It was 3 or 4 years ago when I first came across SCIC sailing, and I thought to myself I would love to do that. Then in 2022 we booked a once in a lifetime trip with friends around Svalbard, the most northerly populated island close to the North Pole. It was to be a fascinating cruise around this island with opportunities to view it's fascinating natural parks, but alas it was cancelled due to an Airline strike by SAS 😢.
So this year 2023 I was determined not to be disappointed again and decided on a family trip with SCIC Sailing. Fortunately, all 8 of the family (4 daughters, a fiancé and a boyfriend) were able to make it. So, we set our dates for Sailing from Bodrum for a week from the 24th June.
On our way to our Gullet Notus with the captain, Ergun
Four of us took a few extra days to take in Istanbul, a city Sharon and I had first visited in 2008, for a conference. We spent a lovely 3 days in Istanbul, a fantastic city on the divide of Europe and Asia. But more on this again.
I must say Turkish Airlines are a treat to fly with. We left Istanbul early on the Saturday morning and flew to Bodrum. SCIC Sailing took care of all our transport needs to and from hotels and airports. We met up with the other 4 members of the family who had flown to Bodrum the night before.
We all met at the Elgin Hotel in Ortakent to board our Gullet. The excitement was amazing as we saw out boat out in the harbour. The small outboard boat would take us and our cases in 3 trips.
We are greeted on board with a glass of bubbly and some snacks.
The Gullet is 24 metres long and we had 7 cabins available to us. We used 5 cabins and 2 were free, which was lucky as we did bring large suitcases, which was a mistake, but at least we had the spare cabins to take our cases. We did bring too much clothes with us but our excuse it that we spent some extra days in Istanbul. But really, we only needed minimum leisure clothing. We were very lucky we had beautiful sunny warm weather. Our captain said the previous weeks were not so lucky. So, we spent most of our time in shorts and tee-shirts and bathing suits. We didn't even need jumpers for cool evenings.
Sunrise from our cabin
The cabins have a toilet, sink and shower and a double bed. It is a tight fit so lucky we could get rid of the cases. But ideally you should take soft bags that fold away. There is some cubby-holes, shelves and storage space to store your belongings. All in all, it was very comfortable and we had no problems sleeping. There is some air-conditioning for a period of time to cool the rooms before heading to bed.
The coastline, islands, bays, inlets, and views along the Turkish coast are amazing, but what made the holiday exceptional was the crew. We felt we made a connection with the captain and the crew. Ergun our captain, firstly was great fun, he has a great sense of humour. He was very kind to our daughter Roisin who got seasickness on the first day, but he made sure she didn't get sick again. He had great knowledge of the seas and places where we could enjoy ourselves and gave us plenty of local stories and insights.
Emirhad, looked after us along with Amhet. He kept supplying us with drinks and snacks. He also has a great sense of humour and he is very friendly and for one so young he was very comfortable communicating with everyone. He was the one who kept the parties going and making sure everyone got up and danced. As did Ergun who has some moves too!
The Chef kept us royally fed. We had three incredible meals a day. They were varied and took into account we had a vegetarian and a couple who didn’t like fish or seafood. It was like having a first class restaurant on board.
During our trip Rory had his 30th birthday and the crew pulled out all the stops to make it a memorable occasion, party bunting and balloons were put up by Emirad and Amhet, and the chef created the most amazing birthday cake, best I’ve had! Emirad kept the music going and got everyone up dancing.
Crew with Rory and his fabulous birthday cake. The party theme was Country Classic Gold!
The daily routine was relaxing on board the deck, taking in the beautiful sights of the coast, bays and inlets and the sunshine as we sailed along the coastline. We were given drinks and snacks as we wanted them. We had access to a paddle board and kayaks so we could enjoy the beautiful blue seas.
We had one excursion to Cleopatra Island where we walked around to see some architectural sights including an ancient amphitheatre and to swim in a divine beach in a mostly enclosed bay. It was a holiday week in Turkey so it was busy on the seas and unfortunately some of the excursions were closed or booked out. But to be honest we were enjoying ourselves too much on the boat.
