Disembarkation Questions in Istanbul

[Lexcruiser]

When disembarking at Galataport in Istanbul, how far is it from the ship to the port exit?  Any issues for persons with limited mobility?  If using a taxi, do you have to exit the port or is there a taxi rank before the exit?  Are there any difficulties in handling luggage from wherever it is picked up in the terminal to the port exit?  Are porters available?  The videos of the port show quite a few escalators; are there also elevators?  If anyone has used Luggage Forward to ship bags home, where are the bags dropped off?  Any problems there?  Thanks for your assistance.

[lenoirm]

Azamara will provide a wheelchair to go to the baggage claim and the port will provide a wheelchair to the taxi stand with your luggage.

There are elevators and escalators. 

You should contact , a few days in advance ,the customer desk on the ship to arrange a wheelchair departure.

Contact the port for arrival and departure help.

 

The port is new and underground with no seats or waiting room  (as of July 2022).  
 

Micheline

 

 

 

[Melissaghoti]

5 minutes ago, lenoirm said:

You should contact , a few days in advance ,the customer desk on the ship to arrange a wheelchair departure.

Contact the port for arrival and departure help.

 

The port is new and underground with no seats or waiting room  (as of July 2022).  
 

 

 

 

 

Galataport is new, very slick, and absolutely huge. It’s quite a hike from the ship to the exit. If a waiting room is added, it could still be a good distance from the ship.
As  lenoirm has said, it is essential that you let Guest Relations know that you’ll need assistance for as long as they can provide it when you disembark (I don’t know how you’d contact the port itself).  If Azamara can’t help with luggage pick-up and getting you into a taxi, there are porters available who can. Taxis and porters seemed plentiful.