FOOTSTEPS OF THE COSSACKS 12 DAYS FROM $2,088 US Details below or
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Discover Ukraine’s colorful culture on this cruise along the Dnieper River. Tour palaces, monasteries and botanical gardens in Kiev, Yalta and Odessa, learn about the country’s maritime history in Sevastopol, and immerse yourself in Cossack traditions in Zaporozhye. See the influences of the Vikings, the Tatars and others on Ukraine’s architecture and people.
A voyage through Ukraine is a journey through time. Explore the renowned cities of Odessa, Yalta and Kiev, as well as scenery and towns rich in tradition along the Dnieper River. On this 12-day journey, see how societies from the Vikings to the Tatars and Cossacks have influenced the architecture, cuisine and culture of today’s Ukraine. Visit landmarks like the Livadia Palace, site of the 1945 Yalta Conference, Odessa’s Potemkin Steps and Kiev’s extraordinary Monastery of Caves, and immerse yourself in Cossack traditions in Zaporozhye. Discover Ukraine!
Day 1 Odessa Arrive in Odessa then transfer you to your ship.* After boarding, take free time to relax before dinner. (D)
Day 2 Odessa
After breakfast, enjoy a half-day tour of Odessa, an elegant city of terraced hills and landscaped parks. Travel along Primorski Boulevard to the Opera House and Potemkin Steps. You have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to further explore enchanting Odessa on your own—as always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Addtionally, you can choose to join an optional Art Gallery Museum or Jewish Odessa tour. Dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Odessa
Today you have a full day at leisure to explore the city of Odessa on your own. See the rows of baroque sculptures that line the Pasazh Shopping Mall, visit the ornate Cathedral of the Assumption, or take in the beauty of the early 19th-century buildings while traversing the famous Prymorsky Boulevard. Additionally, you can join an optional tour to Akkerman Fortress in the ancient town of Bilgorod Dnistrovsky, or to the man-made catacombs of Odessa. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Sevastopol
Enjoy lectures and cultural activities as we sail on the Black Sea. This afternoon, arrive in Sevastopol, base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Tour the city center and see St. Vladimir Cathedral and Admiral Nakhimov Square. Explore a little more on your own, or join an optional archeological tour of the ancient Greek city of Chersonese, founded in the 6th century B.C. near today’s Quarantine Bay and designated one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. The evening is free, or you can attend the optional Black Sea Choir concert. Dine aboard. Dock overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Sevastopol
This morning’s tour goes to the Tatar city of Bakhchisarai. Tour the Khan Palace, built in 1519, and see the many different architectural styles within the complex. Visit the courthouse, harem and mosques, then stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds. After lunch, explore Sevastopol, site of the famed “Charge of the Light Brigade” during the Crimean War, on your own—or take an optional tour to Balaklava to visit the Panorama Museum and submarine tunnels. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Yalta
Awaken this morning in Yalta and enjoy a morning tour. Travel along Lenin Embankment to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Livadia. Visit the White Palace, site of the 1945 Yalta Conference between Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill, and take a guided tour through official halls and private apartments of the czar’s family. Explore on your own this afternoon; or join an optional excursion—a wine-tasting excursion to Massandra, or the Nikita Botanical Garden featuring 20,000 species of plant life. Lunch and dinner are served aboard. Dock overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Yalta
Take the morning to further explore Yalta, or you may join an optional tour. Spend a delightful morning at the beautiful mid-19th-century Aloupka Palace and gardens, or visit one of Anton Chekhov’s homes in Yalta, now a museum about the famous playwright. As we depart this afternoon, we gather to enjoy the majestic scenery of the Crimean peninsula. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Kherson
After a morning of scenic cruising and a Ukraine language lesson, arrive in Kherson midafternoon. Disembark for a tour of this small city, founded in 1778 by order of Catherine the Great and named after the nearby ancient Greek colony of Chersonesos Taurica. Walk along the river embankment, see the monument to Prince Potjomkin and visit St. Catherine’s Cathedral, decidedly Mediterranean in design. Dinner is served as we depart. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Zaporozhye
After lunch, arrive in Zaporozhye, ancestral home of the Cossacks. Drive along Lenin Street; see the Lenin Monument, the city’s dam and massive hydroelectric plant. Then visit the Cossack Museum of Khortitsa. Later, enjoy a special Cossack horsemanship show including folkloric music and dance. Depart early evening and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Dnieper River Scenic Cruising
Enjoy a full day of scenic cruising, taking in the Dnieper’s landscape of rolling hills, ancient forest groves, historic villages and wide lakes. A series of onboard activities are available to help you continue to familiarize yourself with the history and culture of Ukraine. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Kiev
Cruise toward Kiev this morning. After lunch, tour Kiev, one of Europe’s oldest cities, with a heritage of Viking, Cossack and Ukrainian peoples. Explore its historic buildings and monuments, and take a guided tour of the lovely domed St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Monastery of Caves, an extensive complex of churches and museums founded by monks in 1051. Enjoy dinner aboard and remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Kiev
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your time in Ukraine's capital city with a 2-night Kiev extension. (B)
The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Viking Lomonosov
Take an exclusive journey through unexplored Ukraine on this river cruise vessel—offering a truly unique travel experience.
More days means more to discover—with packages you can add before or after your journey. Wherever your journey takes you, we offer exciting ways to see even more of the region.
Pre-Extension: Istanbul
3-night pre-extension - $999 per person
Spend three fabulous nights in historic Istanbul, former imperial capital of the Romans and Ottomans, on your way to Ukraine. Accommodations at the Conrad Istanbul (or similar), daily breakfasts, two half-day tours, airfare to Ukraine* and hotel/airport transfers are included along with the services of a host.
*Please note: Airfare and transfers to and from this destination are included in your extension price only if you purchase your trans-Atlantic airfare through the tour operator.
Post-Extension: Kiev
2-night post-extension - $399 per person
Experience Kiev’s gracious architecture, public squares and landmarks, and explore the glorious, sprawling Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World heritage site. Two nights at the Radisson Blu (or similar), daily breakfasts, guided walking tour and hotel/ship transfers are included along with the services of a host; optional tours will also be made available.
Departure Dates: May - September
Prices From approx $2,088 US
per person based on double occupancy
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Discover Ukraine’s colorful culture on this cruise along the Dnieper River. Tour palaces, monasteries and botanical gardens in Kiev, Yalta and Odessa, learn about the country’s maritime history in Sevastopol, and immerse yourself in Cossack traditions in Zaporozhye. See the influences of the Vikings, the Tatars and others on Ukraine’s architecture and people.
