Birthday on a Private Yacht in Istanbul
Mark the day on the water with the whole boat to your group. A private birthday charter on the Bosphorus starts at €220 — your friends and family, your music, a cake and décor arranged on request. The crew handles the sailing; you just enjoy the celebration with the city as your backdrop.
- TÜRSAB A Group #14316
- Since 2001
- 50,000+ guests
How much is a birthday yacht charter in Istanbul?
A private birthday yacht charter in Istanbul starts at €220 with Luma Yacht — the whole boat for your group, with captain and crew included. The final price depends on the size of yacht for your headcount, how long you sail and the season, since summer weekends and evening slots are the busiest. The deck is exclusively yours, so the day runs at your pace — a relaxed family afternoon, an evening with friends, or a milestone worth marking. A cake, decorations, catering and drinks, your own playlist or a DJ, and a photographer are all arranged on request and quoted separately. Reserve the base yacht online with the exact 2–8 hour total, then send the celebration brief for any bespoke extras. Luma is TÜRSAB-licensed (#14316), sailing the Bosphorus since 2001 with 50,000+ guests hosted — including plenty of birthdays.
The water you cover
Karaköy out along the European shore and back — Dolmabahçe, Çırağan, Ortaköy, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumeli Fortress. On a private charter the turn-around is yours: go further, linger somewhere, or stop for a swim in summer.
Before you enquire
- Where you board
- Karaköy Pier, in the centre of Istanbul. We confirm the exact spot with your booking.
- What the price covers
- The whole yacht for your group, not a price per person. Crew and fuel are in the quote.
- Paying
- No online payment and no deposit to enquire. You settle on board.
- Children
- Children pay half and under-threes travel free. Both count towards the yacht's guest number.
- Changing your mind
- Cancellation and changes are set out in your quote — we are glad to reschedule where dates allow.
What you sail past · Who it suits
What you sail past
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Çırağan Palace
- Ortaköy Mosque
- Arnavutköy
- Bebek Bay
- Rumeli Fortress
On a private charter the turn-around is yours: go further, linger somewhere, or turn early.
Who it suits
- A group that wants the yacht to itself — the price is the boat, not the seat
- Proposals, birthdays and anniversaries with nobody else on deck
- Two hours or eight, timed around your evening rather than a schedule
- Anyone who would rather choose where the boat turns than follow a route
- Families and small groups who would not share a deck
Guests on the water
United Kingdom · Private charter
We had the whole yacht to ourselves for an afternoon on the Bosphorus and it was worth every penny. The crew tailored the route, gave us total privacy, and we never felt rushed. Booking direct made it simple.
Türkiye · Marriage proposal
Evlilik teklifimi tekneyi tamamen bize ayırarak yaptım. Çiçekler, müzik, gün batımıyla zamanlama — her detay düşünülmüştü. Hayatımın en güzel anıydı, ekibe minnettarım.
Germany · Bachelor party
Chartered the boat for my brother's stag day. Private deck, our own playlist, drinks sorted on request — exactly the send-off we wanted. The captain and crew were brilliant the whole way.
France · Corporate hosting
We hosted clients aboard for an evening and it was the perfect moving venue. Professional crew, a smooth route past the palaces, and catering arranged to our brief. Our guests still talk about it.
Fleet
Luma Boutique Yacht · 12 Guests
Up to 12 guests
Couples · proposals · intimate groups
Luma Boutique Yacht · 12 Guests · New
Up to 12 guests
Couples · families · boutique groups
Luma Private Yacht · 15 Guests · New
Up to 15 guests
Families · friends · groups up to 15
Luma Premium Yacht · 15 Guests
Up to 15 guests
Families · birthdays · premium small groups
Luma Group Yacht · Up to 40 Guests
Up to 40 guests
Groups · milestones · celebrations
Luma Event Yacht · 90 Guests
Up to 90 guests
Corporate · weddings · events
Luma Grand Event Yacht · 150 Guests
Up to 150 guests
Galas · large weddings · brand events
Finding the pier
Karaköy is a working pier in the middle of the city, not a terminal — so the last two minutes are the part worth reading.
- By car
- Karaköy Meydanı is as close as a car gets. The final stretch to the water is pedestrian, so allow a minute on foot.
- From the Asian side
- The Kadıköy ferry lands at Karaköy, a short walk from where we board — and it is the better arrival of the two.
- Tram or Marmaray
- The T1 stops at Karaköy. From Sirkeci it is roughly twelve minutes on foot over Galata Bridge.
- With luggage
- There is nowhere to leave bags at the pier, so come from your hotel rather than straight from the airport.
Yours is the only party boarding, so there is no queue and no head count at the gate. Message us when you are close.
Aboard a Luma charter
Why celebrate a birthday on a yacht?
A private charter turns a birthday into something the group remembers — no restaurant table that ends at closing time, no splitting up between venues. You get a private deck on the Bosphorus, your own music and the freedom to celebrate exactly how you like, with the skyline drifting past. It works for milestone birthdays, kids' celebrations and everything between. For a livelier, party-led group, see our party charter.
Cake, décor and what you can add
We can arrange a birthday cake, balloons and decorations, catering and drinks, your own playlist over the sound system or a DJ, and a photographer to capture the day. Tell us the theme and the guest of honour on WhatsApp and we set it up — every extra is arranged on request and quoted with your charter, so there are no surprises when you board.
