Private Blue Cruise with Cheers Yachting in Turkey

Turquoise water, ancient ruins, and dinner afloat. Cheers Yachting’s private Blue Cruise links the best-known sights of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, from Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz to Kekova and Kaleköy, aboard a 24-meter gulet. I especially like the small private group format, with room for up to 14 people, and the chance to stop for swims, shore walks, sunsets, and village visits rather than simply watching the coast from a large ship. The main point to check is the schedule and extra cost: food is charged separately at 50 euros per person per day, and the stated meeting time does not match the first-day departure time.

You get seven cabins, a four-person crew, scuba equipment, and a bicycle for exploring. I also like that Captain Ahmet owns the boat and stays closely involved in the trip. The crew’s friendly service and fresh Turkish cooking receive the strongest praise, but this is still a boat holiday: weather can change the route, shore time is limited, and the non-refundable booking policy calls for careful planning.

What makes this Blue Cruise different

• A private 24-meter gulet for up to 14 people: You share the boat only with your own group, making this a strong choice for families, friends, and milestone celebrations.
• Seven private cabins: Every cabin has a comfortable double bed, with optional single beds so some cabins can sleep three.
• Four carefully chosen overnight stops: Gemiler Island, Limanağzı Bay, and Gökkaya Bay give the trip a mix of ruins, swimming, sunset views, and evening entertainment.
• Captain Ahmet at the helm: He is also the boat owner and takes an active role in planning stops and looking after the group.
• Scuba equipment and a bicycle included: These extras give you more ways to enjoy the water and shore without arranging separate rentals.
• Food is a separate daily charge: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner cost 50 euros per person per day, while alcoholic drinks are not included.

The boat, cabins, and crew on Cheers

Cheers is a 24-meter gulet designed for private groups of no more than 14 people. That size gives you more room than a typical day boat, but it is still a compact vessel where everyone shares the deck, dining area, swim space, and common facilities.

There are seven cabins, each with a double bed. Single beds can be added when a cabin needs to work as a triple, which is useful for families or groups trying to keep the booking together. The information provided does not give cabin dimensions or a detailed description of storage, so I would ask about those points before you pack.

The crew consists of Captain Ahmet, a cook, and two sailors. Their cabins and bathrooms are separate from those used by the people on board. That arrangement matters on a private boat because it gives you more privacy and keeps the crew’s working space apart from your sleeping area.

The strongest praise goes to the crew’s attitude. Ahmet is described as funny, kind, experienced, and attentive, while the sailors help keep the trip comfortable and safe. Several people also appreciated his willingness to adjust the schedule when conditions or group preferences changed. That does not mean every plan is guaranteed. One account specifically notes that bad weather forced a course change, a useful reminder that the sea gets a vote.

Day 1: Butterfly Valley to a Gemiler Island sunset

The listed cruise begins at 11:00 a.m. from Fethiye Harbor, with Butterfly Valley as the first major stop. The separate meeting information gives a 4:00 p.m. start time, so you should confirm the actual departure time with Cheers before making transport plans. This is not a tiny timing detail: an earlier departure could affect hotel checkout, airport transfers, and your first swim.

Butterfly Valley gives you two good choices. You can swim in clear water from the boat, or take a hike into the natural gorge. The stop is scheduled for about six hours, which leaves room for a relaxed first afternoon rather than a quick photo stop. The coast near Ölüdeniz is a scenic opening to the trip, especially if you like combining time on deck with short walks on shore.

The practical limitation is that a six-hour stop can feel long if your group wants constant movement. This cruise is built around unhurried time in the water, meals, and sun, not a packed list of attractions. Bring footwear suitable for walking if you plan to enter the gorge, and remember that the listed admission is free.

The first overnight stop is Gemiler Island, reached after cruising for roughly two hours. Here you can walk among archaeological ruins set against a dramatic coastal setting, then watch the sunset while dinner is prepared. An admission charge is not included at this stop, so ask about the current amount before going ashore.

Gemiler Island is one of the trip’s most appealing combinations of history and quiet. You are not visiting an inland museum with labels and a fixed route. You are seeing ruins in an open coastal setting, with the boat waiting below and the evening light changing by the minute. That setting is a big reason to bring a light layer and shoes with a firm sole.

