OCCASIONS · SEASONS
Chinese New Year Dinner Cruise in Istanbul
If your Istanbul trip falls around Chinese New Year, a regular Bosphorus dinner cruise combines dinner, city views and a Turkish Night Show with table choices and optional eligible hotel pickup. It is not a Chinese-themed Lunar New Year event.
Quick Answer
Chinese New Year Cruise at a Glance
Experience
Regular Bosphorus dinner cruise.
Occasion
Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year travel.
Dinner
Included according to package.
Entertainment
Turkish Night Show.
Departure
Dentur Avrasya Kabataş Pier.
Duration
Approximately three hours; no dedicated Chinese New Year program is implied.
Can You Take a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise During Chinese New Year?
The cruise operates according to normal schedule and availability. Lunar New Year visitors book the same regular packages; no seasonal sailing is implied.
Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, so its Gregorian date changes each year. Check the date for the year of your Istanbul trip.
Is This a Special Chinese New Year Cruise?
Regular Experience
An Istanbul Bosphorus dinner cruise with Turkish entertainment.
Dedicated Lunar New Year Event
Not included or implied.
What Happens During the Evening?
Pickup may begin around 19:15. Boarding is 20:30–20:45, departure 20:45 and return 23:45–00:00 after approximately three hours.
- Whirling Dervish and Henna Ceremony
- Caucasian and Turkish Folk Dance
- Gypsy and Belly Dance Group
- Solo Belly Dancer and DJ
This is the regular Turkish Night Show, not Chinese New Year entertainment. Program order may vary.
Which Table Option Works for Your Evening?
Choose by seating, show proximity, menu, drinks and budget.
Shared Table · Soft Drinks
€45 per personShared seating; unlimited soft drinks; no alcohol.
Shared Table · Alcoholic Drinks
€55 per personShared seating; unlimited soft drinks; two alcoholic drinks.
Private Table · Alcoholic Drinks
€75 per personPrivate table for the booking; soft drinks; two alcoholic drinks.
Stage-Front Table · Alcoholic Drinks
€85 per personCloser show category; two alcoholic drinks; first row not guaranteed.
VIP Stage-Front · All Inclusive
€125 per personVIP menu and unlimited drinks; no private deck or cruise.
Is the Turkish Night Show Suitable for Lunar New Year Visitors?
The entertainment presents Turkish culture and nightlife, not a Chinese New Year performance. Anyone seeking a traditional Lunar New Year celebration should understand this is not that event.
Celebrating Chinese New Year with Family
Ages 0–2
Free on the regular cruise.
Ages 3–8
50% off the selected regular package.
Age 9+
Regular selected-package price.
Important
No children’s menu, equipment, childcare, entertainment or extra seating guarantee is implied.
Chinese New Year with Friends or a Group
Groups can choose Shared, Private, Stage Front or VIP according to preferences and budget. Larger groups should provide their complete party size before booking so arrangements can be checked.
Do not assume one table for every group size, adjacent tables, exact seating, a private area, group discount or dedicated Chinese-speaking staff.
What Can You See on the Bosphorus?
The route may include Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces, Ortaköy, both Bosphorus bridges, Beylerbeyi Palace, Rumeli Fortress and Maiden’s Tower.
These are route landmarks, not guaranteed views from a particular table or at a particular moment. Visibility varies.
What Is the Weather Like Around Chinese New Year?
Lunar New Year normally falls during the cooler part of Istanbul’s year, but its date changes annually and weather varies. Do not rely on a fixed forecast.
Indoor dining and entertainment areas are heated in winter; outdoor areas remain exposed. Bring warm outerwear for deck time and comfortable footwear.
Hotel Pickup or Self-Arrival
Free pickup may begin around 19:15 from Taksim, Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Şişli, Karaköy, Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Aksaray and Fatih. Exact timing depends on traffic, hotel and route; Asian-side hotels are excluded.
Self-arrival is at Dentur Avrasya Kabataş Pier for 20:30–20:45 boarding. Pay on Board saves €10 per adult with self-arrival; eligible hotel pickup uses the standard price. It cannot stack with the online offer.
Chinese New Year Dinner Cruise Checklist
Check Your Date
Chinese New Year changes date every year.
Choose Your Table
Compare Shared, Private, Stage Front and VIP.
Understand the Experience
This is a Turkish dinner cruise, not a Lunar New Year event.
Confirm Arrival
Send hotel details for eligible pickup or plan Kabataş self-arrival.
Prepare
Dress for the season and allow for Istanbul traffic.
Share Details
Provide group size and dietary requirements in advance.
Chinese New Year Bosphorus Dinner Cruise FAQ
Do Bosphorus dinner cruises operate during Chinese New Year?
The regular cruise can operate according to its normal schedule and availability. Chinese New Year does not automatically create a separate sailing or timetable.
Is there a special Chinese New Year dinner cruise?
No dedicated Chinese New Year package should be assumed. This is the regular Istanbul Bosphorus dinner cruise with Turkish entertainment.
Is Chinese food served for Lunar New Year?
Do not assume Chinese food or a Lunar New Year menu. The regular or VIP menu applies according to the selected package unless another arrangement is confirmed.
Is there Chinese New Year entertainment on the cruise?
No Chinese-themed entertainment should be assumed. The cruise presents its regular Turkish Night Show program.
Can families celebrate Chinese New Year on the cruise?
Yes. Families can book the regular cruise. Ages 0–2 are free, ages 3–8 receive 50% off and guests age 9+ use the regular selected-package price.
What should I wear on a Chinese New Year Bosphorus cruise?
Check the weather for your exact date. Indoor areas are heated in winter, while outdoor areas remain exposed, so warm outerwear and comfortable footwear are useful.
Is hotel pickup available during Chinese New Year?
Regular pickup may be available from eligible central European-side districts under normal booking conditions. Asian-side hotels are excluded, and Pay on Board also allows eligible hotel pickup at the standard price; self-arrival saves €10 per adult.
Where does the Chinese New Year dinner cruise depart from?
The regular dinner cruise departs from Dentur Avrasya Kabataş Pier on Istanbul’s European side.