Private Blue Cruise with Cheers Yachting in Turkey

The best part of this private blue cruise is the freedom to spend several days in Turkey’s finest coastal waters instead of racing through them on a day boat. Captain Ahmet and his three-person crew take you from Butterfly Valley to Kekova, with time for swimming, small-town visits, ruins, sunsets, and long meals aboard.

I like the seven private cabins and the relaxed mix of sea time and shore stops. I also like that the boat carries scuba equipment and bicycles, giving you more to do than simply sit on deck. The main drawback is the price, plus the extra food charge and the early starts. You should also confirm the meeting details, since the stated 4:00 pm start does not match the 11:00 am departure described for the first day.

Key points

• Private 24-meter gullet: Your group has the whole boat, with seven cabins and space for up to 14 people.
• Captain Ahmet on board: He is also the owner and leads a crew of one cook and two sailors.
• Fethiye to Demre route: The cruise covers Butterfly Valley, Gemiler Island, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Kaleköy, and Gökkaya Bay.
• Meals cost extra: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are listed at €50 per person per day, while alcohol is not included.
• Three nights at sea: The four-day plan finishes at Demre’s Andriake Port at 10:30 am.
• Strongest appeal: Fresh Turkish cooking, quiet swimming bays, sunset stops, and the ease of having a private boat.

A private gullet along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast

Cheers is a traditional-style motor sailing boat, 24 meters long, set up for private groups rather than a large shared cruise. You can bring up to 14 people, making this most appealing for a family gathering, birthday, group of friends, or several couples who want the boat to themselves.

The boat has seven cabins. Each has a comfortable double bed, and some can use an extra single bed to make a triple cabin. That is useful for families, though you should ask exactly which cabins can take three people before paying.

The crew is small and clearly central to the experience. Ahmet is the captain and boat owner. He works with one cook and two sailors, and the crew’s sleeping quarters and bathrooms are separate from those used by passengers. That arrangement gives you privacy, while still keeping help close at hand.

You should think of this as a floating holiday home, not a luxury hotel. The boat offers private cabins, meals prepared aboard, swimming equipment, and plenty of deck time, but cabin sizes and storage space are not described. Pack lightly and confirm the cabin layout if everyone in your group expects hotel-style room.

What the $9,829.75 price really covers

The advertised price is $9,829.75 per group of up to 14 people. If you fill every berth, that works out to about $702 per person before the food charge. A smaller group pays much more per head, so the value improves sharply when you bring close to the maximum number.

Food is listed separately at €50 per person per day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Across four days, that adds €200 per person if charged for all four days. Alcoholic drinks are also excluded, so your final cost can rise quickly if your group drinks aboard.

The price makes more sense when you compare it with what you are getting: a private boat, captain, cook, sailors, seven cabins, several nights in quiet bays, and transport along a long stretch of coast. You are not paying only for a sightseeing ride. You are hiring a small crew and a moving base for your group.

Still, I would ask for a written breakdown before booking. Confirm whether the €50 food fee applies to every calendar day or only the three nights and four service days, and ask how drinks, port fees, and any shore admission charges are handled. Gemiler Island specifically lists admission as extra, while most other stops do not list an admission fee.

Day one: Butterfly Valley and a sunset at Gemiler Island

The cruise is described as leaving Fethiye at 11:00 am, heading first to Butterfly Valley. The valley is known for its narrow natural gorge, clear swimming water, and steep coastal setting. You can hike inland if conditions and time allow, or stay aboard and swim.

The stop is scheduled for about six hours, which is generous by boat-trip standards. That gives you room for a swim, a walk, lunch, and unhurried time on deck. It also means the first day is not just a short photo stop.

After passing Ölüdeniz, the boat continues to Gemiler Island for the first overnight stay. Here you can explore archaeological remains in a striking coastal setting, then watch the sunset while the cook prepares dinner.

