A Blue Cruise along Turkey’s stunning Mediterranean coast is not just about turquoise waters, ancient ruins, and lazy afternoons in the sun. For many travelers, the food and beverages served on board become one of the most memorable highlights of the entire journey. Turkish cuisine, rated among the top ten in the world, takes center stage during these voyages, offering a delicious blend of Mediterranean flavors, fresh local ingredients, and centuries-old culinary traditions .
Whether you are sailing on a traditional wooden gulet or a private charter yacht, here is everything you need to know about the food and drink experience on a Blue Cruise holiday.
The Dining Experience On Board
One of the unique aspects of a Blue Cruise is the setting. Meals are typically served on the rear deck (the aft deck) under a shaded canopy, with panoramic views of the sea and coastline . The combination of fresh sea air, gentle motion of the boat, and stunning scenery transforms every meal into a special occasion.
On crewed charters, a professional cook is part of the team, responsible for preparing all meals fresh on board daily . The crew takes pride in pampering guests with delicious food, often using ingredients purchased from local markets and fishing villages during stops along the route .
Most Blue Cruises operate on a full-board basis, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner . In addition, afternoon tea with cookies or cakes is a cherished daily ritual on almost every gulet .
Breakfast: A Traditional Turkish Start
Each day on a Blue Cruise begins with a traditional Turkish breakfast, known locally as kahvaltı (which literally means “before coffee”). This is not a quick continental breakfast but a generous spread designed to energize you for a day of swimming and sailing.
What to Expect at Breakfast
A typical Turkish breakfast on board includes :
- Cheeses: A selection of white cheese (similar to feta), kaşar (yellow cheese), and sometimes lor (fresh curd cheese)
- Olives: Both black and green varieties, often cured locally
- Fresh Vegetables: Sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers
- Eggs: Usually served as an omelet, menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes and peppers), or boiled
- Spreads: Honey, various jams (including sour cherry, apricot, or rose petal), butter, and sometimes tahini-molasses
- Bread: Freshly baked Turkish white bread (ekmek), or sometimes simit (sesame-crusted bread rings)
- Beverages: Turkish tea (çay), coffee, and fresh orange juice
For those with a larger appetite, some boats also offer Turkish sausage (sucuk) or salami . Cereals or cornflakes may be available upon request, but it is advisable to bring your own if you prefer them .
Lunch: Light, Fresh, and Vegetarian-Friendly
Lunch on a Blue Cruise is intentionally lighter than dinner, as the hottest part of the day calls for refreshing, easy-to-digest meals . The focus is on fresh vegetables, olive oil-based dishes, and salads.
Typical Lunch Offerings
Lunch often features a variety of mezes (small appetizer-style dishes) and vegetarian options, such as :
- Vegetable dishes: Green beans, stuffed peppers or eggplants (dolma), fried or baked vegetables (kızartma)
- Grains: Rice pilaf, pasta, or sometimes bulgur wheat
- Salads: Fresh seasonal salads, often served with yogurt-based dressings like cacık (yogurt with cucumber, garlic, and mint)
- Protein: Occasionally, lighter meat or fish dishes, but lunch tends to be predominantly vegetarian
Examples of lunch menus from actual Blue Cruise itineraries include :
- Eggplant with minced meat, macaroni, fried mixed vegetables with yogurt, and seasonal salad
- Vegetable meat kebab with potato purée, red mullet in olive oil, and chocolate pudding
- Spaghetti bolognese, fried potatoes, and green salad
Fresh fruit is almost always served after lunch, providing a naturally sweet and hydrating finish .
Afternoon Tea: A Beloved Ritual
Around 4:00 or 5:00 PM, the crew serves afternoon tea or coffee accompanied by cookies, biscuits, or slices of cake . This is a popular interlude, offering a chance to relax after a swim, watch the coastline drift by, and recharge before dinner.
This simple but delightful tradition adds to the sense of being pampered and cared for throughout the day.
Dinner: The Culinary Highlight
Dinner is the main event of the day on a Blue Cruise. As the sun sets over the Mediterranean, guests gather on deck for a multi-course meal featuring freshly grilled seafood, meats, and an array of traditional Turkish dishes .
The Structure of Dinner
A typical dinner consists of :
- Starters / Mezes: A selection of cold and hot appetizers
- Main Course: Freshly grilled fish, chicken, or meat (often cooked on a barbecue)
- Side Dishes: Rice, bulgur, or potatoes, plus seasonal vegetables
- Salad: Fresh green salad or shepherd’s salad
- Dessert: Fresh fruit, Turkish desserts like baklava, or rice pudding (sütlaç)
Sample Dinner Menus
Based on actual Blue Cruise offerings, here is what you might enjoy over several evenings :
- Fish Night: Grilled sea bream or sea bass, calamari, octopus salad, and baklava for dessert
- Meat Night: Mixed grill (lamb and beef), rice with shrimp, fried potatoes, and caramel cream
- Chicken Night: Chicken schnitzel or baked chicken, purée, bulgur with tomatoes, green beans in olive oil
- Kebab Night: Vegetable and meat kebab, rice, cheese pastry
Fish is often purchased from local fishermen or caught by the crew and guests themselves, ensuring maximum freshness . When conditions permit, the crew will organize a barbecue on deck or even on a deserted beach .
Turkish Mezes: Small Dishes, Big Flavors
Mezes are an essential part of Turkish dining culture, and on a Blue Cruise, they feature prominently at both lunch and dinner. These small dishes are designed to be shared and offer an incredible variety of flavors and textures.
