Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why should I book a tour through Byzance? Can't I do my own tours?
Of course you may be able to arrange your own tours, but why would you want to? When you book a tour from Byzance, transportation and most importantly the services of a well-trained local tour guide is included. You're also assured that you'll see the most for your money. By booking a tour through Byzance`s selection of excursions, you'll also save time and money. We've done all the thinking for you. You'll spend less time doing research and more time having fun. You get to choose from the very best and most popular tours in a port of call based on your interest and escorted by local experts who are familiar with the port, it's history, and culture.
2. What do tours include?
Tours include transportation according to the itinerary and your tour guide. Drivers are seperate than tour guides. While your tour guide is making commentary about the sites and culture of the area. Your driver will stay by the vehicle.
3. How physically challenging are tours?
Most tours require some degree of walking; however, some excursions require extensive walking. Whatever your fitness level, we highly recommend comfortable, low-heeled walking shoes.
4. How should I tip our Guide/Driver?
Extending a gratuity to your guide or driver is strictly optional; however, in Turkey, these personnel may anticipate that if you were pleased with their services, you will reward them in a monetary way. A commonly accepted guideline is 3 Euro per person for a half-day and 4 Euro per person for a full day.
5. How can I find out more about the ports we'll be visiting?
Before you cruise, you can find all the information you would ever need right on the web. You can also read about the most popular tours here as well. Onboard your ship, a qualified lecturer will hold informative talks on each port of call you visit. If you still have questions, many ships have a Port Lecturer that will be glad to answer them. You should also do a little research before you go. Your local library should have all kinds of books about your destination. Frommer's and Fodor's also have wonderfully informative books identifying local points of interest, culture and history.
6. What should I wear?
Guests should wear comfortable walking shoes at all times. When visiting ruins or walking on cobble stone streets, wear rubber-soled shoes. It's also smart to wear a sun hat. There is no need for a head scarf for the visit of House of Virgin Mary or Isa Bey Mosque.
7. Will I have time to shop?
Whenever possible, shopping time is allocated within the framework of the excursions.
8. Are Your Tours the same ones offered by the Cruise Lines?
Cruise Lines offer similar tours, visiting the same sites. The biggest difference is that you will be met by a private representative on arrival, reserve in advance and save time and money.
9. Why should I book Tours with Byzance instead of booking on board?
Save Money - these tours are 30 - 40% lower than you'll find on ship.
Avoid long lines at the Ship's Shore Excursion Desk.
All tours planned and confirmed before you sail.
No chance of a sell out like on board ship.
Full refund if tour is cancelled for bad weather or the ship misses port.
10. How reputable is Byzance?
Very. Byzance is a web trademark of Transbalkan Tours Ltd. which has been providing tours since 1963. Transbalkan Tours have a wonderful reputation. Byzance is confident that customers will enjoy the same tours that you'd find on a cruise ship at lower prices and with more convenience.
11. We've never been to these ports of call and want to do as much as possible in each port?
The local guides are considered top experts on local history and sights, offering you a chance to fully appreciate and experience their hometowns. The listed excursions are designed and organized in such a way as to maximize your time in each port and yet allow sufficient free time as well.
12. What type of transportation is used for the tours?
Type of transport vary considerably depending on the number of people in your party. We work with brand new Volkswagen and Mercedes Vehicles. All of our vehicles are Air-conditioned. Guest wishing to travel together with friends should leave the ship together, as this will help the guide.
13. How do I recognize you at the port?
At the port your guide will be waiting outside the passenger terminal. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it.
14. Am I travelling with a group on the tours?
We only provide private tours. You will be the only ones in the vehicle besides your personal tour guide and your personal driver.
15. How do I pay for my tour, what is the procedure?
Payment can be made in Euro or US Dollar cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required. If you would like to pay with a credit card. We accept credit card payments via Paypal. Therefore we ask the payment to be made at least 1 week prior to the service date.
16. Do we need to have a Turkish visa?
Cruise ship passengers calling to the Turkish Port of Calls are considered as in-transit therefore you do not need to have a visa.
17. What is your cancellation policy?
You can cancel a tour 72 hours in advance of your tour departure without any charges. If you would like to cancel a tour, simply send us an email and we will be happy to assist you. Once you are within the 24 hour tour departure window, the tour becomes non-refundable. This is because our guide and vehicle have set aside space to accommodate your request and will often not be able to fill that space with another customer so close to departure.
18. Would there be a charge if I miss my tour because the ship is late or cannot make it into port?
There would not be any charge if you cannot make a tour departure due to a ship delay or a missed port call. You will of course also receive a full refund if weather or an equipment problem prevents delivering the tour.
19. Is there a risk of missing the ship if I don't book through the cruise line?
No. Although the cruise lines would like you to believe that independent tours carry this risk, we are very well aware of your ship's departure time, and our tours are designed to get you back to the ship with time to spare and until today none of our clients missed the ship by being late getting back to the ship.
