Bosphorus Cruise & Turkish Night Show — Local services in Beyoğlu

Overall the worst new year's eve experience I've ever had. Where to start...

First, we booked on their website a Standard Private Table for 6 people (as opposed to a Standard Sharing Table, which was cheaper) for new year's eve. When we boarded the boat, it was clear at first sight that everything was very poorly managed and organized. We gave our name, and they took us inside. They first showed us a shared table with 4 seats, and told us to sit here. We told them that we had booked a table for 6 people. You would assume these are pre-assigned, right? Well apparently not. They then asked us to wait, came back a few minutes later and showed us two tables squeezed between other people. We were visibly confused, as we booked a private table, which we explained, again. They told us once again to wait, which we did for about 10', when what appeared to be a manager arrived. She told us that these ARE the private tables, and she wasn't able to explain to us the difference between this and the "Standard Sharing Table" option. In the end we just gave up as what mattered is that all 6 of us were sitting together. We ended up sitting next to another group of 6 people who were in the exact same situation, and who were also quite pissed, especially since they barely had any space to get out, as all tables were very crammed together.

Then, the food... As two people in our group are lactose intolerant, we asked, BEFORE BOOKING, if two vegan or lactose-free meals can be accommodated. They told us there was no problem, and that they would write it down and get them appropriate menus. As we sat at "our" table, we saw that about half of the starter plates consisted of yogurt-base food. We went to a waiter and told him that we asked for two vegan/lactose-free meals and he told us that for the starter the only solution is simply not to eat the things with yogurt (so half the plate). Not ideal so we're not super happy. We asked about the main course and he said that there is no alternative, they'll just give them the plate without the meat... Not wanting to make a fuss and since they had clearly not planned anything, we gave up about that as well, since it would just be a waste of time. When the waiter arrived, he served one vegetarian plate (which was essentially plain rice, green salad without dressing and tasteless pasta). We naturally asked about the second plate, and he had the nerve to tell us that we only asked for one so it's our fault there is only one! We said MANY TIMES two plates, we had even shown him the message AND the two people concerned at the table. But wait, this is not the best part yet... They started serving the main dish around 22:15. It took them more than an hour and a half to serve everyone, we got our food around 23:45, so we barely had time to eat anything before needing to head out to see the fireworks. When we came back, around 00:10, we realized they'd taken all our plates! Including two that were completely untouched, as two of us went around 23:40 in the line for the toilet (see below).

So yes, finally, the toilets... There was one (one!) men toilet open for 800 guests on the boat. There was another one which was locked, and even after many people asked the staff to open it, they did not, without explaining why. This means there was at all time a 25 people line in a tiny outside space, and the waiting time was about 20'.

In summary, the experience was atrocious and essentially a scam. I can't believe we paid 1020€ for this. Not a single group around our table was happy with the cruise. Avoid this company at all costs. There are enough other...

Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Money

We had high expectations for our evening on the Golden Bosphorus boat with Bosphorus Cruising Istanbul, having paid for a VIP package that simply didn’t exist. We were seated in a supposedly premium area, yet people constantly stood in front of our table during the performances, completely blocking the view.

Despite booking the alcohol package, we weren’t allowed any drinks until 9pm — nearly 45 minutes after boarding at 8:15pm. It would have made far more sense for the cruise to depart earlier so that guests could enjoy the sunset and scenic views. Instead, we missed all of that and were left with dirty windows that made taking any decent photos from inside impossible.

The atmosphere felt chaotic and profit-driven. Waiters were already hinting for tips early on, even though they forgot our drinks multiple times. Performers barely smiled and felt more like amateurs than professionals. The persistent photographers were intrusive and frankly a nuisance.

Facilities were also poor. The toilets were dirty with no toilet paper, and stepping outside meant walking into a thick cloud of cigarette smoke. Tables were so tightly packed that we had to ask others to move just to get out of our seats.

The biggest letdown was the food. A dry, hard bread roll in a plastic wrapper, starters that had clearly been sat out too long and were drying out, a barely passable main course, and a dessert that amounted to a single bite of pastry. It was far from the quality promised or expected for the price.

All in all, the entire experience felt like a tourist trap — more focused on upselling and cutting corners than delivering a memorable or enjoyable evening. I wouldn’t...

A Cruise to Forget: Overcrowded, Obstructed Views, and Overwhelming Discomfort Where do I even begin with this cruise? From the moment we stepped onboard, it felt like we were crammed into a tin can. The ship was unbelievably overloaded; navigating the decks was a constant battle against a sea of people. Forget about leisurely strolls or finding a quiet corner – personal space was a luxury that simply didn't exist. This overcrowding had a direct and incredibly frustrating impact on the entertainment. When we tried to watch a show, the view was completely obstructed by everyone standing. It was impossible to see the stage, making the whole experience pointless. Why even offer entertainment if the majority of passengers can't enjoy it? Adding to the discomfort was the pervasive smell of engine smoke. It hung in the air in certain areas, making it difficult to breathe and certainly not conducive to a relaxing vacation atmosphere. It felt grimy and unpleasant. To top it all off, the food was decidedly average. Nothing stood out, and it certainly didn't compensate for the other significant shortcomings of the trip. This cruise was far from the relaxing getaway I had hoped for. Instead, it was an exercise in frustration and discomfort. I left feeling more stressed than when I arrived. Save your money and your precious vacation time – steer clear of this cruise line. It was, without a doubt, the worst cruise...