Couples and solo travellers on a budget: take a cabin charter on the classic Fethiye–Kaş route — it's sociable, cheaper, and you'll meet people. Families and friend groups of six or more: book a private charter so you control the route, the meals and who you share the deck with; split across the group it often costs little more per head than a cabin. Whichever you choose, the single biggest quality difference is the crew and the cook, not the brochure. Ask for recent dated photos of the actual boat, last year's reviews, and exactly which meals and how many hours of air-conditioning are included — in writing.
What to avoid: booking the cheapest boat sight-unseen, paying a large deposit with no written cancellation terms, and assuming "air-conditioned" means all night. A good operator answers every question quickly and in writing; one that dodges the detail is telling you something.
First, what a gulet actually is
A gulet (Turkish: gulet, pronounced "goo-let") is a traditional two- or three-masted wooden motor-sailer, originally built for sponge-diving and cargo around Bodrum and Marmaris and now the backbone of Turkey's charter fleet. Modern charter gulets are wide, stable and comfortable, with a row of guest cabins below deck, a saloon, a big shaded aft deck for meals and a sun-soaked foredeck of mattresses for lounging. Most of the time they motor between bays rather than sail — the sails are often as much for looks as propulsion — so don't book one expecting a hands-on sailing-yacht experience. You book a gulet for the swimming, the bays, the food and the slow rhythm, not for tacking into the wind.
If you're still deciding whether a blue cruise is for you at all, start with our wider blue cruise Turkey guide and the blue cruise overview, then come back here to choose the boat itself.
Cabin charter vs private charter — the big decision
Everything else follows from this one choice, so get it right first.
Cabin charter (shared boat)
You buy one or two cabins on a gulet shared with other travellers — effectively a small floating hotel that follows a set itinerary (most often the four-to-seven-night Fethiye–Ölüdeniz–Kaş run) with a fixed departure day. It's the budget option, it's sociable, and the logistics are done for you. The trade-offs: you don't choose the route, the stops or your crewmates, the boat sails whether it's full or not, and you live at close quarters with strangers. For easygoing couples and solo travellers it's brilliant value.
Private charter (whole boat)
You book the entire gulet — crew included — for your own group. Within reason you set the route, swim where you like, eat when you want and have the decks to yourselves. It costs more in total, but split across six, eight or more people it can work out close to a cabin charter per head, with vastly more privacy and control. Ideal for families with children, groups of friends, or any occasion (a milestone birthday, a reunion) where you don't want strangers aboard.
Size, age and condition
Once you've picked cabin or private, the boat itself matters. Three things to weigh:
- Size (8–16 guests). Smaller gulets (6–8 guests, 4 cabins) feel intimate, are easier to fill with one family, and reach quieter coves. Larger ones (12–16 guests, 6–8 cabins) give more deck space, often a bigger crew and more amenities — but on a cabin charter you'll share with more strangers. Match the size to your group and your tolerance for company.
- Age and refit. A gulet's hull can be decades old and still lovely if it's been refitted and is well maintained — or tired and tatty if it hasn't. Don't fixate on the build year; ask when it was last refitted and look at recent photos of the actual cabins and bathrooms, not a glossy stock shot.
- Cabin standard. Confirm every cabin has a private en-suite (shower + WC) and air-conditioning, and crucially how many hours a day the AC and hot water actually run — see the next section, because this is where cheap boats quietly cut corners.
Air-conditioning, generators and the bathroom reality
This is the single most common source of disappointment, so be blunt with the operator. On nearly all gulets the air-conditioning only runs while the generator is on — typically a few hours at night, not around the clock — because running it constantly at anchor drains the batteries and the generator is noisy for everyone. On a hot, still August night a cabin can get stuffy once the generator goes off. Ask exactly how many hours the AC runs and when; if you sleep badly in the heat, pay up for a newer boat with longer generator hours, or plan to sleep on deck (many guests do, happily, under the stars). The same logic applies to hot water and charging points — confirm rather than assume.
Crew and food — where good and bad boats really part
Two gulets of identical size and age can deliver completely different weeks, and the difference is almost always the crew and the cook. A good captain knows the quiet bays, reads the weather, and shifts the route to dodge crowds and wind; a good cook turns full board into a highlight, with fresh fish, mezze and bread baked on board. A poor crew does the minimum and a poor cook serves the same tired buffet for a week.
Full board — breakfast, lunch and a snack or dinner, cooked fresh aboard — is the norm and one of the best parts of the trip. What's usually not included is drinks: there's a bar tab that runs separately and can add up fast, so ask how it's priced and whether you can bring your own. Confirm in writing exactly which meals are covered, whether dietary needs (vegetarian, allergies, children's food) can be met, and how the drinks bill works. On a budget cabin charter the food is simple but generous; the cook's skill is worth more than an extra metre of boat.
