Rip Off Boat Trips from the Harbour

dozza67


Joined: 11/07/2008
Posts: 607

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 10:08

Yesterday, our visitors went on a 7 hour boat trip which took them to the Kervansary beach and escape beach. Around 5 miles sailing, the rest was just at anchor on the above beaches. The food was okay but the drinks prices were outrageous and nowhere on the boat was a list of these prices. You pay when you get off the boat. 10tl for a brandy sour with not a lot of brandy in. Everyone getting off the boat was complaining about these prices and what did they get? A shrug of the shoulders and a cheeky smile. Once bitten, twice shy. I will tell any future visitors to take their own drinks (if they can?) or not bother going. The boat was packed, so for a little chug around the bay and high prices, those boat owners are making a fortune. I know they don't do much in the Winter but that doesn't excuse ripping off their summer visitors.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 10:18

What was the name of the boat?

Codger


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 153

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 10:25

No use complaining unless you name the boat



Codger

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 10:32

Was it flying the jolly roger?

semtcm


Joined: 13/01/2009
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 10:44

i always recommend the AFRICAN QUEEN- there bar prices last year were the same as ours in Ozanköy - 3.5 for efes - great clean boat - great captain - hope you have a great season guys......

libby

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 11:02

i fancy a boat trip with the wife and kids when i'm over on 24th for a week,where is the african queen based to and do you have any contact details?thanks in advance.

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 11:11

My opinion ( for what its worth ) is...none of the boat trips for the day, from the harbour, are worth it ( escape beach and back!....4 miles )



Try an evening trip to watch the sun setting instead.

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 11:15

The Amanda Suzanne is an English run boat and the prices are clearly shown by the bar. It is licensed to carry only 28 people and everyone gets a sunbed. It is moored just by the tourist information office and you are welcome to go and have a look around before you decide on a trip or not. For further information please call Phil on 0533 8735456



Cheers, Les and Phil

rcroton


Joined: 05/06/2008
Posts: 192

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 11:16

For what its worth i think they all charge to much, an early evening trip is the best bet though especially in summer

Storm



Joined: 03/03/2009
Posts: 240

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 11:42

Hi Sporty - The Afrcan Queen (Sail Cyprus) is the very large boat by The Tourist Office - highly recommended. Family run - really good food and no rip-off prices. Call Gengiz on: 0533 876 3666 - as advertised in The Kyrenia Sun magazine page 6

Aysesdaddy



Joined: 21/03/2009
Posts: 392

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 11:44

Could you tell me if the evening trips are just for adults or are they suitable for a 12yr old and two 14yr olds.

jeffers


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 12:30

They have a great piano player on the African Queen - Oh no - sorry I was thinking of somewhere else ;-)

viking


Joined: 09/10/2008
Posts: 36

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 12:50

We went on the African Queen last May for my birthday treat, must say the boat was very clean, the food was very good, and drinks were a lot cheaper than in the hotel we were staying out, when we come out next week will trying out the evening trip and watch the sun go down



Viking

kiwikid


Joined: 18/08/2008
Posts: 496

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 13:30

African Queen, does an sun set curry trip which is fantastic. And it is suitable for children.

lobylud


Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 242

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 13:50

I've been on many gulet trips in Turkey and they have all been fabulous trips.

Unless they are part of a co-operative you can also haggle over the price.

I know the boats can only go to what's available on the North Cyprus coast but the Turkish trips all seem to go to more interesting places.

The four trips I've done in NC were all good days out but just didn't seem such good value.

Maybe I've just been spoilt.

semtcm


Joined: 13/01/2009
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 14:59

we did the curry cruise last year - i loved it - some of our party dıdn't but they dıd not lıke curry! it is a short trip - you watch the sunset and come back ın - but i thought it was fab - warm breeze - sun set and full moon against the mountains and scrummy food......

yum yum!

dozza67


Joined: 11/07/2008
Posts: 607

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 15:19

The boats name was "The Sabrina" and you embarked round about the middle of the harbour. Wish they had gone on the African Queen now. I also noticed that it was only flying a Turkish Flag, not the TRNC flag??

Dixie Normus


Joined: 22/02/2008
Posts: 820

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 15:53

Thought you folks would know the golden rule here on devils island, make a full enquire before you buy or agree to anything if no prices are displayed dont touch it with a barge pole give the man his money when he gives you the price or you will have it shoved up you big style later with extras. If you can, stay with the brit owned boats instead of the Somali pirate brigade.



D.N

kiwikid


Joined: 18/08/2008
Posts: 496

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 18:43

By law all boats here have to display a Turkish and a Turkish Cypriot flag even if it is a small speed boat, so not sure what boat didn't have a TRNC one but you may of missed it as all tour boats in the harbour do fly both.

As for the cost of the boat trips, IMHO 20 pounds which is the price the boat trips are usually sold for, is not too bad a price considering you get a boat trip and a nice meal. For me i don't really want to spend the day moving I enjoy seeing the coast and swimming.

We were charged 7 tl for a brandy sour on the African Queen and they have a clear price list on the bar.

Angela

Aysesdaddy



Joined: 21/03/2009
Posts: 392

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 19:47

Thanks Kiwikid that is helpfull

dozza67


Joined: 11/07/2008
Posts: 607

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 20:05

It most definitely was not showing a TRNC flag. I watched it come into the harbour. There were no price lists up either. We know to always ask questions like "how much" but visitors don't (they do now) 7tl for a brandy sour is reasonable but 10tl isn't.

keithr


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 720

Message Posted:
13/05/2009 20:16

Were there any speedboats filled with gentlemen of african extract ???

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
14/05/2009 00:13

dozza67, I think i went on the sabrina about 3yrs ago, did they have a dog?



I was actually booked on another boat, one of the english ones but in the morning they had gearbox problems and we were swapped over.



It was "sabrina boat tours" day off and the captain and his wife were as moody as........



Wouldnt bother again.



tootie

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
14/05/2009 03:15

Been on The African Queen,

Great boat,

Great crew,

Great food,

Great atmosphere,

Great day out

Navek

semtcm


Joined: 13/01/2009
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
14/05/2009 10:37

just as an aside - we charge 7tl for a brandy sour at the 5 fingers - i think this is reasonable as it is made in a lovely iced pint glass - lovely - don't know why i never drink them really!

dozza67


Joined: 11/07/2008
Posts: 607

Message Posted:
14/05/2009 10:55

Yes Tootie, they do have a dog.

MilesAway


Joined: 22/04/2009
Posts: 22

Message Posted:
17/05/2009 06:49

re msg 8 - Fond memories of a great trip on Amanda Suzanne some time ago. Everything about it was fantastic. Captain Jack & his mum & dad say hello!

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
17/05/2009 08:10

Thanks for your message MilesAway. Hi to all, especially Captain Jack.



Phil and Lesley

del62


Joined: 03/11/2008
Posts: 42

Message Posted:
17/05/2009 11:57

Went on the Harbour groups boat 2 weeks ago.

Great food and reasonable drink prices.

Would recomend.