A pre-wedding party on the Bosphorus
Before the big day, give the bride a party she will never forget. On a private yacht, the bride to be and her friends board in the centre of Istanbul and spend the day or the evening on the Bosphorus, with the palaces, the bridges and the Maiden's Tower as the backdrop to every photo. The yacht is yours, so the music, the drinks and the programme are planned around the bride.
We decorate the yacht for the occasion with flowers, banners, sashes and a photo corner, and bring a cake on board for the bride. Any entertainment is possible: a DJ, live music, a belly dancer or Turkish folk dancers. Food can be a lunch, a dinner, a buffet or finger food and snacks, prepared on board by our chef for groups of 10 or more.
A henna night, or kına gecesi, is a Turkish tradition held before the wedding, with the bride in red, henna, candles and songs. We can host your henna night on board, with the decoration and music for the ceremony. We recommend 4 hours. See all our yacht celebrations.
Bachelorette yacht party highlights
- A yacht for the bridePrivate, with captain and crew for your group only.
- Bridal decorationFlowers, banners, sashes and a photo corner.
- Cake for the brideServed on board at the right moment.
- Music and dancingA DJ, live music, belly dancer or folk dancers.
- Day or nightSun deck by day, city lights by night.
- Henna night on boardThe Turkish pre-wedding tradition, on the water.
Organising a bachelorette party or henna night on a yacht
Whether you are the maid of honour, a sister or a close friend, a few decisions early on make the day far easier to plan.
Bachelorette party or henna night?
A bachelorette party is usually for the bride's friends, with music, cocktails and plenty of photos. A henna night is a family occasion as much as a party: the women of both families are often invited, and mothers, aunts and grandmothers take part in the ceremony. Decide which one you are planning, or whether you want a little of both, as it changes the guest list, the music and the tone of the evening.
Henna night customs, briefly
In many Turkish families the henna night is held a night or two before the wedding. The bride often wears a red or embroidered dress with a red veil over her face, and the groom's family traditionally brings the henna. Guests circle the bride holding candles while emotional folk songs are sung, and the henna is placed in her palm, often with a gold coin pressed into it. Customs vary from region to region, so it is worth asking both mothers what matters to them.
Choosing the date and time
- Avoid the night before the wedding for a bachelorette party; two or three days earlier gives everyone time to recover.
- For guests flying in, check arrival times before fixing the date.
- A daytime cruise suits sun, swimsuits and photos; an evening suits dancing and the lit-up city.
Practical details for the group
Agree on a theme or dress code early and tell guests well in advance, whether it is all white, a single colour or matching sashes. Settle the budget openly and decide how costs will be shared, so nobody is surprised later. Keep a simple list of who is coming and any dietary needs, and compare the yacht menus for a lunch or a dinner.
Finally, keep the bride's surprises a secret from her, but not from the partner or the family. They may want to add a message, a photo or a song to the evening. If the celebrations continue, see our ideas for an engagement party or a wedding on the Bosphorus.
How the party goes
- Welcome on board
The bride and her friends are welcomed with a drink on a decorated yacht. - Photos on deck
The captain slows down by the palaces and the Maiden's Tower for photos. - Lunch or dinner
A meal or finger food while the yacht cruises the Bosphorus. - Cake and music
The cake for the bride, then music and dancing on deck.
More celebration ideas
- Marriage Proposal on a YachtWhere it all begins
- Birthday Yacht PartyCake, balloons and music
- Private Yacht Swimming TourA summer day on the water
- Private Sunset Yacht CruiseGolden hour with friends
The party route
The yacht cruises the city part of the Bosphorus, past palaces on the European shore, under the Bosphorus Bridge and back by the Maiden's Tower: the best backdrops for the bride's photos.
On the way you pass Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, the Ortaköy Mosque, the Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden's Tower. See the full route map and all the landmarks.
The captain keeps an easy pace so you can enjoy dinner, the cake and the music, and slows down for photos at the best spots. The route can be adapted to your plan.
Yachts for your bachelorette yacht party
For a group of friends, a motor yacht with a large sun deck is ideal by day; for a henna night or a big party, choose a yacht with a saloon. Tap a yacht to see more photos.
Our flagship
White Istanbul
24 m · up to 77 guests
Made for celebrations
Crescent Star
24 m · up to 130 guests
Our largest yacht
Majesty
44 m · up to 200 guests
Heated on both decks
Blue Wave
23 m · up to 60 guests
Brand new for 2026
Sea Fairy
22 m · up to 55 guests
Classic and elegant
Ocean Breeze
21 m · up to 40 guests
Sleek and sporty
Riviera
22 m · up to 20 guests
Two decks, heated saloon
Blue Horizon
18 m · up to 12 guests
Intimate and cosy
Azure
16.5 m · up to 12 guests
Tell us the number of guests and whether you plan a day or a night party, and we suggest the right yacht. See all our yachts
Food and drinks for the party
Every party starts with a welcome drink and light snacks. Choose a lunch, a dinner, a buffet or finger food, prepared on board by our chef for groups of 10 or more. Drinks packages and cocktails can be added. You can also bring your own food and drinks, with a service fee of €10 per person.