Routes and itinerary flexibility
The classic Lycian itineraries are the Fethiye–Ölüdeniz–Kaş coast (Butterfly Valley, the Twelve Islands, Kekova-direction bays), Fethiye–Marmaris (Gulf of Hisarönü), and shorter Kaş–Kekova hops past the sunken city. On a cabin charter the route is fixed — read it carefully and pick the one whose stops you actually want. On a private charter you have real say: a good captain will tailor the days around your group, the weather and where the crowds aren't. If flexibility matters to you, ask up front how much the itinerary can flex and whether the captain will adjust it day to day. For the bays themselves, our things to do in Lycia roundup and the Kekova guide are useful background.
What to check before you book — the six-point list
A reputable operator will answer all of this quickly and in writing. Vague or slow answers are themselves the warning sign.
| Check | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Real photos | Recent dated photos of THIS boat & cabins | Avoid bait-and-switch |
| Cabin layout | En-suite? AC hours? Bed config? | Comfort & sleep |
| Inclusions | Which meals, what crew, drinks policy | Hidden costs |
| Itinerary | Exact route & how flexible | Right stops for you |
| Reviews | Independent reviews, last 1–2 years | Real track record |
| Terms | Deposit, balance, cancellation, bad-weather policy | Protect your money |
Red flags — when to walk away
- No recent photos of the actual boat. Only generic stock gulet images, or refusal to send dated pictures of the cabins and bathrooms.
- Pressure for a large deposit with no written terms. A big upfront payment and no clear, written cancellation or bad-weather policy.
- Evasive answers on inclusions. Won't say plainly which meals are covered, how the drinks tab works, or how many hours the AC runs.
- No verifiable recent reviews. Nothing independent from the last year or two, or only reviews that can't be checked.
- A price that's far below everyone else. On the same route and size, a suspiciously cheap quote usually means an old boat, a skeleton crew, or costs that reappear on board.
- Rushed, one-line replies. If they can't be bothered to answer your questions before you've paid, imagine the service once they have your money.
Season and when to book
The blue-cruise season runs roughly April to October. July and August are the hottest, busiest and priciest — and the weeks when the best boats and any specific popular gulet sell out first, so book those several months ahead, especially for a private charter. The May–June and September shoulder is the sweet spot if your dates are flexible: cooler sailing, fewer boats in each bay, lower prices, and you can sometimes book a cabin charter just a few weeks out. The sea is warm enough to swim from late spring, and stays warm well into autumn. For the wider picture, see our best time to visit Lycia guide.
Plan your trip
Or read: Blue cruise guide · Blue cruise · Things to do · Kekova
Frequently asked
What's the difference between a cabin charter and a private charter?
A cabin charter sells you one or two cabins on a shared boat with a fixed route and date — cheaper and sociable, but no control over the itinerary or your crewmates. A private charter books the whole gulet for your group: you set the route within reason and have the decks to yourselves. Cabin for budget couples and solos; private for families and groups.
How many people does a gulet hold?
Usually 8–16 guests in 4–8 cabins, plus 2–4 crew. Smaller boats feel intimate and fill with one family; bigger ones give more deck space but more crowding on a cabin charter. The published "maximum" is a tight squeeze — for a private charter, match cabins to your group so you're not paying for empty beds.
Is food included?
Almost always — full board cooked fresh on board is standard and a highlight. Drinks are usually separate (a bar tab that adds up), and occasionally one dinner is ashore. Confirm exactly which meals are covered, whether dietary needs can be met, and how the drinks bill works. The cook's skill is one of the biggest differences between boats.
What should I check before booking?
Six things: recent dated photos of the actual boat and cabins; the cabin layout, en-suites and AC hours; precisely which meals and crew are included; the real route and how flexible; independent reviews from the last year or two; and written terms on deposit, balance, cancellation and bad weather. A good operator answers all of it in writing.
Do cabins have air-conditioning and private bathrooms?
Most modern gulets have an en-suite and AC in every cabin — but the AC usually runs only while the generator is on, often a few hours at night, not 24/7. On older boats it can be weak. If you sleep badly in heat, ask how many hours the AC runs and book a newer boat, or plan to sleep on deck as many guests do.
When should I book a blue cruise?
The season is roughly April–October, with July–August busiest and hottest. Book those months — and any specific private charter — several months ahead. For a May–June or September cabin charter you have more flexibility, often a better price and cooler, quieter sailing. Shoulder season is the sweet spot if your dates flex.