Of course you may be able to arrange your own tours, but why would you want to? When you book a tour from Byzance, transportation and most importantly the services of a well-trained local tour guide is included. You're also assured that you'll see the most for your money. By booking a tour through Byzance`s selection of excursions, you'll also save time and money. We've done all the thinking for you. You'll spend less time doing research and more time having fun. You get to choose from the very best and most popular tours in a port of call based on your interest and escorted by local experts who are familiar with the port, it's history, and culture.
2. What do tours include?
Tours include transportation according to the itinerary and your tour guide. Drivers are seperate than tour guides. While your tour guide is making commentary about the sites and culture of the area. Your driver will stay by the vehicle.
3. How physically challenging are tours?
Most tours require some degree of walking; however, some excursions require extensive walking. Whatever your fitness level, we highly recommend comfortable, low-heeled walking shoes.
4. How should I tip our Guide/Driver?
Extending a gratuity to your guide or driver is strictly optional; however, in Turkey, these personnel may anticipate that if you were pleased with their services, you will reward them in a monetary way. A commonly accepted guideline is 3 Euro per person for a half-day and 4 Euro per person for a full day.
5. How can I find out more about the ports we'll be visiting?
Before you cruise, you can find all the information you would ever need right on the web. You can also read about the most popular tours here as well. Onboard your ship, a qualified lecturer will hold informative talks on each port of call you visit. If you still have questions, many ships have a Port Lecturer that will be glad to answer them. You should also do a little research before you go. Your local library should have all kinds of books about your destination. Frommer's and Fodor's also have wonderfully informative books identifying local points of interest, culture and history.
6. What should I wear?
Guests should wear comfortable walking shoes at all times. When visiting ruins or walking on cobble stone streets, wear rubber-soled shoes. It's also smart to wear a sun hat. There is no need for a head scarf for the visit of House of Virgin Mary or Isa Bey Mosque.
7. Will I have time to shop?
Whenever possible, shopping time is allocated within the framework of the excursions.
8. Are Your Tours the same ones offered by the Cruise Lines?
Cruise Lines offer similar tours, visiting the same sites. The biggest difference is that you will be met by a private representative on arrival, reserve in advance and save time and money.
9. Why should I book Tours with Byzance instead of booking on board?
Save Money - these tours are 30 - 40% lower than you'll find on ship.
Avoid long lines at the Ship's Shore Excursion Desk.
All tours planned and confirmed before you sail.
No chance of a sell out like on board ship.
Full refund if tour is cancelled for bad weather or the ship misses port.
10. How reputable is Byzance?
Very. Byzance is a web trademark of Transbalkan Tours Ltd. which has been providing tours since 1963. Transbalkan Tours have a wonderful reputation. Byzance is confident that customers will enjoy the same tours that you'd find on a cruise ship at lower prices and with more convenience.
11. We've never been to these ports of call and want to do as much as possible in each port?
The local guides are considered top experts on local history and sights, offering you a chance to fully appreciate and experience their hometowns. The listed excursions are designed and organized in such a way as to maximize your time in each port and yet allow sufficient free time as well.
12. What type of transportation is used for the tours?
Type of transport vary considerably depending on the number of people in your party. We work with brand new Volkswagen and Mercedes Vehicles. All of our vehicles are Air-conditioned. Guest wishing to travel together with friends should leave the ship together, as this will help the guide.
13. How do I recognize you at the port?
At the port your guide will be waiting outside the passenger terminal. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it.
14. Am I travelling with a group on the tours?
We only provide private tours. You will be the only ones in the vehicle besides your personal tour guide and your personal driver.
15. How do I pay for my tour, what is the procedure?
Payment can be made in Euro or US Dollar cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required. If you would like to pay with a credit card. We accept credit card payments via Paypal. Therefore we ask the payment to be made at least 1 week prior to the service date.
16. Do we need to have a Turkish visa?
Cruise ship passengers calling to the Turkish Port of Calls are considered as in-transit therefore you do not need to have a visa.
17. What is your cancellation policy?
You can cancel a tour 72 hours in advance of your tour departure without any charges. If you would like to cancel a tour, simply send us an email and we will be happy to assist you. Once you are within the 24 hour tour departure window, the tour becomes non-refundable. This is because our guide and vehicle have set aside space to accommodate your request and will often not be able to fill that space with another customer so close to departure.
18. Would there be a charge if I miss my tour because the ship is late or cannot make it into port?
There would not be any charge if you cannot make a tour departure due to a ship delay or a missed port call. You will of course also receive a full refund if weather or an equipment problem prevents delivering the tour.
19. Is there a risk of missing the ship if I don't book through the cruise line?
No. Although the cruise lines would like you to believe that independent tours carry this risk, we are very well aware of your ship's departure time, and our tours are designed to get you back to the ship with time to spare and until today none of our clients missed the ship by being late getting back to the ship.