Category: 2011 – Costa Atlantica, Eastern Med & Black Sea, 19 Sep – 1 Oct

The view from our breakfast position. You just can’t beat cruising! Geotagging gives our position as Beyoğlu. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Early morning view as we are pulling in. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

We are just coming into Instanbul and have the Topkapi Palace to our left. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

A quick photo looking back……. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Again I am amazed that there is still a strong signal out at sea. You might be able to just make out the Turkish flag flying in this photo. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Here is our current location. Soon to be heading north passing Kanakkale and the narrow channel which leads into the Sea of Marmara. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

We are on our way to Istanbul Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

We have just picked the pilot up and he is now on board as we sail out of Izmir. You can just make the boat out travelling away to the left of this photo. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Just close to where we are docked in Izmir is a large container area. I always find it amusing that both the commercial and tourist shipping nearly always seem to share adjacent areas of the dockside. Although it didn’t happen last time we were here, we were issued with a visa waiver form upon leaving the ship which allowed us to get back on after our morning out.

I would just like to compare our Ephesus tour with the ships one. The ships tour costing €59 (approx £50) with party’s of up to 30 people and our privately booked one with 4 people costing $200 total inc tips (approx £33 each). Private wins for me every time. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Safely back to the ship and have just enjoyed lunch out on the aft terrace. On offer today were whole sea bass, squid & mussels. We were back before the ships tours and enjoyed a nearly empty ship for a short while. Ephesus proving a very popular site for both ships in port along with passengers from the Celebrity Solstace which must be docked close by. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device