Board the Viking Lomonosov in Odessa. The ship has 112 comfortable staterooms, a library, Internet stations, an onboard boutique, hairdresser and doctor. The cruise ports in Sevastopol and Yalta for two days each. Other stops include Kherson, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk before disembarking in Kiev.
Sail the Black Sea and the Dnieper River through the heart of Ukraine with scenic views of historic villages, forest groves and rolling hills. Visit ancient cities with fascinating pasts from Viking, Tatar and Cossack heritages. In the ports-of-call, there are opportunities to see the architectural splendor of palaces and cathedrals. Explore the multifaceted churches and museums in the Monastery of Caves, founded by monks in 1051. Passengers can join an archeological tour of Chersonese, an ancient Greek city or take a guided tour through private apartments of the czar's family in the White Palace, the meeting place for Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill at the 1945 Yalta Conference.
Viking River Cruises
Schaferweg 18
Basel CH-4057
United States
800-304-9616
vikingrivercruises.com
Sail the Dnieper River on the MS Dnieper Princess. The staterooms include modern amenities such as a phone, air-conditioning, a refrigerator and private bathroom. Public areas include a pool, sauna, salon, a massage facility and souvenir shop. The cruise embarks in Kiev, disembarks in Odessa and visits the renowned city of Yalta, as well as Kanev, Kremenchug, Zaporozhye, Kherson and Sevastopol.
Offshore excursions allow passengers to tour ancient historical cities, visit the Cossack History Museum, Panorama Museum and Livadia Palace. Other expeditions allow sightseers to view a Swallows nest and explore the Pecherskaya Lavra Caves and Tombs founded in the 11th century. An outing in Dnieper allows you to dine on cultural food prepared by a local rural family.
Value World Tours
17220 Newhope St., Ste. 203
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
800-795-1633
rivercruises.net
Two cruise ships---the MS Koshevoy or MS Shevchenko--embark from Kiev or Istanbul and both offer modern amenities. The cruise sails between two cities on three rivers, two seas and through five countries. Ports of call include Kiev, Zaporozhye, Kherson, Sevastopol, Yalta, Odessa, Constanta, Nesebar, Istanbul. Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
Enjoy scenic river towns along the banks of the Dnieper River. Excursions include visiting St. Sophia Cathedral built in 1037 with 14 majestic domes and palaces, including the Levadia Palace, which was built for Tsar Nicolas II in 1911. Passengers have the opportunity to visit to legendary Khortitsya Island, soak up the history and culture in the many museums, including the Panorama Museum or watch a Cossack folklore show. In Odessa, sightseers can view monuments of 19th century architecture in the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the Museum of Archeology, the famous Potemkin Staircase and the Opera House.
Imperial River Cruises
15 Artisan Ave.
Huntington, NY 11743
800-555-0678
imperialrivercruises.com
