I know the price was lowered again way down from the $100 they were doing for a couple of years.
We got the forms at the US post office and sent off our passports to the Turkish Embassy in Washington. I just feel it's nice to have it done.
I'm the one that mentioned the day we went through they were lined up getting them at the airport -- apparently no one was on duty for a while or something, so we were glad we had ours.
I'm not sure how it works on the cruise, but if you have time why not get them ahead of time and then you have no worries?

It was easy to get the visa at the airport in Istanbul, but if you are not arriving at the airport I am not sure how easy it would be to get them. I would probably try to get the visa ahead of time in that case.

Visas are very easy to obtain upon arrival. I assume that you arrive at the airport in Istanbulbefore embarking on your cruise.
Just look for the sign for" Visas" as you enter Passport Control area.They now cost 40 US Dollars for Us Passports. Have that amount ready in US Dollars to pay for it. The visa consists of a stamp placed in your passport. The process takes only seconds to complete.

Then proceed to passport Control. The procedure usually takes just a few minutes subject to the number of arriving aircraft.

Ask for the 3 month multi entry visa that will also be good for your return to Istanbul after the cruise and then will be good for your nights there before returning to the US.

If you arrive elsewhere , the procedure is similar in nature.

There is no need to apply by mail and thus mailing your passport.

I think it was $20 when I got it at the Istanbul airport this past October. If you're arriving in the country by boat, maybe there must be a place to get it at the port.

That is correct, we arriving in the country by boat and not at the airport. Does anyone know if there is a place at the port to get visas? Glad to hear about the price going from $100 to $20.

If you don't mind my adding a question to this post, would there be any problem getting the visa at the Istanbul airport if our flight arrives around midnight?

Istanbul airport is busy day and night- no problem as they remain open as long as flights arrive.

regarding arrival by boat- I have only entered Turkey at Marmaris by boat. Procedure was the same- just a little slower. I assume this would be the same in Istanbul as many ships call there.

Whether you arrive by sea or air, when you enter the country you must first go through a passport contol office where you will be required to pay $20 for an automatic 30-day visa.

Turkey also has 90 day multi entry visas. This is again a stamp affixed to your passport available at any entry point. If you will be entering Turkey more than once in this period is it best to get this to save time . Just ask for it when you buy the visa.
Cost in November when I was last there- 20 dollars.

Note: Turkey has begun to issue new currency January 1, 2005. Years of inflation had caused one euro to be worth about 1,800,000 lira.Thus prices of some items were in the hundreds of millions.

The new bills eliminate the 6 zeros of the old notes.Thus the former 20 million note is now just 20. New smaller demonination bills are also being issued.

Visa for turkey can be easily obtained through Turkish consulates in U.S.
Also in airports and harbors immigration desks and it costs 20 usd per person you need cash.
If you post the name of your cruise boat I can tell you how to obtain in Turkey.
regards
Nejat incedogan