| Staying true to the boats historic location, they are being used in the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Just like in the old days, there are oarsmen in full costume, except this time they are performing animations as opposed to operating the boat. Once the passengers take their seats on the Sultan's throne they are greeted by the oarsmen's "welcome ceremony" and continue the remainder of the trip listening to authentic Turkish music.
The first replica arrived in Istanbul in September 2002. As of April 2003 two more boats have been completed, bringing the total number of Sultan's Boat at your service to three. One boat has a capacity of 30 people. You can rent them for any private occasion or join our routine tours.
The reason why Sultan's boats are being constructed today: The purpose of this project is to revive a historically important object for tourism purposes and to create an icon for Istanbul.
Tourists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tastes. Travelers are no longer interested in just sun, sand and sea and prefer to experience a different culture. Facilities that offer ethnic and cultural activities, therefore, are among the most attractive destinations.
People visiting Spain, for example, are not afraid to risk their life running in front of dozens of bulls because they are experiencing the joy of participating in a Spanish tradition. Similarly, practically every person visiting Venice goes on a gondola ride. There are many other similar examples.
This is the reason why the Sultan's Boat has been constructed. We hope that people visiting Istanbul will get a flavor for this old city and the history when they go for a boat ride on the Sultan's Boat.
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