währung:

Turkish Lira

Euro and USD can be used in most tourist shops but the exchange rate may not be favorable

Stromspannung:

220 Volts AC/50 Hz. throughout Turkey. We recommend brining a travel adaptor should you have any electric devices

Unterkunft:

RITZ-CARLTON ISTANBUL

Suzer Plaza Askerocagi Caddessi, Elmadag Cd. No:6, 34367 Sisli/Istanbul, Türkiye

Telefon: +90 212 334 44 44

We will only source different hotels in unforeseen circumstances. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and guests would be notified in advance of travel. If guests are not notified prior to travel of any changes, then the hotel listed above will be used.

Im Programm enthalten:

•Three nights at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul (Partial Sea View room with club amenities)

• Transfers

•Tours and entrances per the itinerary

•Two lunches with soft drinks included

•Sunset cruise with limited local drinks and canapés

Private Club Access Includes:

•Dedicated check-in just for Club guests in the Club Lounge

•Throughout your stay the Club Lounge serves as your private retreat – open 7am-10pm

•A dedicated Concierge is at your service to ensure a seamless and memorable stay; whether you need assistance with dining reservations, arranging transportation or planning personalized experiences around Istanbul

•Delight in an array of exquisite culinary offerings presented five times a day in the Club Lounge including a selection of wines, liqueurs, beer, spirits and non-alcohol beverages during set times

•Complimentary laundry (2 items per day)

•Discount on spa services

•Additional amenities will be available in your room

Bitte beachten Sie: Gäste, die ihre eigenen Flüge buchen (unabhängig von der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft), sind dafür verantwortlich, dass sie der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft die aktualisierten Abreiseinformationen mitteilen, sodass der Transfer arrangiert werden kann. Wenn Sie unabhängig von der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft weitere Nächte buchen, kann bei Anreise kein Transfer bereitgestellt werden. Wenn wir nicht bis mindestens 14 Tage im Voraus Ihre Flugdaten erhalten, werden keine Transfers bereitgestellt.

Nicht enthalten:

•Gratuities for guides and drivers

•Hotel incidentals including room service, mini bar and laundry

•Meals and beverages not listed above including beverages with alcohol

Hinweis: Mehrtägige Landausflüge umfassen in der Regel ausgedehnte und längere Unternehmungen, während kürzere Ausflüge ein moderateres Programm bieten. Alle Programme sind jedoch verschieden, und die Teilnehmer sollten sich auf unterschiedliche Straßen- und Wegeverhältnisse einstellen, z. B.: Steigungen, Kopfsteinpflaster, Sand und Kies oder unbefestigte Wege. Gelegentlich wird auch Treppensteigen verlangt. Rollstuhlfahrer und Gäste mit eingeschränkter Mobilität wenden sich bitte im Voraus an die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft und erkundigen sich, ob die gewünschten Ausflüge ganz oder nur teilweise für ihre individuelle Situation geeignet sind. Dem Wetter angemessene Kleidung, Kopfbedeckung, Sonnenbrille und flache, bequeme Wanderschuhe werden generell empfohlen.

Hinweis: Alle Programme an Land sind beschränkt und gelten vorbehaltlich der Verfügbarkeit. Programme, bei denen nicht die Mindestanzahl an erforderlichen Teilnehmern erreicht wird, können gestrichen werden. Die aufgelisteten Preise unterliegen Änderungen aufgrund von unerwartet eintretenden Kostensteigerungen für Transport, Landprogramme und Währungsschwankungen. Einmal erworben, ist der Preis garantiert und unterliegt keinen weiteren Änderungen. Landprogramme sind spätestens 90 Tage vor dem Start der Kreuzfahrt zu buchen. Stornierungen, die 90 Tage oder weniger vor dem Abfahrtsdatum erfolgen, unterliegen einer Stornogebühr von 100 %. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Gäste, die nicht wie vereinbart an Tag 1 eines geplanten Landprogramms erscheinen, zählen als „Nicht erschienen“. Ihr Platz im Hotel wird dann freigegeben.

Preis: 2.199 $ pro Gast bei Doppelbelegung.

Die KOSTENLOSE Übernachtung vor der Kreuzfahrt in einem Luxushotel kann nicht mit dem Hotel- und Landprogramm kombiniert werden. Sofern zutreffend, wenden Sie sich an Regent Seven Seas Cruises oder unser Reisebüro, um Informationen zu den Preisen für mehrere Übernachtungen in einem Hotel vor der Kreuzfahrt zu erhalten. Sonderangebote für Landprogramme unterliegen den Geschäftsbedingungen.