Flying out same day as disembarking (Istanbul)

[LeslieA]

(Accidentally posted in the Greece Ports, reposting over here)

I am on the Noordam, departing 5/6/13 from Athens.

We arrive in Istanbul on May 16th and are docked overnight. The official disembarking is on Friday, May 17th.

There is a flight that leaves from the Atatürk International Airport at 12:45 pm.

Is that enough time to disembark in Istanbul and make it to the airport?

The other option is to spend Friday night in Istanbul and take a 12:45 flight out on Saturday.

What would you all recommend?

[John Bull]

Since you're overniting in port, you can depart the ship when you like.
The drive to Ataturk airport is usually about 30 to 40 mins, but you really ought to add an hour leeway plus check in 2 hrs before your (guessing it's trans-Atlantic) flight time. So book a transfer for about 8.30am, no problem.

A pre-booked transfer will cost around €20 - €25.
We used http://www.istanbulairporttransfer.net/ very good, on-time, clean modern Mercedes, driver had passable english, we paid cash at drop-off.

It's important that you pre-book a private transfer. The taxi drivers at the port are a bunch of chancers who will not use a meter & if you're airport-bound & loaded down with luggage they'll screw you for whatever they can get. Probably about €60. Taxi drivers in town aren't so bad.

But if time isn't your enemy, Istanbul is well worth a couple of days. Find a hotel in the historic Sultanahmet district. An easy city to explore on foot & by tram, & mebbe a ferry jaunt.

JB