Originally Posted by
JDiver
But... Istanbul is indeed a cruise ship port (they dock at Karaköy Yolcu Salonu in Karaköy), so those who are arriving via cruise ship should not need a visa if they are staying less than 72 hours.
Arriving for sure, possibly departing, cruise ship passengers arriving at one of the two airports at Istanbul could probably try pushing this, but I'd recommend the e-Visa - it's so easy, and a mere $20 per person, multiple entry over 180 days.
The transit without visa appears to be generally inapplicable to US citizens arriving into IST airport to catch a cruise ship out of the Turkish seaports, even if the landside stay in Turkey is to be less than 72 hours before continuing the trip by sea.
The Turkish evisa-waiver rule was apparently instituted for people who must meet at least both of the following conditions: (1) arrive into Turkey by boat and (2) transit out of Turkey within 72 hours.
Meeting one but not both of the above conditions has resulted in airlines denying transport to persons who failed to procure an evisa prior to check-in for flight to Turkey -- even when having proof of onward international travel by boat from Turkey within 72 hours of arrival there.