It usually costs about 50-60 Turkish Lira (around $30) from the airport. We had mixed experiences with taxis in Istanbul. Some were wonderful and some were awful.

If you get a taxi to/from the airport, there is a fixed rate day or night. There is no tipping unless your driver has assisted with a lot of luggage. It is about 15 miles. I'm sure your hotel will be able to get you a taxi that is reputable to the airport. The Palace is one of the nicest hotels in the city.

We hired a private car to pick us up from the airport. We had a private guide and we arranged it as part of our package.

Love Istanbul. Wish we were going again.

It was easy and not expensive to get to and from the port and we used a taxi. You dock right in the heart of the modern area of the city near Taksim. We've been twice. Once we stayed post cruise and once, pre-cruise.