Getting ashore
Istanbul is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Istanbul, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
Türkiye
Cruises from Istanbul
Istanbul is a major embarkation gateway with moderate cruise traffic, typically mid-size ships, and departures throughout the year, but concentrated in May and October.
Usually docks
Moderate traffic
Cruises start or end here
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Istanbul
How much time will you have?
About 13h is typical
Most cruises spend 11h to 18h in Istanbul, which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Istanbul get?
Some dates are noticeably busier than others.
Multiple ships are in port on roughly 30% of days, so the exact date can change the port experience considerably.
- Typical day: ~5,550 passengers
- Busy day: 16,350+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 30% of days
When to cruise from Istanbul
Cruises depart throughout the year, with the busiest season from May and October.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Departures
12
5
15
13
26
16
20
19
17
30
19
12
Price/night
$104
$78
$101
$147
$179
$189
$204
$213
$598
$293
$104
$85
↑
Cheapest
↑
Priciest
Check your date
November 2026
Jump
Better value
Pricier
Sailings
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Istanbul fits into a cruise
Cruises from Istanbul most commonly head into Greek Isles itineraries, often starting with Corfu (Kérkira) and Mykonos .
Commonly arrives from
Istanbul
Commonly continues to
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Istanbul typically carry around 2,106 guests, with Aroya, MSC Splendida, and Costa Pacifica calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 Aroya 90 calls
- 2 MSC Splendida 84 calls
- 3 Costa Pacifica 64 calls
- 4 MSC Orchestra 49 calls
- 5 MSC Lirica 27 calls
- 6 Seabourn Ovation 27 calls
Next port calls
Nov 2 Seven Seas Voyager · Silver Spirit
Nov 3 Seven Seas Voyager · Silver Spirit
Nov 4 MSC Orchestra · MSC Fantasia
Nov 6 Explora II
Nov 7 Aroya
Best current deals from Istanbul
These departures currently offer some of the best prices for comparable sailings.
Seabourn Ovation
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Piran → Fusina (Venice)
May 29, 2027 · 15 nights
$16,718 suite · $1,115/night
43% below typical · 3-month low
Seabourn Ovation
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Sorrento → Civitavecchia (Rome)
May 29, 2027 · 23 nights
$23,398 suite · $1,017/night
48% below typical · 3-month low
Seven Seas Mariner
Istanbul → Rhodes → Alexandria → Piraeus (Athens)
Sep 30, 2027 · 10 nights
$10,099 suite · $1,010/night
26% below typical · 3-month low
Seabourn Ovation
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Santorini → Piraeus (Athens)
Oct 23, 2027 · 7 nights
$7,098 suite · $1,014/night
48% below typical · 3-month low
Seabourn Ovation
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Santorini → Piraeus (Athens)
May 13, 2028 · 7 nights
$7,998 suite · $1,143/night
45% below typical · 3-month low
Seabourn Ovation
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Sorrento → Civitavecchia (Rome)
May 13, 2028 · 21 nights
$18,998 suite · $905/night
44% below typical · 3-month lowCruise routes from Istanbul
Adriatic Sea · Greek Isles
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Volos + 17 more
23 nights · Next May 29
From $23,398 suite · $1,017/night
Best departure: 48% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Greek Isles · Eastern Mediterranean
Çanakkale → Volos → Pátmos + 2 more
7 nights · Next May 29
From $6,998 suite · $1,000/night
Best departure: 48% below typical
3 upcoming departures · 1 ship
Greek Isles · Adriatic Sea
Çanakkale → Volos → Pátmos + 9 more
15 nights · Next May 29
From $16,718 suite · $1,115/night
Best departure: 43% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Eastern Mediterranean · Greek Isles
Rhodes → Limassol → Haifa + 2 more
10 nights · Next Sep 30
From $10,099 suite · $1,010/night
Best departure: 26% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Adriatic Sea · Greek Isles
Istanbul → Çanakkale → Volos + 16 more
Next Aug 21
From $20,398 suite · $971/night
Best departure: 39% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Greek Isles · Adriatic Sea
Çanakkale → Volos → Pátmos + 8 more
14 nights · Next Aug 21
From $12,458 suite · $890/night
Best departure: 40% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
FAQ about cruises from Istanbul
What is the cheapest month to cruise from Istanbul?
February currently has the lowest median nightly fares from Istanbul.
When do cruises from Istanbul usually get expensive?
September is currently the priciest month for upcoming departures from Istanbul.
What itineraries are most common from Istanbul?
The most common upcoming itinerary families from Istanbul include Adriatic Sea Circuit via Çanakkale, Vólos & Kotor, Greek Isles One-Way via Çanakkale & Vólos, and Greek Isles One-Way: Çanakkale, Volos & Kotor.
How far in advance should I book a cruise from Istanbul?
Start tracking cruises from Istanbul early, then book when a sailing moves below its typical range or hits a new recent low.
Price alerts
Track cruise prices →
Get alerted when fares drop on cruises from Istanbul, then come back to the calendar and deal cards when the numbers move in your favor.