Barbaros Yachting Luxury Private Gulet 4 Cabins

We couldn’t have been happier with our gulet trip aboard "Mehmet Ayaz". The four-person crew were friendly, charming, and professional throughout. The boat was in pristine condition, and the meals were inviting and appetizing. Highly recommend!

Our week on the Gulet „Ada Deniz“ between Fethiye and Kekova was a great success. We booked through Barbaros Yachting (Aşkın Bey), and the planning and trip itself were handled professionally and reliably. Captain Namık and the crew made the week unforgettable. Chef Gül prepared a delicious dinner every evening, and Ege, Medine, Fatih and Berkay were friendly, hardworking companions throughout.

The only good part of last summer’s Marmaris tour was swimming in the Mediterranean’s clear water. Turkey is beautiful, and I’d like to return, but I’d want a quality sailboat like the one Barbaros used to have. I’m willing to pay more. I booked with Barbaros again because an earlier Greek island tour had gone well: the company owned the ship, and the service and everything else had been exceptionally good. I wish I hadn’t rebooked. I heard the company had been bankrupt for a long time and that former employees were keeping the website and listings going, referring bookings to other contractors for a commission. I also heard that falling tourist numbers had caused financial trouble. That’s what seemed to happen on our Marmaris trip. When we arrived, the boat was run down and hadn’t been renovated in ages. The room was much smaller, the bathroom smelled awful, and there wasn’t time to change our plans. The captain was rude, barking orders instead of speaking politely, and refused our requests throughout the trip. The food was awful and sometimes there wasn’t enough. Even drinking water was charged for, although the tour was supposed to be all-inclusive. It felt like everything was about saving money and making more profit for the captain and his boat. This wasn’t a ship owned by Barbaros. They had acted as the middleman, selling our booking to a random tour boat whose captain owned it. We also found out other passengers had booked through different companies and sources. We felt scammed from every direction. We tried to keep a positive attitude. When we reached shore, we asked the crew to drop us at restaurants or public beaches because the food was so poor and insufficient. The cook was a young woman who said she wasn’t a cook and was only helping, so we couldn’t blame her too much. What upset us most was feeling like prisoners of the captain. He gave excuses about not having enough fuel for the zodiac, not having time, or regulations. People who had taken this route many times knew he was making excuses so we wouldn’t go to other restaurants, and so he could sell us more alcohol. The sewer smell in the tiny room was unbearable and very uncomfortable. The rooms had been advertised as having air conditioning, and there was an AC unit, but the captain never turned it on to save money. The crew were also understaffed and exhausted. They had bloodshot eyes and were clearly being made to work 16 hours a day. Never again. Stay away from Barbaros, and research any tour company carefully before committing. Tourism in the country is in a desperate state, and the substantial price reductions lead to dire conditions. If you can recommend a more reliable company for a blue voyage tour, please let me know. Thank you.

Hello, some feedback on Beyzade Gulet for the Fethiye to Bodrum trip. The main downside was that the boat needs better maintenance for more sensitive guests. Alcohol was expensive, though the free soft drinks with meals helped make up for it. There was a lot to like: Barbaros provided help and information, and the itinerary was probably the best. We got an extra stop in Gokova for a day, and they adjusted the route to our requests, choosing beautiful fresh bays instead of hot harbors or cities. After an early trip, breakfast was served at one of the extra stops. The boat was bigger, faster, and more comfortable. Food was extraordinary for its quantity, flavor, freshness, variety, and vegetarian options. Free wifi, a 24-hour crew, and friendly passengers too. No children, and no English, German, or Russian speakers, only Mediterranean.