Your Newyear Istanbul booking has two separate messages to watch for: the booking confirmation and the PDF party ticket. The ticket gives you the details for joining the evening. Your exact hotel pickup time is emailed one day before the party.
This guide covers our own arrangements, from the ticket email to shared tables and the ride back. For the current menu, event date and price, use the party ticket page.
When will my PDF party ticket arrive?
We normally email PDF party tickets within about four hours during our office hours: Monday through Saturday, 09:00 to 19:00, Istanbul time. Tickets for Sunday bookings are sent on Monday.
Your PDF party ticket is prepared separately from the automatic booking confirmation. Seeing a payment confirmation first is normal. Keep the email address on your booking correct, and check the spam or junk folder if you are waiting for the ticket.
If you have not received it after the expected processing period, contact our team with your booking reference and the email address used to book. You do not need to make a second reservation.
What is on the ticket, and do I need a QR code?
We email a PDF for the booking with the lead guest’s name and the number of guests. There is no QR-code check for this party. Your transfer driver already has the lead guest’s name.
Save the PDF on your phone before leaving the hotel so it is easy to find without searching your inbox at the waterfront. Keep your booking reference handy too. The instructions on your own ticket take priority over a general travel article, particularly if a meeting point has been arranged for your hotel.
If the guest count or lead name looks wrong, tell us when you receive the PDF. It is easier to correct the record before the day of the party than while the group is getting into the transfer vehicle.
How do shared tables work for couples and groups?
The party uses shared tables with 8 or 12 seats. Guests on the same reservation are arranged together. If your group is larger than one table, we arrange neighboring or facing tables so the group stays close.
We cannot promise a particular table position, a window seat or a private table. Table arrangements are finalized one day before the party. Couples and smaller parties share their table with other guests.
If friends have made separate bookings, send our team both booking references before the seating plan is finalized. We will check the arrangement with you; separate reservations do not automatically become one seating group.
Is hotel pickup included for my address?
Central Istanbul hotel pickup and return are included where the address is on the collection route. Please give us the full hotel name and address. A district name alone does not confirm that a vehicle can reach the entrance.
Pickup times for Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Taksim, Galata, Karaköy and Şişli are finalized for the evening. Collection times depend on the hotel and route. Your confirmed hotel pickup time will be emailed to you one day before the party.
| Where you are staying | Our current arrangement |
|---|---|
| Beşiktaş | Collection is available only in limited areas. Send the hotel address before booking. |
| Ortaköy | No hotel pickup. Plan to join at the boat. |
| Kadıköy, Üsküdar or elsewhere on the Asian side | No hotel pickup. We provide the boat location so you can arrange your own journey. |
| Airport hotels or outside the center | No hotel pickup. Travel to and from the boat independently. |
If a vehicle cannot enter your hotel’s street, we can arrange a nearby hotel as a meeting point. You will be collected and returned there. In some cases, joining directly at the boat is the practical option. The joining arrangement is explained with your ticket; the exact pickup time follows one day before the event.
Where do I wait, and can I come straight to the boat?
For an agreed hotel collection, be ready in the lobby or just outside the entrance at the time in your pickup email. If your ticket gives a nearby meeting hotel, wait at that location instead. The driver has your name, so use the lead name from the reservation when meeting them.
You can join independently at our departure location in Fatih. Use that exact map pin rather than choosing a Bosphorus pier from a general search. Check the joining instructions on your PDF and leave enough time for your own journey.
The boat does not wait for late arrivals. Missing the departure does not qualify for a refund. If you are organizing your own transport, organize the return journey as well.
What can I expect aboard SEREMONI?
The current party arrangement is aboard SEREMONI, a boat with capacity for 200 guests.
Dinner is served in the heated indoor area and starts a little after guests have boarded. There is an outdoor area on the upper level for views, and two toilets at the rear of the boat. Moving between areas involves stairs. If you need boarding assistance, ask our team about the access arrangement before booking.
There is no required dress code. Wear something you enjoy for dinner and dancing, and bring an outer layer for time outdoors. Our winter cruise clothing guide explains how to pack for both indoor dining and the open air.
What if I need vegetarian food or I am bringing a child?
Request a vegetarian meal when making the reservation so it can be arranged in advance. The current courses and included drinks are listed in the Dinner Menu.
Children age 2 and older pay the same ticket price as adults, with a seat and meal included. Children under 2 attend free. Count everyone age 2 or older in the main guest selector. Add children under 2 through the children’s question in the homepage FAQ so the booking records the whole party.
The included drinks are unlimited local rakı, beer and wine, plus cola, Fanta, Sprite and assorted fruit juices. Imported alcoholic drinks and personal expenses are extra. Tips are optional. Non-drinkers use the included soft-drink selection at the same published ticket price.
How do we find the return transfer after the party?
The vehicle that brought you returns you after the party. Drivers wait outside the boat and guide their guests back to the vehicles. You are returned to the hotel where you were collected, or to the agreed meeting hotel if your own entrance could not be reached.
Stay with your group as you leave the boat and follow your driver’s directions. If you miss the return vehicle or choose to travel independently, you arrange your own journey. There is no refund for an unused or missed return transfer.
Can I correct details or transfer my ticket to someone else?
If a passport number changes, email info@newyear.istanbul with your booking reference and the corrected details. We need the attending guests’ correct passport information in the reservation record.
You may transfer the ticket to another person if you cannot attend, provided the change and the replacement guest’s correct passport details are completed at least two days before the party. Contact the team to arrange it; passing the PDF to someone else does not update the booking.
New Year party tickets are non-refundable. A guest-name change is separate from cancellation and does not turn the ticket into a refundable booking. If your hotel or contact email changes, tell the team promptly so your joining messages reach the right place.
Still choosing a hotel? Our guide to choosing an Istanbul base compares the practical differences between the Old City, Beyoğlu and staying across the water.