Imagine waking up to the soothing roll of the Mediterranean sea and the lapping of water against a teak hull. Your vessel is underway and you are heading to one of Turkey’s lesser known coves to dive into the impossibly clear water and while away a few hours on a white sandy beach. OK, so maybe the kids would have woken you up before the call of the sea. But after that first refreshing Turkish coffee on deck the rest of this day dream could be a reality during a family gulet cruise in Turkey.
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This is the image that has been running through my mind since I was contacted by yacht charter company Turkey Luxury Gulet who introduced me to their luxury Turkish gulet cruises and how they are an epic option for a sailing holidays in Turkey. Here’s everything you need to know about booking a family gulet cruise in Turkey.
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What is a gulet cruise?
A gulet is a traditional two or three masted wooden sailing vessel. They come in all shapes and sizes but they are generally between 20 and 30 meters in length. A gulet cruise gives you the chance to experience sailing through the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean in one of these beautiful Turkish yachts while a crew does all the hard work.
We love holidays on cruise ships and have been on two cruises with kids. The experience of being at sea and exploring new places each day are two of the highlights for us.
But we are very much restricted to the ship’s pre-planned itinerary. I haven’t found a cruise itinerary yet where I wouldn’t like to switch a port or spend longer in a particular destination.
A gulet cruise gives you the option to tailor make you cruise holiday, so you can indulge in the places or activities that interest you most. Sounds brilliant, right?
Can you do a gulet cruise with kids?
Yes! There’s no minimum age for children to go on a gulet cruise. And, with a crew looking after the running of the yacht, you are free to pack in as much quality family time as possible while sailing from place to place.
I can imagine plenty of relaxing on deck, board games and playing eye spy with my girls before hitting the beach or teaching them to snorkel.
Gulet cruise in Turkey – how to find the right one for you
Turkey Luxury Gulet offer gulet cruises around Turkey leaving from the ports of Bodrum, Gocek, Marmaris and Fethiye. They inspect every one of the private gulets in their fleet and offer a personalised concierge service to match you with the best yacht and itinerary.
After finding out all about their services and the care they take to make sure their guests have a brilliant time, they would be my first port of call (pun intended) for booking family sailing holidays in Turkey.
Each of the gulets available through Turkey Luxury Gulet is air conditioned, and each cabin comes with its own shower and toilet. There’s plenty of deck space for sun bathing or reading a book – if you get the chance with young kids – or for admiring the view while you are sailing.
Turkey gulet holiday packages
Included in the price of your holiday with Turkey Luxury Gulet is your gulet and your expert crew for the week. You also get the personal attention of the Turkey Luxury Gulet concierge team to help you plan your itinerary and any extras you’d like to include to make your cruise the best holiday ever.
You can add the services of a chef to your gulet cruise holiday package. This costs around €280 per person for a week’s full board.
You can add drinks to this, which you pay at the market price so there’s no hidden charge if you fancy sundowners at sea. Regular cruisers can breathe a sigh of relief that there’s no need to buy an expensive drinks package on this cruise!
If you fancy finding out the type of dishes your private chef will be cooking up onboard this is a sample menu. Be warned; it is sure to set your mouth watering. Of course, if you have fussy eaters or any special dietary requirements your chef is there to cater for your specific needs.
While you are hopping from one Mediterranean port to another you have the option to go on excursions to ancient sites and take part in activities on and off the water.
Kayaking, canoeing, water skiing and snorkelling are all possible from your gulet as many come with a range of equipment for water sports.
You can also arrange to visit the thermal springs of Pamukkale, visit the ancient city of Ephesus or go white water rafting on the Dalaman River. There are so many opportunities to explore Turkey’s history and culture during your cruise that one week might not be enough.
Of course, the very best thing about chartering your own yacht is that you can plan in stops at remote beaches, stroll around picturesque harbour towns at your leisure, and simply dive off your gulet into the crystal clear waters around tiny islands if the mood takes you.
As a mum of two young children, being able to plan an itinerary that will work for us and take a chilled out approach to some days while exploring on others is absolutely ideal. Gulet cruises offer slow family travel at its best.
From the moment you set foot on your yacht, everything can be catered for and arranged just as you want it. The only thing you can’t book through Turkey Luxury Gulet is your flights.
I can recommend checking out Skyscanner* to find the best flight options from whichever part of the UK you are travelling. The best Turkish airports to fly to are Bodrum and Dalaman. The majority of luxury Turkish gulet holidays sail out of Bodrum.
How much does a gulet cruise cost?
How long is a piece of string? There really are gulets for all budgets ranging from vessels designed for four guests costing from €4,200 for a week in the school holidays to super yacht style gulets designed for up to 12 guests that you can book from €136,000 per week.
Turkey Luxury Gulet have standard, luxury and deluxe grade gulets, and can help you find the best option for your family and within your budget.
Here’s a few options that straddle the budget spectrum to whet your cruise whistle – they all look incredible and would be perfect for family breaks or sharing with a larger family group or friends.
Dare to Dream
This 18 meter gulet has two cabins for up to four guests. Charter prices begin at €6,300 – that’s €1,575 per person for a seven day, personalised sailing holiday in Turkey. Find out more about Dare to Dream.
Double Eagle
Double Eagle is 39 meters in length and comes with five cabins for 12 guests – perfect for a super special getaway with a large group of friends. Prices for a week charter start at €28,000. Find out more about Double Eagle.
Daima
This 42.5 meter yacht is billed as one of the most luxurious in the world. It comes with five cabins for up to 10 guests, so could accommodate a large family holiday. Prices start at €65,000 for a week’s charter. Find out more about Daima.
All About U
OK, so you might want to buy a lottery ticket before you book this one, but we can all dream, right? All About U is “one of the most luxurious gulet yachts in the Mediterranean Sea” according to Turkey Luxury Gulet and it’s their top pf the range vessel to book in Turkey. It measures 50 meters, has six cabins and can accommodate 12 guests. Charter prices for this Turkish gulet start at a cool €136,000 per week.
I’m now day dreaming about the next special family occasion that we can use as an excuse to charter a gulet cruise for the family!
So, does a family gulet cruise in Turkey take your fancy? If you’d like to find out more then get in touch with Turkey Luxury Gulet who will be happy to talk you through their luxury Turkish gulet holidays.
Disclosure: this post has been written with Turkey Luxury Gulet. This post also contains affiliate links marked with *. This means if you click and make a purchase I may earn some commission. This does not affect the price you pay.
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