LUXURY CRUISE COLLECTION

Istanbul, Mediterranean

For many centuries, Istanbul was the capital of the civilized world.Today’s fascination with this teeming metropolis derives from its place in history and the monuments that remain from its glorious past.

Part of Istanbul’s great attraction is its unique position on two continents, divided by the Bosphorus. Most of the population lives on the European side. The Asian sector can be reached via the high-level Bosphorus Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or by ferry. With 12 million inhabitants, Istanbul offers all the excitement of a cosmopolitan city. Its numerous monuments, mosques and museums, plus the famous Grand Bazaar, make it one of the world’s great destinations. Although Ankara was appointed the capital in 1922 when Turkey became a republic, Istanbul’s dominance in the country’s commerce and culture is unchallenged; the city continues to be the heartbeat of the Turkish people. Istanbul’s unequaled ambiance guarantees an overwhelming experience for the visitor, and it is easy to see that one short visit can scarcely cover its numerous attractions.

Ports for this region:

Ajaccio Alexandria Alghero Alicante Athens, Piraeus Barcelona Brest Cannes Capri Cartagena Ceuta Civitavecchia-Rome Corfu Corsica Cruising Gibraltar Straits Dubrovnik Ephesus Florence Funchal Genoa Gibraltar Granada Istanbul Katakolon Kotor Kusadasi La Rochelle Lisbon Livorno, Florence(Pisa)

Luxor Malaga Marseille Messina Monte Carlo Mykonos Naples Palma Patmos Portofino Port Said Ravenna Rhodes Rome Santorini Sarande Sardinia, Alghero Sardinia, Cagliari Seville Sorrent Sorrento Split St Tropez Tunis Valletta Venice Vigo Volos