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Aug 23, 2008

Taras Shevchenko

1-888-942-3301

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Be the first to experience the Ukraine with Uniworld!
Uniworld introduces its brand new exciting cruise that takes you through the Ukraine all the way to Istanbul, Turkey. For 17 days you will discover wonder after wonder in this secluded part of the world.

Uncover the rich heritage of Ukraine and the Black Sea
Explore Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, with its Western-style elegance and sophisticated culture. Its broad avenues lined with chestnut trees are steeped in history. Taste the local food prepared by a family who lives in the rural Dnieper Delta area in Kherson. Visit Yalta, the most elegant resort on the “Crimean Riviera,” and see the sights of this historic city, including the famous Livadia Palace, where the Yalta conference was held at the end of WWII. Discover the important port city of Odessa, with its Mediterranean climate and picturesque setting on the Black Sea.

Explore the only city in the world located on two continents
Istanbul extends both on the European and Asian sides of the Bosphorus, making it the only city in the world situated on two continents. In this historically fascinating city, you can walk the streets where crusaders once marched, admire mosques that demonstrate true Islamic architecture, and hunt for bargains in the Grand Bazaar. Visit the breathtaking Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Today, Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, religions and it is yours to explore.

Who will enjoy this cruise: History buffs looking to explore a part of the world that was the center of many great empires. Architects and archeologists who would like to see grand mosques, palaces and historical buildings. Naturalists who wish to venture to the Danube Delta with its 1,200 varieties of plants and over 300 species of birds.

Note: Cruising in the Ukraine is a wonderful experience and while the Ukrainian MS Taras Shevchenko is a friendly, Russian-style ship that offers comfortable amenities, it doesn’t have all the same amenities as a Uniworld company-owned ship. In addition, English is not the only language spoken onboard.

KIEV TO ISTANBUL - 17 DAYS

DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Kiev

DAY 2: Kiev (embark)
Arrive in Kiev where you’ll be greeted by a representative and transferred to the ship. (D)

DAY 3: Kiev
Featured Excursion: City tour including St. Sophia’s Cathedral. Irresistible Optional Tour: Kievo-Pechersk Lavra with caves. Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, has had a fascinating history. Modern Kiev is a mix of old and new, seen in everything from the architecture to the stores and to the people themselves. During your city tour, you’ll see many historical buildings and monuments. Visit St. Sophia’s Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the city’s best known landmarks. (B, L, D)

DAY 4: Cruising the Dnieper River
The Dnieper River is the largest river in Ukraine and the third largest in Europe. Spend the day relaxing onboard as we cruise to our next port of call. (B, L, Captain’s Welcome Cocktail, D)

DAY 5: Zaporozhye
Featured Excursion: City tour including Cossacks Museum. Irresistible Optional Tour: Cossack show. During your city tour, you’ll see Lenin Avenue, Zaporozhye’s main street, October Square, Festival Square, the administrative center of the city, and Lenin Square. Visit the Cossacks Museum located on Khortitsa Island, the largest island on the Dnieper River. The museum contains exhibits dating from the Stone Age through the Scythian period (c.750 - 250 BC) down to the 20th century. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Kherson
Featured Excursion: Boat trip to Fisherman’s Island. Today, we have a special excursion to Fisherman’s Island. We’ll board a smaller boat for a one-hour cruise to the island. Along the way, you’ll see the beautiful landscape of the Dnieper Delta, including many different types of flowers, plants and animals. Upon arrival, you’ll be invited by some of the locals to enjoy a typical Ukrainian lunch. After lunch, you will visit a souvenir market before returning to the ship. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Sevastopol
Featured Excursion: City tour including Panorama Museum visit. Irresistible Optional Tour: Bakhchisarai, former capital of Crimean Khanate. You’ll see the Khan Palace, including the mosque, harem, and many fountains. Our half-day city tour of Sevastopol includes panoramic views of many historical cathedrals and monuments. Enjoy a visit to the Panorama Museum, a museum honoring the liberation of Sevastopol. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Yalta
Featured Excursion: City tour including visit to Livadia Palace. During the half-day city tour, you’ll see the famous Swallow’s Nest, a gothic-style building resembling a small castle which was built on the edge of the cliff of Cape Ai-Todor. You’ll also see the house where Anton Chekhov, the famous Russian short story writer and playwright, lived until his death. We’ll have an inside visit to the Livadia Palace, built of white Crimean granite in the Neo-Renaissance style. The palace contains 116 rooms, with interiors furnished in different styles. (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Yalta
Irresistible Optional Tour: Alupka Palace with wine tasting. Spend the day at leisure exploring this fascinating city on your own. (B, L, D)
 
DAY 10: Odessa
Featured Excursion: Odessa city tour. Irresistible Optional Tour: Visit an art gallery or enjoy an evening performance. Odessa is the fourth largest city in the Ukraine. Its historical architecture has a flavor more Mediterranean than Ukrainian, having been heavily influenced by French and Italian styles, as you will see during our city tour today. You’ll see the Marine Passenger Terminal, the Palace of the Shah, the monument to Pushkin, the Marine Museum, the Opera Theater, and the French boulevard, among many other sites. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Odessa
Irresistible Optional Tour: Excursion to Chisinau-Moldova. Spend the day at leisure as you explore Odessa at your own pace, or enjoy an optional excursion. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Scenic Cruising, Tulcea
Spend the day relaxing onboard as we cruise to our next port of call, Tulcea. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Tulcea
Featured Excursion: Boat trip along Danube Delta. Today, enjoy a boat excursion to the Danube Delta, the largest and best preserved of European deltas. It hosts over 1,200 varieties of plants and 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Nessebar (disembark), transfer to Istanbul
Featured Excursion: City tour. During our walking city tour of Nessebar, we’ll see the Church of St. John, St. Sofia’s Church, St. Stefan’s Church, the Archeological Museum, and many old houses, built in unique styles of the 16th–19th centuries, considered real architectural monuments. After our tour, we’ll disembark and transfer from the ship to our hotel in Istanbul. (B, L)

DAY 15: Istanbul
Featured Excursion: Full-day Istanbul. Istanbul is the only city in the world which is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul (Constantinople) served as the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. During our city tour, we’ll see the beautiful and very famous Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. We’ll also see the Topkapi Palace, where the personal belongings of the Prophet Mohammed and the earliest Caliphs who followed him are today preserved. We’ll cap the day off with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 58 streets, 4,000 shops, and 250,000 – 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. (B)

DAY 16: Istanbul
Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, and religions and today it’s yours to explore. (B)

DAY 17: Istanbul, transfer to Istanbul Airport
Transfer to the airport in Istanbul for your flight home.