Gemiler Island is one of the better stops for mixing history with the simple pleasure of being outside at dusk. The ruins add purpose to the walk, but admission is not included, so carry some cash or confirm the current payment method.

The first day may feel busy if you try to hike, swim, explore the ruins, and socialize late into the evening. I would choose two priorities rather than trying to do everything. The quiet anchorage and sunset are likely to be as memorable as the shore walk.

Day two: Sunrise by Patara and an afternoon in Kaş

The second day starts very early, with departure listed at 5:30 am. That is a serious wake-up call on holiday, but it puts you in position for a sunrise cruise along Patara Beach. At 12 kilometers long, Patara gives this part of the journey a wide, open coastal view.

The boat then stops at Fırnaz Bay for breakfast and swimming. This is a good example of how the cruise uses the sea itself as part of the holiday. You eat, swim, and move on without packing another beach transfer into the day.

From Fırnaz Bay, you continue toward Kaş Harbour. The schedule allows about five hours for the cruise and town time combined, depending on how the captain spaces the day. Kaş gives you a change of pace: after quiet coves and open water, you can walk streets, shop, and get your bearings on land.

Do not expect a long independent city visit. The boat must keep to its route, and the next overnight stop is Limanağzı Bay. If shopping or town sightseeing matters more to you than swimming, ask Ahmet how much free time you will have in Kaş.

The second night is spent at Limanağzı. This bay keeps you close to Kaş while returning you to the calmer rhythm of an anchorage. You can enjoy breakfast the next morning without another hotel checkout or luggage transfer.

Day three: Kekova’s sunken ruins and Kaleköy

Day three brings the most distinctive history on the route. After breakfast at Limanağzı, the boat heads toward Kekova Island and the partly submerged ruins of Dolchiste, also known as Dolikisthe.

The ancient town was damaged by an earthquake in the second century. From the boat, you can see remains along the shore and beneath the water. This is not a conventional archaeological site where you walk through every street. The key experience is viewing the ruins from the sea, so sit where you have a clear outlook and keep your camera ready.

The schedule allows about five hours around Kekova, which should leave time for the boat ride, sightseeing, and swimming if conditions permit. Scuba equipment is listed as included, but the supplied details do not explain whether guided scuba instruction or a certified scuba excursion is part of the trip. Confirm that point before planning the holiday around underwater exploration.

Lunch is served aboard near Kaleköy, followed by time ashore. You can visit Simena Castle and walk through Kaleköy, a small settlement with a strong sense of place. The stop offers a useful contrast to the sea-focused parts of the cruise: you get a hilltop view, old stone remains, and a village visit without leaving the route for long.

The walk to the castle may be uphill and uneven, though no formal accessibility details are provided. Wear shoes with a firm sole rather than flip-flops if you plan to explore beyond the waterfront.

Gökkaya Bay: water sports and a late night

After Kaleköy, the boat continues to Gökkaya Bay for dinner and the final overnight stay. This is the social evening of the trip. You can use the water-sports equipment, eat aboard, and then visit Smuggler’s Inn Bar.

The late night is optional, which matters. Some people will want music and drinks after dinner; others will prefer a quiet deck and an early night. The schedule gives you both choices, although the next morning’s departure means a very late party can make breakfast less appealing.

Several details point to the boat being well suited to groups that enjoy a friendly, informal atmosphere. The crew handles the daily practical work, the cook prepares traditional Turkish food, and the captain discusses the next destination. You can still have a say in the pace, especially on a private booking, but weather and sea conditions will always guide the final plan.

This is also the best night for sleeping outside if the weather is calm. Deck sleeping under the stars is mentioned as part of the boat setup, but it should be treated as an option rather than a guarantee. Wind, insects, moisture, and anchorage conditions can change the appeal quickly.

Day four: Demre and the end of the cruise

The final morning begins with breakfast in Gökkaya Bay. The boat then travels to Demre, also called Kale, and finishes at Andriake Port at 10:30 am.

