17 Day Ukrainian River Cruise with Istanbul 2010 (Nesebar to Kiev)

DAY 1 - Depart the USA
Depart the USA for Turkey. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey.

DAY 2 - Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore Istanbul on your own.

DAY 3 - Half Day Tour of Istanbul
Enjoy a half day tour of Istanbul that includes visits to the famous Blue Mosque, considered one of the finest mosques in the world, as well as the Hagia Sophia, and the Roman Hippodrome. Then continue to the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market, featuring over 58 streets and more than 4000 shops. (B)
 
Optional: Half Day Topkapi Palace & Rustem Pasha Tour ($70)

DAY 4 - Full Day at Leisure in Istanbul
Today is free to explore Istanbul on your own. Blending East and West, Istanbul stands as one of the greatest world cities, occupying two continents and offering a fusion of the ancient and modern. (B)
 
Optional: Half Day Istanbul with Spice Market ($68)

DAY 5 - Transfer for Embarkation in Nesebar
This morning depart Istanbul for your full day transfer. Arrive Nesebar in the late afternoon and embark the ship. This evening, celebrate your first night on board at the captain's welcome reception and gala dinner. (B,D) 

DAY 6 - Nesebar City Tour
This morning, enjoy a tour of the medieval city of Nesebar, one of Bulgaria's most popular Black Sea resorts. Recognized by UNESCO as a city of rich cultural and architectural heritage in 1983, Nesebar is home to an ancient fortress wall, traditional wooden houses, and a historic downtown area with some of the best preserved medieval churches in Bulgaria. Tonight, set sail for Constanta. (B,L,D) 

DAY 7 - Afternoon in Constanta
Enjoy the morning at leisure on board while sailing for Constanta. Afternoon arrival in Constanta. Your tour starts with a short drive to Tomis Port, the picturesque harbor of Constanta, situated in the old city district. View the Genoese Light Tower before continuing toward Mamaia, a resort on the Northern Romanian Black Sea Coast. Stop for photos and a glass of wine at this beautiful seaside summer resort. Then, travel to the shore of Lake Sinoe in the northern part of the Istria peninsula to the ancient city of Histria, founded 2600 years ago by Greek merchants and navigators in order to trade with the natives. Here, enjoy the opportunity to see the ruins of the fortress and tour the museum where you will see Greek, Roman and Byzantine artifacts from the excavations of the city and the surrounding region. (B,L,D) 

DAY 8 - Odessa City Tour
Arrive in Odessa, the largest and most prosperous port city on the Black Sea. This afternoon's panoramic tour of the city includes the Italian-Baroque Opera House and the famed Potemkin Stairs, the infamous site where hundreds of Odessans were slain during an uprising in 1905. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city on your own. After dinner on board, enjoy the night at leisure. (B,L,D) 

DAY 9 - Full Day in Odessa
Today is free to explore Odessa on your own. This evening, enjoy dinner and the night at leisure on board while sailing for Yalta. (B,L,D) 

DAY 10 - Yalta City Tour with Livadia Palace
Spend the day at leisure on board, arriving into Yalta in the late afternoon. Enjoy a tour of the city upon arrival, that includes a visit to one of Yalta's most impressive architectural monuments, Livadia Palace. Built of white Crimean granite in the Neo-Renaissance-style, Livadia Palace was the former summer home of Czar Nicholas II, the last of the Romanovs, and the site of the Yalta Conference during the second World War. (B,L,D) 

DAY 11 - Day at leisure in Yalta
Spend the day at leisure exploring Yalta on your own. In the evening, enjoy dinner and the night at leisure on board while sailing towards Sevastopol. (B,L,D) 

DAY 12 - Full Day in Sevastopol
Morning arrival in Sevastopol, a historic naval port and former base for the infamous Black Sea Fleet. Enjoy a tour of the city that includes a visit to the Panorama, Sevastopol's most popular site. Created by Russian painter Franz Roubaud, the Sevastopol Panorama is one of the world's largest panoramic paintings, depicting scenes from the 11-month Siege of Sevastopol, which took place during the Crimean War. (B,L,D) 

DAY 13 - Morning in Kherson and Fisherman's Island
Arrive this afternoon in Kherson and enjoy a boat trip to Fisherman's Island. Board a small boat and admire charming views of the Dnepr Delta as you navigate through narrow waterways. In the evening enjoy time at leisure on board. (B,L,D) 

DAY 14 - Zaporozhye City Tour with Cossacks History Museum
Upon arrival in Zaporozhye, enjoy a tour of the city that begins with a drive along Lenin Prospekt, where you will see the famous Lenin Monument. Continue to visit the Cossacks History Museum, one of the cities most frequented attractions. The afternoon is free at leisure to explore Zaporozhye on your own. (B,L,D) 

DAY 15 - Full Day Sailing
Today is free to enjoy on board activities or simply relax about the sun deck while sailing. This evening, celebrate your final night sailing at the captain's gala dinner. (B,L,D) 

DAY 16 - Kiev City Tour
This morning, enjoy a tour of Kiev that includes a visit to St. Sophia's Cathedral. Deriving its name from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, St. Sophia's Cathedral is one of Kiev's best known landmarks, and the first Ukrainian church estate to be recognized by UNESCO. The afternoon is free at leisure to explore the city on your own. (B,L,D) 

DAY 17 - Depart for the USA
This morning, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B) 

• Flights NYC-Istanbul, Kiev-NYC
• 15 nights First Class and Tourist Class accommodations 
• All transfers
• 38 meals: 15 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners
• Shore excursions per itinerary
• Entrance fees per itinerary
• Port Charges 

Not Included: Airport taxes & fees, optional shore excursions, and gratuities.

Istanbul: Mosaic Hotel
Cruising: Main Deck outside cabin onboard MS Shevchenko

• Other departure cities are available.
• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Cruise only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.
• Single cabins are not available on the Sun Deck. Unfortunately, triples cannot be accommodated on the MS Shevchenko. 
• Jul 10 departure: Due to site closure on Mondays, the Half Day Tour of Istanbul will not visit the Hagia Sophia and will include St. Chora instead. Aug 27 departure: Half Day Tour of Istanbul will not include the Grand Bazaar due to site closure on Sundays.
• May 23 departure: Due to site closure on Tuesdays, the Half Day Topkapi Palace & Rustem Pasha Tour will operate on Day 4.
• As Ukrainian river cruise and tourism industries are relatively young, you will certainly find the physical conditions there are lesser when compared to those of Western Europe. Ships are recently renovated 20-30 year-old vessels. You will find that cleanliness and onboard services are up-to-date.
• US citizens require a passport valid for six months beyond travel dates. Visas are required for Turkey.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Whenever air-inclusive prices are displayed, these prices do not include government taxes and fees, which are additional. Air prices are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package, at the price quoted.