Sail up the Bosphorus Strait… with Europe on one side of the ship and Asia on the other! Choose sides as you follow in the footsteps of Byzantine emperors, Ottoman sultans, and modern fashionistas on your cruise to Istanbul. This is Turkey’s commercial capital, and its glittering palaces and mosaic-filled mosques line the shores, welcoming you with a cheery “merhaba” as you prepare to explore a city where carpet dealers still haggle at the 500-year-old Grand Bazaar, and rooftop bars serve creative cocktails to funky DJ beats. Check out the upside-down Medusa head sculptures at the Underground Cistern, duck into a Turkish tavern for a meal on Nevizade Street, or explore ornate mosques.