Demre is a practical endpoint for the route from Fethiye. It lets you cross a substantial section of the coast without retracing your path. The end is early enough for onward travel, though you will need to arrange your next transport yourself unless the operator confirms otherwise.

One point needs checking before you book. The meeting information gives Avis FethiyeKaragözler as the start and end meeting point, while the day-four plan says you leave the boat at Demre’s Andriake Port. The departure time is also listed as 4:00 pm in one place, while the first day says the boat leaves Fethiye at 11:00 am. Ask Cheers Yachting to confirm the actual embarkation time, departure marina, final port, and whether a transfer is included.

Food, swimming, and life aboard Cheers

Food is a major part of this experience. The onboard cook prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with traditional Turkish dishes highlighted as a strong part of the cruise. Meals are served aboard, so you spend less time searching for restaurants and more time looking at the coast.

The €50 daily food charge is not small, but it covers three meals. I would ask about menus, dietary needs, bottled water, snacks, and coffee before arrival. None of those details are specified, and small questions matter when you are living on a boat for several days.

Swimming is built into the route. Butterfly Valley, Fırnaz Bay, Kekova, and Gökkaya all offer chances to get into the water, and the cruise includes scuba equipment and a bicycle. The bicycle is an unusual inclusion, but the information does not say where or how it is used, so ask whether it is for shore trips or simply available aboard.

Alcohol is not included. You can ask how purchasing and storing drinks works, especially if your group plans to spend evenings aboard rather than visiting the bar at Gökkaya.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend Cheers to people who want a private group holiday with a clear daily route but room for small changes. It suits families with older children, groups of friends, couples traveling together, and milestone celebrations. The boat has hosted birthday groups and family groups, and the private format lets everyone share the same space.

You should be comfortable with early mornings, shared outdoor areas, sea movement, and a compact cabin. The 5:30 am departure on day two is not for anyone who wants a slow hotel breakfast every morning.

This cruise is less suitable if you need a highly structured sightseeing program, guaranteed shore access at every stop, or a luxury resort room. It is also not ideal for someone who dislikes group meals or cannot tolerate changes caused by weather. The captain has changed course when conditions required it, so flexibility is part of the deal.

The strongest practical advantage is the crew. Ahmet is both owner and captain, and the setup keeps the decision-maker aboard throughout the trip. The cook and sailors handle the boat’s daily work, leaving you free to swim, eat, walk, and enjoy the views.

Should you book Cheers Yachting?

I would book this cruise if you can fill most of the 14 places, enjoy being on the water, and want a private route through the Turquoise Coast rather than a quick day excursion. The combination of seven cabins, traditional meals, quiet bays, ruins, and a small crew gives the trip real value for the right group.

Before paying, confirm the contradictory start and end details, the exact cabin arrangement, the food charge, alcohol rules, scuba arrangements, and any extra admission or port costs. If the logistics are clear and your group likes relaxed days with plenty of swimming, Cheers offers a strong four-day escape. If you need low cost, late mornings, or a fixed shore schedule, choose a shorter shared boat trip instead.

FAQ

How many people can join the private cruise?

The boat can host up to 14 people, and the booking is private for your group only.

How many cabins are aboard?

Cheers has seven cabins. Each cabin has a double bed, with optional single beds available so some cabins can be used as triples.

Who operates the boat?

The crew includes Captain Ahmet, who is also the boat owner, one cook, and two sailors.

What meals are included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available aboard for €50 per person per day. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

Is scuba equipment available?

Use of scuba equipment is listed as included. The supplied details do not state whether instruction or a guided scuba activity is included, so confirm that with Cheers Yachting.

Where does the cruise finish?

The day-four plan says the boat finishes at Demre Harbour, also called Andriake Port, at 10:30 am. The meeting information also says the activity ends back at the meeting point, so confirm the final drop-off location before booking.

Is the cruise refundable if I cancel?

No. The experience is listed as non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.