Thank you for the quick reply. The cruise is June 2023 - I omitted that as I didn't think it would be relevant. As for departure city, that part is unknown as we plan to move between now and then. It will either by CVG or greater Tampa area. And why Delta? Like most people who travel a lot, one manages to build up points and status on a particular airline. Due to my status, I have a much greater chance for quick/painless resolution in case of issues. So for now, I'm primarily looking at Delta and asking for guidance if anyone has recently flown to IST (regardless of departure date/city) on a Delta ticket. I am trying to gather information to help me make an informed decision based on pros/cons.