Star
Clippers has announced the expansion of its Eastern Mediterranean program,
placing the Turkish coast at the epicenter of its new itinerary schedule.
New Turkish Riviera voyages on the 166 guest, four-masted
Star Flyer, include seven-to-11-night sailings, taking
travelers from Istanbul and the Aegean to the turquoise bays, ancient
cities and seaside communities of the Turkish Riviera. Itineraries feature an extensive
collection of Turkish ports, including Çeşme, Datça, Fethiye, Kaş, Kekova,
Dikili, Dalyan River and Bozcaada, with Greek island calls woven into the
journey.
Türkiye offers a rich mix of history, scenery and modern
Mediterranean life. More than 2,000 years of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and
Ottoman heritage coexist with beaches, lively markets, distinctive cuisine and
sophisticated seaside towns. Along the Aegean and Mediterranean, pine-covered
mountains meet clear blue water, while ancient ruins, castles and harbors share
the coastline with café-lined marinas and quieter villages closely tied to the
sea.
For travelers, one vacation can combine swimming, sailing,
historic sites and museums, UNESCO’s World Heritage sites and ancient Lycian,
Greek and Roman settlements, local restaurants and markets, waterfront towns
and beaches.
“Türkiye is a destination that is ideally suited to the way
Star Clippers travels,” said Terri Haas, Vice President of Sales &
Marketing, Americas, for Star Clippers in a statement. “There is extraordinary
history here, but there is also this wonderful connection between the
landscape, the sea and everyday life in the coastal towns. Sailing into these
smaller ports allows our guests to experience that side of Türkiye while the
journey itself — moving along the coast under sail — becomes part of the
destination.”
Istanbul to Antalya (11 nights)
The itinerary departs May 29 and July 24, 2027, amid domes,
minarets and markets of Istanbul before sailing south to Dikili, gateway to the
ancient city of Pergamon. In Çeşme, travelers can explore a fashionable marina
town known for its beaches, thermal springs and proximity to the stone houses
and cafés of Alaçatı.
After visits to the Greek islands of Samos and Patmos, Star
Flyer returns to Türkiye at Datça, a relaxed harbor community separating the
Aegean and Mediterranean. The voyage continues to the Dalyan River and Fethiye
before reaching Kaş, another Turkish coast’s picturesque waterfront town. A
call at the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo precedes arrival in Antalya.
Fares begin at $3,740 per person, double.
Antalya to Istanbul (10 nights)
The reverse Antalya-to-Istanbul itinerary departs June 9 and
August 4, adding another Turkish highlight: Kekova, where a dramatic coastline
of coves, islands and ancient Lycian remains creates one of the Mediterranean’s
most distinctive cruising landscapes. The voyage visits Fethiye and the Dalyan
River before crossing to the Greek islands of Symi and Patmos and returning to
Türkiye at Çeşme and the uncrowded beaches, cobblestone streets, traditional
tavernas of Bozcaada. Prices start at $3,350 per person, double.
Shorter Eastern Mediterranean Itineraries
Türkiye also appears on several Star Flyer shorter Eastern
Mediterranean itineraries. The seven-night Yachtsman’s Paradise voyage from
Istanbul to Athens visits Dikili, continuing through the northern Aegean, while
Delightful Dervishes, sailing from Athens to Istanbul, calls at Dikili and
Bozcaada.
Other Greek-focused itineraries include Çeşme, Bodrum,
Fethiye, and Kuşadasi, the gateway to Ephesus, combining the cultures of Greece
and Türkiye within a single sailing. Seven-night sailings start at $2,500.
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