The Turkish authorities have permitted cruise ships, which stop over in Crimea and Caucasus ports, to visit Istanbul despite the EU sanctions, which restrict visits to Crimea harbors, Russian Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olersky said.
“We negotiated with the Turkish authorities. They refused at first, because the ships were expected to visit Crimea ports. But then permission was granted; this was recorded,” Olersky said at a meeting of the Russian government’s Marine Board in Sevastopol on Wednesday.
Russian cruise ships with occupancy of up to 500 passengers will begin traversing the Black Sea in 2017, he said.
The fact that Istanbul will be included in the weeklong itinerary will attract tourists from Turkey, Olersky said.
