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New Year's Eve in Istanbul: dinner cruise or private yacht?

Both put you on the Bosphorus at midnight. One gives you a table at a big party, the other gives you the whole yacht. Here is how to choose.

Updated 21 October 2026 · By the Acetes Travel team, Istanbul

Belly dancer performing at a New Year's Eve dinner cruise in Istanbul

If you want to welcome the new year on the Bosphorus, you have two choices: a shared New Year's Eve dinner cruise, where you book seats at a large party on an event yacht, or a private yacht, where the boat belongs to your group. Both sail through midnight with the fireworks on both shores. The right choice depends on your group, your budget and the kind of night you want.

Side by side

Shared dinner cruisePrivate yacht
PricePer person: €175, €225 or €350 with our packagesOne price for the whole yacht, on request
Guests on boardMany groups and couplesOnly your group
MenuCocktail menu or gala dinnerYour choice of menu
DrinksUnlimited local or premium barYour choice of drinks
EntertainmentFull Turkish show programme and DJDJ, shows or your own music
TimingFixed 5-hour programmeYou choose the boarding time and length
TransfersTwo-way hotel transfers includedOn request
Best forCouples, friends and small groupsFamilies, larger groups and companies

The shared New Year's Eve dinner cruise

This is a big party on a large event yacht with a closed saloon, a stage for the shows and open decks for the fireworks. You have your own reserved table, a gala dinner or cocktail menu with unlimited drinks, and a full show programme: whirling dervish, Turkish gypsy and Caucasian dances, a belly dancer group, folk dance, a rhythm drum show and a DJ all night. At 23:30 the party favors come out, and at midnight there is a champagne toast as the fireworks go up.

It is the easiest way to celebrate: you book seats, we collect you from your hotel and bring you back after the party. Our three packages are the Cocktail Package at €175, the Gala Dinner with local drinks at €225 and the Gala Dinner with premium drinks at €350 per person. See all details on our New Year's Eve cruise page.

Guests watching a belly dancer on a New Year's Eve yacht party

The private yacht

On a private yacht the whole night is designed around your group. You choose the yacht, the boarding pier and time, the menu, the drinks and the music. It is the choice for families with children, groups of friends who want their own party and companies hosting their teams or clients. There are no other guests and the countdown is yours alone.

A private yacht is priced as one charter, so the cost per person falls as your group grows. Send us your group size and we compare both options for you. Read our private New Year's Eve yacht guide.

Which one is right for you?

Choose the shared dinner cruise if

  • You are a couple, a few friends or a small family
  • You want a big party atmosphere with a full show
  • You want a fixed price per person with everything included
  • You want hotel transfers without having to organise anything

Choose a private yacht if

  • You are a group of 15 or more, or a company
  • You want only your own guests on board
  • You want your own menu, music and programme
  • You have children, older guests or a special celebration within the night

Frequently asked questions

How much is a New Year's Eve dinner cruise in Istanbul?

Our New Year's Eve cruise costs €175 per person for the Cocktail Package, €225 for the Gala Dinner with local drinks and €350 for the Gala Dinner with premium drinks, with hotel transfers. See the packages.

What is included in the shared New Year's Eve cruise?

A 5-hour cruise with two-way hotel transfers, a welcome cocktail, a cocktail menu or gala dinner, unlimited drinks, a full Turkish show programme, a DJ, party favors and champagne at midnight.

Is a private yacht worth it on New Year's Eve?

For larger groups, families and companies, yes: you have the whole yacht, your own menu and programme, and the cost per person falls as your group grows.

Are children welcome on the New Year's Eve cruise?

Families are welcome. If you are travelling with young children, a private yacht gives you more flexibility with the timing and the menu.

Do both options see the fireworks?

Yes. Both the shared cruise and private yachts are on the Bosphorus at midnight, with the fireworks on both shores.

Spend midnight on the Bosphorus

Join our New Year's Eve cruise from €175 per person with hotel transfers, gala dinner, shows and champagne at midnight, or ask us for a private yacht for your group.

More New Year's Eve guides

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