celvalliere

We made it! We worked with our hotel to get a taxi that knew in advance where he was going.A huge plus. We were dropped off in what seemed to be an underground parking garage with a big glass entryway. Although there was no representative from Oceania to point us in the right direction, there were security guards who asked to see our passports and boarding passes then told to proceed to the station where the porters would check our bags. To make a long long journey short, we walked down numerous hallways, up an escalator, up a ramp, across a platform all while passing through 2 security screenings and a requirement to show our passport 4 times. I did not see any motorized transporter available for anyone with mobility challenges. We were the only ship in port and I would dread to see what it would be like trying to process 10,000 passengers. Thanks to everyone who provided input prior to our departure. It helped having some insight as to what we could expect (although 4 passport checks does seem excessive). If I visit Istanbul again it will be by air and not by sea.

We embark on Monday. We have formed a great relationship with the staff at our hotel and plan to utilize their assistance in procuring a taxi so hopefully we will not be at risk from shady drivers. While I am cautiously optimistic that there will be Oceania representatives available to provide direction, I remain concerned with the amount of walking that will be required and the absence people transporters for the more senior members of our traveling party.

This information is very helpful. Knowing in advance what to expect (steps) and having reassurance that Oceania representatives are available on site is reassuring. Now it appears that all we need is a taxi driver that knows where to drop us off. My DH appreciates all the pointers/input since I decided to put HIM in charge of ground transportation

We are a group of 6 embarking at Galataport on July 17th. Since this will be our first experience embarking from Istanbul we have been trying to familiarize ourselves with embarkation procedures to minimize confusion at check-in. Our research has shown Galataport to be huge (restaurants, shopping etc) but we have not found much detail on how to navigate through the terminal and what we can anticipate for guidance/assistance. Can anyone who has embarked in Istanbul provide us with more guidance/tips and reassurance that it will be easier than it currently seems?

Applying for and receiving the EVisa’s for our July sailing was so easy and quick. The form took about 10 minutes to complete and the EVisa’s were emailed within minutes. Downloading the visa’s was challenging at first because of my security settings on my computer but by emailing the pdf to myself I was immediately able to print them out and insert into our travel binder.

I have sent an email. Thank you.