| Day 1 | Depart US
|
| Day 2 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Fly to Istanbul and transfer to hotel. |
| Day 3 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul –
in this city you will find some of the
greatest buildings and works of art
in the world. Your first morning’s
sightseeing will take in the Byzantine
6th century cathedral of Hagia Sophia,
the Topkapi Palace and the Sultan
Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque). In the
afternoon you are free to relax at
your hotel. |
| Day 4 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
This morning’s tour includes the
Süleymaniye Mosque, built for
Süleyman the Magnificent, and a late
Byzantine masterpiece, the Church of
St Saviour in Chora. In the afternoon,
transfer to the port to embark Aegean
Odyssey. Depart for a day at sea en
route to Trabzon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 5 | AT SEA
A chance to relax and enjoy the
programme of talks as the ship makes
her way to Trabzon. |
| Day 6 | TRABZON, Turkey
A full day in Trabzon. The morning
tour will take you to the Sumela
monastery: built high in the mountains
in the 4th century, the monastery is a
place of mouthwatering natural beauty.Return to the ship for lunch and in the
afternoon you can explore the sites of
Trabzon – including the 13th century
Church of Hagia Sophia – at leisure.
Evening departure for Batumi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 7 | BATUMI, Georgia
Founded as a Greek trading colony
in the 2nd century BC, Batumi is
situated in a charming natural
harbour. In the morning you will
visit the Botanic Gardens that cover
279 acres and contain over 1,000
varieties of roses. In the afternoon
you’re free to visit the vibrant market
or Ethnographic Museum. Evening
departure for Sochi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 8 | SOCHI, Russia
This morning you have the chance
to pay a visit to Stalin’s summer
home or the Botanical Gardens
and Tree of Friendship. Lunchtime
departure for Kerch.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 9 | FEODOSIYA, Ukraine
A little less than two hours’ drive
from Feodosiya is the remarkable
Genoese fortress at Sudak and this is
the destination of this morning’s tour.
Built in the 14th and 15th centuries
and perched high on a clifftop, this
massive citadel is a truly remarkable monument. In the afternoon, you
are free to explore the resort town of
Feodosiya. A late evening departure
for Yalta.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 10 | YALTA, Ukraine
There is much to enjoy in this
elegant town that was once the
summer residence of the Russian
royal family. In the morning you
will visit the Chekhov House-
Museum and then on to the Livadia
Palace. Built as a summer residence
for Tsar Nicholas II in 1911, the
Livadia Palace was the site of the
1945 conference between Roosevelt,
Churchill and Stalin. After lunch
onboard, continue on to the exotic
19th century Alupka Palace. Return
to the ship for a late-night departure
to Sevastopol.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 11 | YALTA, Ukraine
There is much to enjoy in this
elegant town that was once the
summer residence of the Russian
royal family. In the morning you
will visit the Chekhov House-
Museum and then on to the Livadia
Palace. Built as a summer residence
for Tsar Nicholas II in 1911, the
Livadia Palace was the site of the
1945 conference between Roosevelt,
Churchill and Stalin. After lunch
onboard, continue on to the exotic
19th century Alupka Palace. Return
to the ship for a late-night departure
to Sevastopol.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 12 | SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine
On the first morning, you will
start your tour at the Panorama
Museum, where the circular painting
is augmented by displays that tell the
story of the 349-day siege of the city.
Then drive out of the city to Balaklava
visiting the “Valley of Death” site of
the Charge of the Light Brigade en
route. After lunch onboard, you will
visit the Naval Museum, which was
once a Soviet nuclear submarine base.
Known as the ‘fish’s nest’, this is
housed in a natural underwater cave
and harbour protected by massive
nuclear-blast proof doors.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 13 | SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine
A chance to explore Sevastopol’s
more ancient heritage. In the morning,
you drive to Chersonesos, a city
founded by the Greeks in 422BC
and later the site of the birth of the
Russian Orthodox church. In the
afternoon you are at leisure to enjoy
Sevastopol or take an optional tour to
Bakhchysaray, the Tartar stronghold
from the 16th to the 18th centuries,
including a visit to the imperial
Khan’s Palace. Return to the ship for
an evening departure to Odessa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 14 | ODESSA, Ukraine
The morning’s tour will take in all the
great sites of the city including the
Opera House, designed in the 1880s
by the same architects responsible for
the Vienna State Opera, the Potemkin
Steps and the Archaeological Museum.
In the afternoon you are free to continue
exploring this historic place (a visit to
the Pryvoz market is recommended).
Evening departure for Nessebur.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 15 | NESSEBUR, Bulgaria
A lunchtime arrival in Nessebur
allows you an afternoon to explore
the sites of this beautiful old town,
including the Byzantine-style Church
of Christ Pantokrator, the 5th century
Old Metropolitan Church and the
Archaeological Museum. Evening
departure for Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
|
| Day 16 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Disembark for Istanbul Airport and
the flight home. |