Tuesday, 28 October 2025

Izmir, Turkey

This morning Seabourn's Encore is sailing into the curved harbor of Izmir, Turkey's third largest city. Most passengers will be going to the ancient city of Ephesus today, a truly spectacular historic site, about one hour's drive away. I visited Ephesus in April 2015 and the walk would be very difficult for Will; so today we will take a panoramic tour of Izmir city. But, of course, LFLatSea is behind time. This posting will take us back to our final day in Istanbul as we board the Encore.

Sunday, 26 October 2025

Leaving Istanbul

After another bountiful breakfast at the Carina Gold Hotel, we are all packed and ready to check out in time for our limo pickup at 11am to take us to Galataport, Istanbul's brand-new, super luxurious, and totally underground cruiseport.

We leave our bags outside our room as we prepare to take the elevator down to the lobby and have the bellman bring down our luggage. Just as we reach the elevator, suddenly all the electricity in the hotel goes out and we have to hobble down two flights of stairs. It turns out the street outside the hotel is being torn up by bulldozers which have accidentally cut into the electric lines. But the damage is soon repaired and we can wait in peace for our driver.

However, because of the repair work, the street in front of the hotel is completely closed to all traffic. We are not sure how or where our driver will meet us, so I pace the sidewalk hoping to spot the Mercedes van (I have the license plate number).

I shouldn't have worried. The service at the hotel (and all over Istanbul) is terrific, and the bellman soon tells us the van is waiting up the street and the bellman has already loaded our luggage into the back. To add to the pleasure of the wonderful service, there is NO TIPPING in Turkey. All these folks genuinely help without any extra rewards.

We are prepared for the slow drive through the narrow streets of the Old City, impeded by pedestrians and other traffic. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the port. After we check in, Will is given a priority boarding pass and is taken to the ship in a wheelchair, steered by a friendly young man who wants to move to Washington, DC, to attend college in a year or two. [By the way, most everyone in Turkey speaks excellent English.]

After we drop our carry-ons in our stateroom, we head to the Colonnade Restaurant, where a magnificent lunch buffet is waiting. In addition to the buffet, there is a list of special orders that may be placed with any server. And, of course, on Seabourn, everything is included, even all the alcohol one can drink. 

The Encore is scheduled to sail at 5pm, but there is a slight delay until 5:15. I join the sail-away crowd on the upper deck to drink champagne, listen to the band, and watch the receding outlines of Istanbul just as the sun starts to set.

We clean ourselves up for dinner in the main restaurant at 6:30pm. The restaurant is open from 6 to 9pm and no reservations are required. We are seated at a quiet table for two next to a window on the starboard side. Our two efficient and good-looking servers, one from India and the other from Albania, present us with a delicious array of plates and more French Champagne than is good for us.

I have veal carpaccio in mushroom sauce, Caesar salad, sautéed filet of sole, and strawberry parfait for dessert.

Will enjoys fresh plum tomato soup, grilled sea bass, and something chocolate for dessert.

After dessert a small plate of petit fours finishes off the meal with a flair. And, of course, we drink several glasses of Champagne.

And so ends our first night on board Seabourn's Encore, our home for the next 36 days.