Guests aboard the Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage were treated to a spectacular evening in Istanbul recently as an extra value-added event to thank them for cruising with Holland America Line.

Stein Kruse, president and CEO, along with his wife Linda, joined guests at the historic Binbirdirek Cistern (built in 330 AD and the oldest cistern in the city) for an unforgettable evening. The vaulted space was dramatically lit and the event featured a wide variety of Turkish delicacies and three stages for entertainment.

“It was a pleasure to spend time with our valued world cruise guests,” said Kruse.  “The evening was a spectacular success and will be talked about among our guests for some time.”

Among the special guests in attendance were the Honorable Ross Wilson, US Ambassador to Turkey and Sharon Wiener, US Counsel General in Istanbul and Paul Korff de Gidts, Counsel General from the Netherlands.

Following the event at the Cistern, guests returned to the Amsterdam to find a Turkish Bazaar Dessert Extravaganza surrounding the Lido Pool.  The ship’s staff decorated the area with ottoman tents transforming the entire venue.  Suspended over the pool was Aladdin on his magic carpet, and even the bear sculptures by the pool were converted into camels.

For the grand finale, as the ship was about to sail, a fireworks display over the Bosphorus lit up the sky and ended the evening with a bang.