Windstar Introduces Istanbul Packages

Clients traveling to the Greek Islands on a Windstar Cruise now have the option to extend their stay pre- or post-cruise with Windstar's Istanbul Discovery tour packages. The one-, two- or three-night packages, designed by Sea Song Tours, include hotel, excursions, guides, transportation and selected meals. Tour groups are kept small to complement the small-ship sailing experience. Most guests booking the package are opting for the three-day package, which takes guests beyond the highlights and introduces them to Turkey with experiences most would not be able to book on their own. Day one of the three-day package includes the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the Grand Bazaar, and an orientation drive around the old city. A traditional Turkish lunch is served at the Green House Garden, an old Ottoman house. Day two includes visits to St. Sophia, the Church of the Divine Wisdom, the Underground Cistern and the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul. Day three visits the Suleymaniye Mosque, an Egyptian Bazaar (the second-largest covered market in Istanbul) and lunch at Hamdi Restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus. After lunch, guests cruise the Bosphorus Strait aboard a private yacht. Package prices are $185 for one day, $325 for two days and $585 for three days. All rates are per person double. Windstar guests stay at the five-star Hilton Istanbul hotel.