Day 2: Sunrise by Patara and free time in Kaş

Day two starts early, at 5:30 a.m., as the boat moves south toward Kalkan. This is the hardest morning of the itinerary, but also one of its prettiest. The route passes alongside Patara Beach, a 12-kilometer stretch of sand, and gives you the chance to watch the sunrise from the water.

You then stop at Fırnaz Bay for breakfast and swimming. The schedule allows about five hours for this part of the route, so you are not being rushed through breakfast and a quick dip. The long morning also shows what the Blue Cruise is really about: the journey between destinations is part of the holiday, not dead time.

Still, a 5:30 a.m. departure is early. If your group includes teenagers or anyone who prefers late nights, discuss the rhythm of the trip in advance. The previous evening at Gemiler Island may be relaxed, but the next morning begins before most people would choose to wake up on vacation.

From Fırnaz Bay, the boat continues to Kaş Harbour, where you have free time to explore and shop. After about five hours, the group moves to Limanağzı Bay for the second night on board. This gives you a useful change of pace: a morning spent at sea and in the water, followed by time in a coastal town.

Kaş is a good place to stretch your legs and buy anything you forgot in Fethiye. The schedule does not promise a guided town tour, so you should treat this as independent free time. Keep track of the boat’s departure instructions, since a private cruise still has a timetable to follow.

Limanağzı Bay is the overnight setting, with breakfast planned there the next morning. The quiet bay helps balance the town visit. If your ideal holiday includes a little shopping but plenty of time away from crowds, this day is well judged.

Day 3: Kekova’s Sunken City and Kaleköy

After breakfast in Limanağzı, the boat heads toward Kekova Island and the partly sunken remains of Dolchiste, also known as Dolikisthe. The ancient settlement was damaged by an earthquake in the second century, and sections of the ruins can be seen along the northern side of the island.

The five-hour Kekova stop is one of the main sightseeing highlights. You get a rare look at ancient remains from the water, with the coastline itself forming part of the setting. This is also where it pays to listen closely to the captain and crew, since their job is to position the boat safely and make the most of the view.

The itinerary does not promise an organized archaeological lecture, and admission is listed as free. If detailed historical explanation is important to you, ask Cheers what commentary Ahmet or the crew provides. The appeal here is the setting and the unusual sight of ruins meeting the sea, rather than a formal museum-style visit.

After lunch on board, you reach Kaleköy. You can walk around the village and visit Simena Castle before the boat continues to Gökkaya Bay. The stop is scheduled for about four hours, giving you enough time for sightseeing without turning the day into a forced march.

Kaleköy is the kind of stop that makes a private gulet trip worthwhile. You arrive from the water, explore on foot, and return to lunch or a swim from the boat. The castle visit involves walking uphill, so comfortable shoes are a sensible choice. The provided details do not specify the exact admission arrangements, so confirm any entrance charges if you plan to go inside.

Gökkaya Bay, water sports, and a late night

Gökkaya Bay is the third night’s anchorage. The bay offers water sports during the afternoon, followed by dinner on board and an optional visit to Smuggler’s Inn Bar. The evening can be social and lively, but you are not required to join the late outing.

This is a useful night for groups with different energy levels. Some people can head to the bar, while others can stay on board, enjoy the bay, and sleep under the stars. Previous groups also valued the chance to relax on deck at night, although sleeping outside will depend on personal comfort and conditions.

The tradeoff comes the next morning. The final day begins with breakfast after what may be a late party night. If you want the full Gökkaya experience, plan on a slower final morning rather than expecting everyone to feel fresh at dawn.

Day 4: Final breakfast and departure at Demre

The last breakfast takes place in Gökkaya Bay before the boat heads to Demre Harbour, also called Andriake Port. Departure from the boat is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with around three hours allowed for the final movement toward port.

The route description says the activity ends in Demre, but the meeting information says it ends back at the meeting point in Fethiye. Those details do not agree. Ask Cheers to confirm the exact end point, transfer arrangements, and whether you need to organize your own return from Demre. This matters even more if you have a flight, hotel booking, or onward bus.

The tour’s route is especially useful if you want to see both the Fethiye and Kekova sections of the coast in one trip. It is less convenient if you need to return to Fethiye immediately after departure. Clarify the logistics before paying, since the booking cannot be canceled or changed for a refund.