On board
Our yacht menus
Swipe to see all menus →
Turkish breakfast on the morning water
Breakfast Menu
A long, Turkish-style brunch at sea
Brunch Menu
Freshly baked bites for an afternoon cruise
Snack Menu
Party food for a standing reception
Cocktail Menu
Turkish favourites, bite-sized
Finger Food Menu
A relaxed dinner under the lights
Chicken Dinner Menu
Steak dinner on the Bosphorus
Meat Dinner Menu
Seasonal fish from the Turkish seas
Fish Dinner Menu
Prefer something else? Our private chef can prepare any menu you like: halal, vegetarian, vegan, children's meals or a dinner designed around your occasion. Menus can be combined for larger groups, and alcoholic drinks are available as an extra.
What is included in your bachelorette yacht party
Included
- Private yacht for your group only
- Licensed captain and professional crew
- Welcome drink and light snacks
- Fuel and marina fees
- Sound system for your music
- Planning with our team
Not included
- Food menus and drinks packages
- Decoration and cake (optional)
- DJ, live music and dancers (optional)
- Photographer (optional)
- Transfers (optional)
Make it the bride's day
Choose from these, or tell us your theme.
- Bridal decoration, banners and sashes
- Flower arrangements and a photo corner
- Cake for the bride
- DJ or live music
- Belly dancer or Turkish folk dancers
- Henna night decoration and music
- Photographer or videographer
Bachelorette yacht party prices: what affects your quote
Every party is different, so we prepare a written quote for yours. The price is based on five things:
- The yacht: size and capacity
- Duration: we recommend 4 hours
- Date and time: weekends, summer evenings and holidays are busiest
- Group size: number of adults and children
- Food, drinks and extras: what you add to the cruise
Send us your plan and we reply with a clear written quote, with every item listed and fuel and marina fees always included.
Meeting points for your bachelorette yacht party
Choose the pier closest to your hotel or home. We board from eight piers along the Bosphorus:
- European shoreKaraköy · Kabataş · Beşiktaş · Kuruçeşme · Arnavutköy · Bebek
- Asian shoreKuleli · Beylerbeyi
Boarding at Kuruçeşme is included; boarding at any other pier adds one hour of yacht time to your quote. We send the exact pier with a map pin when you book.
What our guests say about our cruises
468 reviews on Tripadvisor
Read all reviews“Very nice and friendly staff. Thank you!”
M A · September 2026
Sunset Cruise with Wine on a Luxury Yacht
“Fantastic tour. Guides were incredible. Service was great. Highly recommend.”
Patrick M · September 2026
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise
“it was a great tour. We were very satisfied. reliable tourism business.”
558beyza_ · April 2023
Acetes Travel
Reviews from Tripadvisor, shown as written by guests.
Booking and cancellation terms
- At booking30% advance payment confirms your yacht
- 48 hours beforeThe remaining 70% is due
- 7+ days beforeCancel for a full refund of the advance
- Under 7 daysThe advance payment is not refundable
- Under 3 days100% of the tour price is due
Payment, cancellation and weather terms for all private tours are on one page: Read the full cancellation terms
Bachelorette yacht party FAQ
Can we have a henna night on a yacht?
Yes. We host henna nights on board, with decoration for the ceremony, candles and music. Tell us your traditions and we prepare the yacht for them.
Is a day or an evening better?
By day you enjoy the sun deck and bright photos with the Bosphorus behind you; in the evening the city lights and the illuminated bridges set the scene for a party. Both are popular.
Can you decorate the yacht?
Yes. Special decoration is always possible: balloons, flowers, candles, banners and table decoration in the colours and theme you choose. Tell us your idea and we prepare it before you board.
What entertainment can you arrange?
Every kind of entertainment team is possible: a belly dancer, a whirling dervish, Turkish folk dancers, a DJ or live music. We time the shows to your programme.
What food can we have on board?
Any food option is possible: a full dinner, a buffet, finger food or snacks. For groups of 10 or more our private chef cooks on board. You can also bring your own food and drinks, with a service fee of €10 per person.
How many guests can join?
Our yachts host groups from 10 up to 250 guests. Tell us your number of guests and we suggest the right yacht.
Where does the yacht pick us up?
From a central pier on the European or Asian shore: Karaköy, Kabataş, Beşiktaş, Kuruçeşme, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Kuleli or Beylerbeyi. Boarding at Kuruçeşme is included; boarding at any other pier adds one hour of yacht time to your quote. We send the exact pier with a map pin when you book.
Why is there no price on this page?
Every celebration is different: the yacht, the date, the length of the cruise, your group size, the menu, the decoration and the entertainment all change the price. Send us your plan and we reply with a written quote, usually within the hour.
Can we cancel or change the date?
Cancel at least 7 days before your cruise and your advance payment is refunded in full. Within 7 days the advance payment is not refundable, and within 3 days the full tour price is due. See our private tour cancellation terms.
