We have just one cabin remaining on Southern Cross Timer for the annual Bodrum Cup Regatta, starting on 17 October and sailing through the Northern Greek Dodecanese Islands. There's still time to join! info@southern crossbluecruising.com Returning guests include multinationals from Australia, Norway and Turkey. Dave is praying to Poseidon for decent winds, as it's Southern Cross Timer's tenth consecutive participation in the Bodrum Cup Regatta, for which she will receive an honorable mention no matter where she places.
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Croatia is definitely flavor of the year again for 2017, and Southern Cross Blue Cruising is happy to continue offering both mid-range and high end Blue Cruises in the Adriatic. A select number of Turkish gulets are also planning to locate for the summer 2017 season chartering out of Croatia again for 2017. Our favorite Croatian flagged gulets include Navilux, Stella Maris, and the newly launched 47 meter gulet Aixoaixo, in the high end. We also promote Libra, Korab and Alba in the mid-range. Read all about how a Croatian Blue Cruise works here. All of our Blue Cruises can begin and end in Greece, with major embarkations being Rhodes, Kos and Samos. At this time, some routes and gulets will require a legal check-in into a Turkish port, but this is a formality and does not change the general Greek itinerary in any significant way. Southern Cross Blue Cruising offers a variety of Greek Island Blue Cruises, including one ways to and from Santorini and Mykonos. As the distances to the Cyclades islands are significant, it's important to enquire early to secure a leg on these routes, which can begin either in Bodrum or Kos. Email us for sample itineraries and full details. Southern Cross Blue Cruising are pleased to be here and happy after a slightly difficult 2016 season for tourism in Turkey. Fortunately, we had wonderful clients who knew that the statistics of being involved in any danger on a Blue Cruise were about the same as encountering a nude sunbathing nymph on a rock, and did not cancel their yacht charter. ''Anything could happen anywhere, and I don't care,'' said one client who enjoyed a crowd-free time in Turkey with her family of 14. ''I have far more things to worry about.'' said another client who arrived for a full week of relaxation. ''We got to swim alongside Caretta Caretta turtles!'' squealed another client. ''Did you remember the baby car seats?'' asked a client who is currently still cruising. All of our 2016 clients received ample attention from us, and we had to limit our eager welcome meetings to let them get away to enjoy their holiday. We realize that our clients are still sensitive to all European travel destinations, but some do prefer to begin and end their Blue Cruises in the Greek Islands. Thus, we've prepared some opportunities in Greek Island Blue Cruises for 2017, as well as cruises in Croatia. Watch a September client's video on board Southern Cross Timer!
We cannot evade the fact that people are reluctant to visit Turkey in 2016. Ignoring this would be akin to dancing around a large pink elephant in the living room. Southern Cross Blue Cruising is thus offering you a completely contrarian view.
Remember that the odds of being in a terrorist attack or on an airplane crash are miniscule compared to driving on a freeway or being the victim of a gunshot wound. It's why our headlines focus on what is improbable, instead of the mundane. Our crew have had a grand time this winter with laying a new teak deck and laminated coachtop on Southern Cross Timer. Good weather has been on our side, with balmy, sunny days for the most part. Work on our new launch 16 meter Southern Cross Junior is also proceeding on schedule, with the expected splash into the sea to be in late April. Berta Lledo and Tufan Turanli from the Bodrum Institute of Nautical Archaeology are the creative and technical backbone for the excavation of the 1890's Ottoman frigate ''Ertuğrul,'' which is now a feature film. Sent on a symbolic friendship mission from Istanbul to Japan during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, the Ertuğrul sank off of the rocky coast of Kushimoto with a loss of 533 lives. Local Japanese villagers opened their homes and shared their meager supplies of food with the Turkish soldiers until arrangements could be made to return the 69 remaining crew back to Istanbul. The movie is very accurate, entertaining and has an unexpected parallel story built with its plot which emerges towards the end. Opulent was the word that entered my mind as we drove by a well-lit, gated stone mansion situated upon prime real estate on the 2000 year old main road of ancient Halikarnas.
Princess Yavor is a classic, Istanbul-style ''meat'' restaurant that has melded with Bodrum style architecture, service and style. The owner has not been squeamish about spending on his venue, which is a beautifully restored traditional stone house, with its own vegetable gardens, parking lot and chilled wine cellars. The menu met all of our local expectations, from home-grown garden vegetable salads to beautiful mezes. But what sprung into my mouth was one of the restaurant's two house specialties - slow braised lamb. And it delivered, with every succulent bite. We also loved that the menu offered a selection of specialty samplings for grazers, instead of diners being locked into a full plate. A most welcoming venue, and worthy of supporting. While there have been some dreadful global events lately, we'd like to take a positive stance and bring to you all the good news that gets overshadowed by the bad. We're chuffed to have our second company Bodrum Yacht Services featured on a page in the autumn issue of Onboard magazine, which goes out to a multitude of superyachts and international boat shows. In the article, Dave Stanley explains why refits and repairs in Bodrum can be so advantageous to boat owners. Istanbul remains as the third top destination on Tripadvisor, and here's a great article on what neighborhoods have to offer in art and culture. Conde Naste named Istanbul one of the top 10 destinations of 2015, ahead of both New York and Hong Kong. And many people wouldn't expect Istanbul to be the host of the Chic Womens' Bicycle Tour. And then there's the food...one of the favorite recipes of our gulet chefs is ''Fish Baked in Salt'' and this recipe was recently written up in Venturists while an excellent article about coffee in Turkey was published in Daily Secret. CNN also recently published a first hand account of Ivan Watson's ''Loud, quirky, anarchic'' love affair with Istanbul. To summarize - we are safe - we are happy, and we look forward to seeing you on your private gulet in 2016, sailing the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Drop us a line at info@southerncrossbluecruising.com for applicable early booking discounts. |
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