Transfers Port to Istanbul Airport

The last time we sailed with Seabourn they kindly provided us with a free transfer to Istanbul airport which also included a city tour of Istanbul and lunch (our flight wasn't until 5pm) at the end of out cruise. At the end of July we disembark the Odyssey in Istanbul once again and wondered whether this service was still available? It wasn't advertised, in fact there was a charge for the service if booked in advance it just seemed to 'appear' on the disembarkation documentation! Any advice as to whether we can expect this again before I book a transfer would be very much appreciated.

not sure about a freebie from sb ,we did not get one but its a quick ride 30 min to the airport and an easy airport to leave from .

Seabourn seem to be offering airport transfers which include an excursion at most disembarkation ports now. They tend to work on getting pax to the airport around 2:00pm. We have found these good value in that, in the absence of the excursion, you have half a day to fill in with luggage in tow. And you have to pay for a cab fare anyway. Haven't done the Istanbul excursion, but used it in Copenhagen and Monaco (tour of Eze and Nice). Even though we had been to both cities before we found the excursion to be well done and interesting. We will be ending up in Copenhagen again in May so will probably take the same tour again as an airport transfer.

Seabourn certainly include transfers to airports if you have bought their flights and transfers, but I am surprised if this transfer was free otherwise.

The most recent arrangement, if you have purchased flights, is to take you straight to the airport for a flight before about 1 or 2 p.m., to take you to a hotel for lunch for a flight after 3 p.m., and to give you a hotel dayroom (but no lunch) for a flight after 6 p.m. With the appropriate transfers, of course. We have had three very nice lunches in recent years, one in Rome and 2 different ones in Barcelona.

I wonder if the OP could say whether or not they had done the flights through Seabourn?

I think flights through Seabourn only really work for US residents. Not offered in our part of the world.

I would guess not in Australia, probably. However, they work fine in the UK, normally with BA, certainly if you are staying within Europe. No doubt you can do it cheaper yourself, especially if you have air miles, but it does save on 'paperwork', and you are far more certain of the land side greeters making sure you are met and taken to the ship in time. Normally, when we cruise with SB flights, there can be anything from 4 to about 20 people in the group taken to the ship.

Many thanks everyone.

We organised our own flights out as we wanted to 1. fly from Manchester and 2. stay in Athens overnight and looking at our old invoice we must have booked flights back with Seabourn hence the free transfer and tour. Hey ho it's a fairly quick transfer so I will pre-book. Any recommendations for a good transfer company who will be able to accomodate a very large suitcase (there are 3 of us on this cruise - me, my beloved husband and his even more beloved mountain bike!!!) :D:D

I don't know if I am allowed to give the name of the Taxi company on here, so I will say it was a very Safe taxi service.

I see that you have been to Istanbul before, but I don't know how long ago. The first time we disembarked a cruise in Istanbul, the terminal was a very ancient building which accessed right onto the street and the busses were waiting for us right there. Like you we had Seabourn Flights and transfers.

We were in Istanbul again(not with Seabourn) last year and that building is no longer in use. We arranged our own transfer with two other guests. The dockside is, .....how can I put this diplomatically?,..... chaotic. We disembarked the ship in good time, but found a very long queue waiting for passport control. (there were 1200 guests as opposed to SB 450). Only the official cruise transfer busses were allowed dockside, so the taxi driver was waiting outside with a board with our names on it. Initially we were unable to find the driver, but it all worked out in the end and he got us to the airport in very good time, despite our being delayed in finding him. The traffic from dock to airport is pretty heavy. It cost €35 for four people and four large cases plus hand luggage.

Judith

I was on the Odyssey summer of 2014 and really wished I had booked the Seabourn transfer to the airport. It is a long walk to the passport control and then another long walk to the taxi line. There were no porters to assist. You then have to negotiate with the individual taxi driver for the rate. The rates were ridiculous and I know we overpaid even after several drivers refused us in hopes of luring in another sucker.

The Seabourn transfer had a small motorcoach shipside that looked painless and nice.

You can mention tour/car service names here -- you cannot name Travel Agents. We have used Georges Taxis twice in Athens pre cruise -- airport to hotel and hotel to port. They were on time and reasonably priced.

Whoops -- had it in my head the OP was talking about Athens -- so sorry. In Istanbul we have our hotel make our transportation arrangements.

Many thanks everyone. Chaisin yes it is Istanbul. We will need to pre-book transport nolatravelgirl as we will have a large bag containing his bike (Length 113cm, Height 92cm and Depth 32cm as well as our 2 suitcases and hand luggage so don't want to risk a taxi 'on spec'. So now need to find a reputable, reliable airport transfer service - Jay23 suggested the very safe taxi service so any others that you lovely folk can recommend? We also need transport getting from Venice Marco Polo to Venice port. Left it to the travel agent to book last time but their quotes this time were a tad eye-watering! :eek:

Many thanks

Many thanks everyone. Chaisin yes it is Istanbul. We will need to pre-book transport nolatravelgirl as we will have a large bag containing his bike (Length 113cm, Height 92cm and Depth 32cm as well as our 2 suitcases and hand luggage so don't want to risk a taxi 'on spec'. So now need to find a reputable, reliable airport transfer service - Jay23 suggested the very safe taxi service so any others that you lovely folk can recommend? We also need transport getting from Venice Marco Polo to Venice port. Left it to the travel agent to book last time but their quotes this time were a tad eye-watering! :eek:

Many thanks

For Venice, take a water taxi.

When you arrive at the airport there is a water taxi booking booth when you exit the arrivals hall. You can buy your ticket there. Then all you need to do is to walk down to where the water taxis are berthed.