The week went too quickly, and as I said we felt we made a great connection with the crew in particular the captain and Emirhan, so it was difficult to leave. Hopefully someday again we can return and enjoy even more
Thank you to all the crew, who were truly amazing, and the staff at SCIC Sailing, especially Loes in the office who looked after our booking and always answered every email and phone call promptly and in good humour and with excellent information and insight. Also Baris who helped us with our bookings and transportation needs.
Our last night on board in Bodrum Harbour
I asked members of my family to put down a few words on what they thought of the trip and this is what they said.
“I thoroughly enjoyed our week on Notus from the time we stepped on Board. The captain Ergun was professional, courteous and had a wicked sense of humour. He encouraged us to enjoy ourselves, and was so kind to one of our daughters who was sea sick on first day. Emirhan was so polite, attentive and very hard working. He carried out his duties with good humour also. Our Chef kept us very well fed. And the food was delicious and healthy.
And lastly Ahmet was polite and kept the ship Spic and span.
Their teamwork was amazing. We didn’t want to leave the ship at the end of the week. ”
“The week on the Notus was amazing. Incredible scenery, food and drink made all the better by the fantastic staff who were so attentive and fun and really helped make the trip very special and a once in a lifetime experience.”
“I recently embarked on a week-long boat trip in Turkey, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, the trip was filled with excitement, relaxation, and excellent service.
First and foremost the crew was outstanding. Their professionalism, friendliness, and expertise made me feel safe and well taken care of throughout the journey. They were always attentive to our needs, offering assistance and guidance whenever required. Whether it was navigating the sunning Turkish coastline or sharing interesting stories about the local culture and history, the crew members went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment.”
“Our week on Notus was an absolute blast from the moment we stepped on board! I can’t even begin to express how much fun we had.
Captain Ergun truly made our sailing adventure unforgettable with his professionalism, humour, desire to tell us about all the areas we visited. He had us laughing throughout the entire trip, making every moment on the boat a joyous experience.
Emirhan, our dedicated crew member, deserves a special mention for his politeness, attentiveness, and hard work. He went above and beyond to cater to our needs and did so with a constant smile on his face. His positive energy was contagious, and it made us feel truly valued as guests.
The Chef on board was a culinary genius! We were treated to delicious and healthy meals throughout the week. It was a pleasure to indulge in such flavourful dishes while surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the sea. Our taste buds were in paradise, thanks to the Chef’s expertise. He even created one of the tastiest Birthday cakes for me which blew us all away.
Ahmet, the ship’s steward, deserves recognition for his impeccable service and his commitment to keeping the ship in perfect order. The ship was always spotless, and his polite demeanour added an extra touch of warmth to our experience.
What truly made our time on Notus extraordinary was the remarkable teamwork displayed by the entire crew. Their coordination and harmonious collaboration were awe-inspiring. We felt like a part of their family, and that made it incredibly difficult to say goodbye when the week came to an end.
I can genuinely say that we didn’t want to leave the ship. Notus provided us with an exceptional sailing holiday, filled with laughter, incredible service, and unforgettable memories. We are grateful to Captain Ergun, Emirhan, the Chef, and Ahmet for creating such a phenomenal experience for us.
Thank you, Notus crew, for an incredible adventure. We’ll cherish these memories forever!”
“We had the best weekend and a fantastic experience. The crew and boat was amazing led by the excellent captain who was so much fun and kept us entertained, Emirhan who was exceptional and gave us a 5 star service and the most well-mannered and considerate host supported by Ahmet who was also excellent. And a big thank you to the chef whose food was incredible, I was quite nervous about the food situation as I don’t eat seafood and there were so many options and delicious food, I had nothing to worry about! Thanks again for an experience to remember and want to repeat!”
“I recently went on a week-long boat trip in Turkey and had an incredible time. The crew and chef were absolutely fantastic, providing excellent service throughout the journey. They were attentive, friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. The chef’s culinary skills were exceptional, and every meal was a delightful experience. Overall, it was an unforgettable trip thanks to the amazing crew and chef. Highly recommended!”