Food, drinks, and the real cost

The listed group price is $9,829.75 for up to 14 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $702 per person before the daily food charge, though the actual per-person cost rises sharply with a smaller group.

Food costs 50 euros per person per day and covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For four days, that is 200 euros per person if charged for each day, but confirm how Cheers counts the partial arrival and departure days. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so you should budget separately if your group plans to drink on board or visit the bar at Gökkaya.

At first glance, the price is substantial. The value becomes clearer when you consider that it covers a private boat, a captain, cook, two sailors, seven cabins, and a route connecting several major coastal sights. You are not simply buying transport. You are paying to have the boat, crew, and schedule centered on your own group.

The value is strongest for a full or nearly full group that would otherwise book several hotel rooms and arrange separate boat trips, meals, and day excursions. For a small group, the private format may feel expensive unless privacy and flexibility are your top priorities.

The food deserves special attention. The cook receives repeated praise for fresh traditional Turkish meals, and several accounts describe generous portions and food as a major part of the holiday. Since dining is not included in the advertised boat price, ask for sample menus, information about dietary needs, and details about drinks before you commit.

Who will enjoy Cheers Yachting most

I would recommend this cruise to a group of friends, a family reunion, or a birthday party that wants a shared holiday with plenty of time together. One group used two boats for 31 people during a birthday celebration, which shows how well the format can work for larger occasions when coordinated carefully.

It also suits you if you prefer swimming, sunset walks, simple shore visits, and long meals to a formal sightseeing program. The crew can help adjust the schedule, but the route remains shaped by wind, sea conditions, and the needs of a private boat.

Families with older children and teenagers may enjoy the mix of water sports, ruins, town time, and evening activities. The seven cabins and optional triple arrangements help keep the group together. However, you should confirm sleeping arrangements directly if privacy or cabin size is important.

This is not the best match for you if you want a highly structured guided tour, guaranteed port times, luxury-hotel facilities, or a fully inclusive bar. The early departure on day two, shared boat spaces, possible weather changes, and separate food charge all deserve a clear discussion before booking.

Practical details to settle before you pay

The tour is private, and only your group participates. Mobile ticketing is available, and confirmation is provided at booking. Most people can take part, and the meeting point is listed near public transportation at Avis Fethiye Karagözler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No. 21/B, Fethiye.

Two details need confirmation: the stated 4:00 p.m. start time versus the itinerary’s 11:00 a.m. Fethiye departure, and the stated return to the meeting point versus the itinerary’s 10:30 a.m. departure from Demre. Do not assume these are interchangeable.

Scuba equipment and a bicycle are included. Alcoholic drinks are not. Since the booking is non-refundable and cannot be amended for a refund, confirm dates, passenger numbers, cabin arrangements, food costs, start point, and final port before making payment.

Should you book this private Turkish Blue Cruise?

Book Cheers Yachting if your group values privacy, personal service, Turkish food, swimming stops, and a relaxed route through the Turquoise Coast. Captain Ahmet and his crew appear to be the strongest part of the offering, with safety, kindness, flexibility, and good cooking repeatedly praised.

I would hesitate only if your group is small, budget-sensitive, or uncomfortable with early starts and changing sea plans. For a full group of friends or family, the cost can make sense because the boat, crew, cabins, meals arrangement, and sightseeing all come together in one private holiday.

Before committing, confirm the departure and arrival details in writing. If those logistics work for you, Cheers offers a memorable way to see Turkey’s coast at a slower, more personal pace.

FAQ

Where does the Blue Cruise start?

The listed meeting point is Avis Fethiye Karagözler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No. 21/B, Fethiye, Muğla, Türkiye. The itinerary says the cruise departs from Fethiye Harbor.

Where does the cruise finish?

The itinerary says you leave the boat at Demre Harbour, also called Andriake Port, at 10:30 a.m. The separate meeting information says the activity ends back at the meeting point, so you should confirm the final port with Cheers Yachting.

How many people can join the private cruise?

The boat can host up to 14 people, and only your own group participates.

How many cabins are on the boat?

Cheers has seven cabins. Each has a double bed, and optional single beds can be used to create triple cabins when required.

Are meals included in the price?

No. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner cost 50 euros per person per day. Alcoholic drinks are also excluded.

What equipment is included?

Scuba equipment and use of a bicycle are included.

Can the booking be canceled or changed?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.