Family birthdays and groups
Capacity depends on the yacht, and we match the vessel to your group — from a small family gathering to a larger party. Bringing children? Tell us and the crew keeps the day relaxed and comfortable for all ages. Whatever the headcount, share it on WhatsApp and we recommend the right boat and quote it. Larger groups and full-day sails are priced individually.
Daytime or sunset — your choice
Celebrate in the afternoon sun or set off at golden hour — we tailor the timing to your plan. A daytime sail suits family birthdays and younger guests, while an evening charter into the sunset makes a milestone feel special. See our sunset charter for golden-hour timing, or our private charter guide for the full picture.
How to book a birthday charter
Choose a fixed-price yacht, duration, date and guest count online. After reserving the base yacht, send us what you would like — cake, décor, catering, music or a photographer — and we quote those extras separately. Your captain then shares the boarding point and time, and the crew takes care of the rest so you can focus on the celebration.
Birthdays on the Bosphorus
Clear request-to-book terms, a licensed agency and an all-in quote before you confirm.
- Licence
- TÜRSAB A Group #14316
- Established
- Since 2001
- Portfolio guests
- 50,000+
United Kingdom · Private charter
We had the whole yacht to ourselves for an afternoon on the Bosphorus and it was worth every penny. The crew tailored the route, gave us total privacy, and we never felt rushed. Booking direct made it simple.
Türkiye · Marriage proposal
Evlilik teklifimi tekneyi tamamen bize ayırarak yaptım. Çiçekler, müzik, gün batımıyla zamanlama — her detay düşünülmüştü. Hayatımın en güzel anıydı, ekibe minnettarım.
Germany · Bachelor party
Chartered the boat for my brother's stag day. Private deck, our own playlist, drinks sorted on request — exactly the send-off we wanted. The captain and crew were brilliant the whole way.
France · Corporate hosting
We hosted clients aboard for an evening and it was the perfect moving venue. Professional crew, a smooth route past the palaces, and catering arranged to our brief. Our guests still talk about it.
Birthday charter FAQ
- How much is a birthday yacht charter in Istanbul?
- A private birthday charter with Luma Yacht starts at €220 for 2 hours. The online planner shows the exact 2–8 hour whole-yacht total for each fixed-price yacht. Cake, décor, catering and entertainment are optional, separately quoted additions.
- Can you arrange a cake, decorations and music?
- Yes. A birthday cake, balloons and decorations, catering and drinks, your own playlist or a DJ, and a photographer can all be arranged on request and quoted with your charter. Tell us the theme and the guest of honour on WhatsApp and we set it up.
- Is it suitable for a family birthday with children?
- Absolutely. The whole boat is yours, and the crew keeps the day relaxed and comfortable for all ages. A daytime sail suits family birthdays and younger guests especially well. Tell us the group and any children when you enquire and we recommend the right yacht.
- How many guests can come?
- The planner shows the capacity of each fixed-price 12-, 15- and 40-guest yacht. Groups needing the 90- or 150-guest event yachts submit a quote request instead.
- Can we sail at sunset for the birthday?
- Yes — you can celebrate in the afternoon or set off at golden hour. We tailor the timing to your plan; an evening charter into the sunset makes a milestone birthday feel special. We confirm the exact boarding time for your date when you book.
- Is a birthday yacht charter on the Bosphorus safe?
- Yes. Luma operates through a TÜRSAB A Group licensed travel agency (#14316), sailing the Bosphorus since 2001 with 50,000+ guests hosted. Every private birthday charter runs with a professional licensed captain and onboard crew. Charters operate subject to weather and sea conditions, and the captain's judgement on safety, route and timing is always final — if conditions make sailing unsafe we reschedule or arrange a fair resolution. Guests simply follow the crew's safety instructions on board.
- What happens if the weather is bad, or I need to cancel or reschedule?
- Charters run subject to the weather, sea conditions and your captain's judgement, which is final on safety, route and timing. If conditions make it unsafe to sail, we work with you on a fair resolution — first we try to reschedule to a date that suits you, and where rescheduling isn't possible we discuss a refund of sums paid for a charter Luma has to cancel. If you need to change or cancel yourself, tell us as early as possible and we'll do our best to help; the exact notice periods and any non-refundable deposit are set out in the written quote you accept. Message us on WhatsApp at +90 544 898 98 12 to sort out any change.
Keep exploring
- Private yacht charter IstanbulWhat a whole-boat charter includes, how it's priced and how to book direct.
- Group Charter YachtA roomy entertaining deck with a sound system — built for a livelier birthday crowd.
- Browse the fleetSeven charter choices, including two newly listed private yachts, matched to your party size.
- All celebrationsProposals, birthdays, stag & hen and corporate days — every occasion on the water.
Make the day theirs
Message us your date and group size — a private birthday yacht from €220, with cake and décor arranged. We reply with the price and details, usually the same day.
Reserve online →
Cancellation and changes are set out in your quote — we are glad to reschedule where dates allow. Terms
Choose your yacht
Pick the boat that fits your group and book on its own page — dates, hours and the whole-boat total are there.
See the fleet & book