ONE NIGHT PRE CRUISE PACKAGE

Day 1	You will be met by your guide at Istanbul International Airport and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle. You will check into your hotel with some time to relax. Mid-afternoon, you will set out on a half-day tour of the wonderful highlights of Istanbul. First you will depart for the lunch at Hamdi Restaurant, located on the Golden Horn. You will have a delicious meal overlooking the Bosphorus.

			You will visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, along with its famous Egyptian Obelisk, the Obelisk of Constantine, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain. Then, you will proceed to the Blue Mosque, completed in 1616 - a triumph of harmony, proportion and elegance. The mosque was a part of a complex that consisted of a mosque, tombs, fountains, kitchens and a bath.

	Its 260 colorful windows enable the sunlight to reach inside. The blue Iznik tiles covering the walls lend the mosque its name. Finally, enjoy an orientation drive around the old city with its many ancient monuments and city walls, and the new city with its modern buildings and squares. Continue to the famous Grand Bazaar, where you will explore some of its 92 streets. The Grand Bazaar is the largest and
	oldest covered bazaar in Turkey, with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish handicrafts, oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs are all sold in its small shops. The streets are named according to the trades, such as gold and silver sellers, carpet sellers, booksellers, etc. At the end of the day, you will return to your hotel.

Day 2			Next, you will visit one of the greatest buildings in the world: Hagia Sophia, the Church of the Divine Wisdom. It was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian (AD 537) and remained the greatest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Sultan Mehmet II ordered the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque.

	The great dome, the semi-domes, the north and south tympana and the vaults of the narthex, aisles and gallery were all covered with gold mosaics, many of which are still intact today. Today you will visit the magnificent Topkapi Palace-residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. It is located on the promontory between the Bosphorus and

			the Golden Horn. This setting provides a magnificent view. As the imperial residence of the Sultan and his court, the palace was also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. 4,000 people lived here. Visit the general exhibitions and the Treasury Section displaying the priceless pieces of jewelry that once belonged to the Ottoman Sultans.
	By the end of your touring transfer to your ship in the afternoon.

	SPECIAL NOTES - Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday. - Hagia Sophia is closed on Monday. - Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday.   The above sites can be replaced with other   sites on the days they are closed.

	ONE NIGHT POST CRUISE PACKAGE
	The above package will begin with your disembarkation from your ship and end with a transfer to the Istanbul airport.

	WHAT IS INCLUDED
	- A deluxe air-conditioned VIP vehicle with a professional driver - All arrival and departure transfers - Licensed professional tour guide in preferred language - Entrance fees of all the sites and museums as marked on the itinerary - Accommodation at your preferred style hotel - Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner where indicated on the itinerary - VAT taxes

	WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
	- Gratuities to guide and driver - Items of a personal nature - Any items not specifically mentioned as included - Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary.