Private Yacht Charter Istanbul
The whole boat is yours — never a shared seat. Luma runs private, crew-led yacht charters on the Bosphorus from €200, with your captain handling the route while you enjoy the strait between two continents. We quote every charter personally on WhatsApp so the yacht, timing and day fit you exactly.
How much does a private yacht charter in Istanbul cost?
A private yacht charter in Istanbul starts at €200 with Luma Yacht. That entry rate covers a whole-boat, crewed Bosphorus charter — captain and crew included — for a short private cruise, with no shared seating. The final price depends on three things: the size of yacht you need for your group, how long you sail (a couple of hours versus a half or full day), and the season, as golden-hour and summer-weekend slots are in highest demand. Larger yachts and full-day itineraries are priced individually by quote. There is no online checkout: you message us on WhatsApp, share your date, group size and occasion, and we send a fixed, all-in quote — no per-person maths, no surprise extras. Luma has been TÜRSAB-licensed (#14316) since 2001 and has hosted 50,000+ guests on the Bosphorus.
What does a Luma yacht charter include?
Every Luma charter is whole-boat and crewed: a licensed captain, onboard crew, fuel and your private Bosphorus route are all part of the price. You are not sharing the deck with strangers — the yacht is yours for the booked window. The €200 entry covers a short private cruise; longer sails and larger vessels are quoted to match. Extras such as catering, a DJ, live music, a cake, décor or a photographer are arranged on request and priced transparently before you confirm.
How much does it cost, and what changes the price?
The €200 starting rate is for a short, private, crewed charter. Price moves with yacht size (more guests means a larger vessel), duration (from a two-hour minimum up to a full day) and season or time slot, as sunset and summer weekends are premium. Because every charter is bespoke, full-day and larger-group bookings are quoted individually rather than sold at a fixed online price. Tell us the shape of your day and we return one all-in figure.
Private charter vs a shared cruise — which should you book?
A private charter means the entire yacht is yours: your route, your pace, your guest list, your music. A shared cruise puts you on a fixed schedule alongside other guests at a lower per-person price. Choose a private Luma charter when the occasion matters — a proposal, a birthday, a family day or corporate hosting. If you only want a single low-cost seat at golden hour, a shared product fits better — see our sunset yacht charter.
Where do Luma charters depart in Istanbul?
Luma charters sail the Bosphorus, boarding from central Istanbul piers with easy access from both the European and Asian sides. Your captain confirms the exact boarding point and time when your charter is booked, along with the planned route — typically up the strait past the waterfront palaces, the old mansions and both suspension bridges. Tell us which side suits you and we match the most convenient berth.
Why book direct with Luma?
Most “Istanbul yacht” listings are resellers adding a mark-up. Luma is the licensed operator — TÜRSAB A Group #14316, sailing since 2001 — so the price is honest and the day is genuinely yours. Booking direct also means you talk to the people who run the boat, not a call centre, so the timing, route and any extras are arranged straight with the crew.
How do you book a yacht charter with Luma?
Booking is quote-led and runs over WhatsApp. Message us with your date, group size, preferred time (for example afternoon or sunset) and the occasion. We reply with a fixed, all-in quote for the right yacht — no online checkout, no per-person calculations. Once you confirm, your captain shares the boarding point and time. Most enquiries are answered the same day.
Guests on the water
Trusted by 50,000+ guests on the Bosphorus since 2001
“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.”
“Evlilik teklifimi tekneyi tamamen bize ayırarak yaptım. Çiçekler, müzik, gün batımıyla zamanlama — her detay düşünülmüştü. Hayatımın en güzel anıydı, ekibe minnettarım.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Babamın 60. doğum günü için kiraladık. Pasta ve dekorasyonu onlar ayarladı, tekne tamamen bizimdi, çocuklar bayıldı. Boğaz'da unutulmaz bir aile günü oldu.”
“Booked a private charter for our anniversary. They picked a quiet time, the whole boat was ours, and the timing with the sunset was spot on. Calm, romantic and beautifully organised from the first message.”
Yacht charter FAQ
- How much is a private yacht charter in Istanbul?
- It starts at €200 for a short, whole-boat, crewed Bosphorus charter with Luma Yacht — captain and crew included, no shared seating. Larger yachts and full-day charters are quoted individually. You get a fixed, all-in price over WhatsApp before you commit.
- Is the whole yacht private, or do I share it?
- The whole yacht is private. With Luma you book the entire boat for your group — you are never seated alongside other guests. Your route, timing and pace are yours for the booked window. This is a true private charter, not a per-seat ticket on a shared cruise.
- What is included in the charter price?
- Every charter includes a licensed captain, onboard crew, fuel and your private Bosphorus route for the booked time. The €200 entry rate is for a short private cruise; longer sails and larger yachts are priced to match. Catering, music, a cake, décor and a photographer are arranged on request.
- How many people can a Luma yacht charter take?
- Capacity depends on the yacht. We match the vessel to your group, from intimate couples' charters to larger parties for birthdays and corporate events. Tell us your headcount on WhatsApp and we recommend the right boat and quote it.
- Where does the yacht depart from?
- Luma charters depart from central Istanbul piers on the Bosphorus, with access from both the European and Asian sides. The exact boarding point and time are confirmed when you book, along with the planned route past the palaces, mansions and bridges.
- How do I book and pay?
- Booking is by WhatsApp quote — there is no online checkout. Send your date, group size and occasion; we return a fixed, all-in quote, and your captain confirms boarding details once you accept. Payment terms are confirmed with your quote.
Tell us the occasion. We'll design the day.
Share your date, party size and idea and we'll come back with a tailored charter from €200 — crew and fuel included, usually the same day.