Popular Mezes You Might Encounter
Vegetarians will find themselves exceptionally well catered to, as many mezes and lunch dishes are naturally meat-free .
Desserts and Fruits
No Turkish meal is complete without something sweet. On a Blue Cruise, desserts tend to be simple and fresh, though traditional sweets make appearances.
Typical Desserts
- Fresh Fruit: Watermelon, melon, figs, peaches, cherries, apples, and oranges are served after almost every meal
- Baklava: The famous pastry of paper-thin layers filled with pistachios or walnuts and sweetened with honey or syrup
- Sütlaç: Turkish rice pudding, baked with a caramelized top – creamy and comforting
- Other Sweets: Occasionally, chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding, or cream caramel (kazandibi)
Turkish delight (lokum) may also be offered with coffee after dinner.
Beverages On Board
Included (Non-Alcoholic) Beverages
On most Blue Cruises, the following beverages are included in the full-board price :
- Tea: Turkish black tea (çay), served throughout the day in small tulip-shaped glasses
- Coffee: Usually instant or Turkish coffee (prepared in a cezve)
- Water: Table water is generally included, especially with meals
Some charters also include soft drinks in the package, but this varies, so it is best to check with your operator in advance.
Beverages Available for Purchase
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are typically not included in the standard price but are available on board at reasonable prices . The crew will stock the boat according to your preferences and provide an itemized bill showing the cost price .
Common drinks available include :
- Beer: Local Turkish beers such as Efes Pilsen or Tuborg
- Wine: Turkish wines from regions like Cappadocia, Thrace, or Aegean (both red and white)
- Rakı: The traditional Turkish anise-flavored spirit, often mixed with water and ice, turning milky white (nicknamed “lion’s milk”)
- Spirits: Vodka, gin, whiskey (though these are often cheaper to purchase at duty-free before your cruise)
- Soft Drinks: Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, fruit juices, and soda water
- Ayran: A traditional salty yogurt drink, perfect for hot days
A Smart Tip for Spirits
Many experienced Blue Cruise travelers recommend bringing your own spirits (whiskey, vodka, gin) from the airport duty-free shop, as prices for imported liquors in Turkey can be significantly inflated .
Special Dietary Requirements
Turkish cuisine is naturally accommodating to various dietary needs, and the crew on a Blue Cruise is typically very flexible.
- Vegetarians: Abundant mezes, vegetable dishes, salads, and egg-based meals make vegetarian dining easy
- Vegans / Gluten-Free / Allergies: Simply inform the crew or your booking agent before departure. The cook can prepare dishes that suit your needs
For those with specific allergies (nuts, seafood, lactose, etc.), it is essential to communicate these at the booking stage so the crew can plan alternative menus .
Self-Catering and Provisioning Options
While most Blue Cruises are fully crewed and catered, some operators offer a self-catering option (sometimes called “bareboat” or “self-catering” charter). In this arrangement :
- You purchase all your own food and beverages before departure
- The crew still prepares and serves the meals at no extra cost
- This can be more economical for large groups or those with very specific preferences
If you are provisioning for yourself, careful planning is essential. Limited fridge and freezer space on a gulet means focusing on non-perishable items and using fresh produce quickly . A typical provisioning list for a week-long cruise might include :
- Dry goods: Pasta, rice, bulgur, flour, lentils
- Canned goods: Tuna, diced tomatoes, beans, corn
- Fresh produce: Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, garlic, potatoes, lemons, oranges, apples, watermelon
- Protein: Chicken (frozen), fresh fish (bought daily from fishermen), minced meat for meatballs
- Dairy: Cheese, yogurt, eggs, butter
- Pantry staples: Olive oil, salt, spices, ketchup, mayonnaise
- Snacks: Nuts, dried fruit, biscuits, chocolate, energy bars
The Local Advantage: Fresh Markets
One of the joys of a Blue Cruise is that the boat visits harbors and fishing villages every two to four days to take on fresh water and provisions . These stops allow the cook to purchase the freshest possible ingredients directly from local markets and fishermen.
Turkish coastal towns are famous for their colorful weekly markets (pazar), where you can find :
- Sun-ripened tomatoes that taste like nowhere else
- Fragrant herbs like oregano, mint, and thyme growing wild on hillsides
- Artisan cheeses and olives
- Fresh-caught fish brought in that morning
This farm-to-table (or sea-to-table) approach is what makes Blue Cruise dining so exceptional.
Dietary Considerations for Seasickness
For those prone to seasickness, it is wise to plan lighter meals rather than heavy, greasy dishes, especially on the first day or when rougher seas are forecast . The crew can advise on the expected conditions and adjust menus accordingly.
Conclusion: A Feast for the Senses
The food and beverage experience on a Blue Cruise holiday is far more than mere sustenance. It is an integral part of the journey that introduces travelers to the rich culinary heritage of Turkey while showcasing the freshest ingredients the Mediterranean has to offer.
From the leisurely Turkish breakfasts overlooking calm bays, to the meze-laden lunches under shaded awnings, to the sunset dinners featuring freshly grilled fish, every meal becomes a memory. Add in the traditional afternoon tea, the chance to sip rakı as stars appear, and the warm hospitality of the crew, and you have a holiday that satisfies both the stomach and the soul.
As the Turks say before every meal: *Afiyet Olsun! * (May what you eat bring you health and enjoyment.)
Note: Menus and included beverages vary by boat and charter company. Always confirm the specific food and drink arrangements with your operator before booking.
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