From memory, we paid 110 Euros and there were 4 of us plus our luggage.

Sorry can't help with the Venice transfer. We used the bus.... €6 ea!! but I don't think you can manage that with the bicycle!!! Judith

Many thanks everyone. Chaisin yes it is Istanbul. We will need to pre-book transport nolatravelgirl as we will have a large bag containing his bike (Length 113cm, Height 92cm and Depth 32cm as well as our 2 suitcases and hand luggage so don't want to risk a taxi 'on spec'. So now need to find a reputable, reliable airport transfer service - Jay23 suggested the very safe taxi service so any others that you lovely folk can recommend? We also need transport getting from Venice Marco Polo to Venice port. Left it to the travel agent to book last time but their quotes this time were a tad eye-watering! :eek:

Many thanks

I am also confused as to what port you are asking for a transport service as there is mention of Athens, Venice and Istanbul. Could you please clarify which port you asking about.

Is there a reason you won't use the Seabourn transport? You won't get it for free but it is bookable for a fee. It is by the far the easiest as the cruise ship sponsored transport are the only ones allowed inside the terminal gates in Istanbul as all other transport requires (even pre-arranged car services) you to self carry your luggage outside of the terminal.

 

I am also confused as to what port you are asking for a transport service as there is mention of Athens, Venice and Istanbul. Could you please clarify which port you asking about.

Seabourn transport is usually outrageously expensive.

Embarking in Venice disembarking in Istanbul.

Roxburgh we did the water taxi first time there so had the experience - and if we dropped his beloved bike in the Grand Canal well I would never be allowed to cruise again! :eek: The land transport is pretty easy in Venice (surprisingly) and we will get a minibus so as to accommodate the you know what. However, have heard some interesting tales of transfer/taxi services in Istanbul and want to make sure it's a good one. The cost of the Seabourn transfers is comparatively hugely expensive and as teachers we have to save very hard to afford our luxury cruises so would rather spend that money on an excursion or a massage ;)

Embarking in Venice disembarking in Istanbul.

Roxburgh we did the water taxi first time there so had the experience - and if we dropped his beloved bike in the Grand Canal well I would never be allowed to cruise again! :eek: The land transport is pretty easy in Venice (surprisingly) and we will get a minibus so as to accommodate the you know what. However, have heard some interesting tales of transfer/taxi services in Istanbul and want to make sure it's a good one. The cost of the Seabourn transfers is comparatively hugely expensive and as teachers we have to save very hard to afford our luxury cruises so would rather spend that money on an excursion or a massage ;)

To be honest, in Venice, we either used water taxi or walked. So I have no experience of land transport there.

In Istanbul, I found that the taxi drivers will try to scam you by saying the fare is in Euros rather than Lire. It was also explained to me by a Turkish friend that there is no expectation of a tip. When we took the taxi to the airport from the Intercontinental, the fare was around 60 Lire.

We are willing to spend money on a Seabourn cruise because we like the product and we think that we get a lot for our money. But I hate feeling I am getting ripped off which is why I almost never use Seabourn pre/post cruise hotels or transport.

Where in North Wales are you? My sister went to school in Denbigh.

Not far - Llandudno so about 20 miles away

As already said, only the official cruise company transport is allowed inside the Istanbul Port gates.

It was a bit of a walk to where the taxi was and I am not sure you could do it with the you know what!! We certainly did not feel ripped off by the taxi firm and we paid in Euros (€35) So you have to weigh up whether it is better to lug the bike along the uneven pavement, and, in our case, across the road, or pay SB's extortionate fee for the transfer from inside the port. Also you would have to check if they would be able to take the bike on the bus.

Leaving the bike at home may be the best option..... Oh! wash my mouth out!!!!

Re: Venice

Alilaguna blue line originates at the airport and terminates at the cruise terminal. Plenty of room for luggage and you get a pretty good water tour around Venice.

We are doing the reverse cruise before you -- Istanbul to Venice. We were in Istanbul in September and used our hotel to arrange our transportation and will do do again for this cruise in June. We disembarked in Venice two years ago and on the advice of good Seabourn friends arranged for a private transfer with a company called city-taxis -- pleasant driver showed up on time in a roomy late model BMW -- reasonable price. We will use them again this time to take us to the train station as we will be heading to Rome for a few days. I noticed this company has minivans as well as sedans so there should be plenty of room for the bike.

And speaking of Venice, last time in Venice it was in one of the small ships and we docked at the uncrowded San Basilio. If anyone was there last test on the big sisters can you tell me if they are still using San Basilio or are they used they big cruise ship terminal?

As already said, only the official cruise company transport is allowed inside the Istanbul Port gates.

 

Leaving the bike at home may be the best option..... Oh! wash my mouth out!!!!

Jay23 what blasphemy - that bike used to have its own bedroom until I insisted it went in the conservatory :D its personalised transport container is on wheels so no more difficult to lug around than the suitcases, might even be able to store my shoes in there as long as they don't scratch the paintwork. ;)

wdpmd been to Venice a few times now so main aim is to get off the plane into a car/minibus (thanks for the details Chairsin) onto that ship and dive straight into ........ my first glass of champagne!

The website is City-airport-taxis.com

Hello - my husband and I disembarked a SeaDream cruise in Istanbul this past October. We booked a private transfer with Sea Song which was excellent. They are the ground handler for SD but I booked with them directly by email.

They were very prompt in their replies, very professional and right on time!

The cost was USD130 (prepaid by credit card) for a private transfer from the dock to IST Attaturk Airport.

Although it was only 2 of us, we travelled in an immaculate Mercedes minivan; the English speaking escort met us outside baggage claim with a name board and a very helpful driver who loaded our luggage.

Hope this helps.