 Join the yacht-like Le Levant for a voyage to spellbinding ports of call on Tauck’s Black Sea cruise. Spend four days exploring the wonders of exotic Istanbul, including such fabled sights as the Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Mosque, the Hippodrome and UNESCO World Heritage Site Hagia Sophia. Take in the antiquities and architecture of Nessebar, Bulgaria, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your Black Sea cruise, explore rich cultural traditions as Le Levant calls at ports in Romania and along the coast of Ukraine. Enjoy included shore excursions, accompanied by your professional Tauck Director and informative local experts.
2008 Itinerary
2007 itinerary departures may still be available.
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: On the Banks of the Bosphorus
Welcome to Istanbul, where Europe and Asia meet. Your Black Sea cruise and tour begins at 6:00 PM in Istanbul. A transfer is included from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport to Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. Start your adventure in this age-old city at the juncture of east and west with a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul’s timeless treasures
The Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the famed Blue Mosque await your discovery today.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul
Day 3: Opulence and art
Visit Dolmabache Palace, the opulent former residence of Turkish sultans and final home of Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. Later, view the Turkish art, history, and archaeology on display at the Sadberk Hanim Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul
• Day 4: Turkish history and commerce
Following a lecture on Turkish history, see the Rustem Pasa Mosque, which dates from 1550, the Byzantine Church of St. Savior and the ancient Theodosian Walls. Before boarding Le Levant for your Black Sea cruise, explore Istanbul’s famed Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in Turkey with approximately 4000 shops under one “roof.”
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
• Day 5: Archaeology and architecture
Today, your Black Sea cruise takes to you to Nessebur on the coast of Bulgaria. The town’s ancient Greek ruins and outstanding examples of Ottoman architecture have earned it a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Savor lunch at a local winery.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
• Day 6: Beaches and ruins in Romania
The charming port of Constanta is a fascinating stop on any Black Sea cruise. Explore the Roman ruins and admire the Greek sculpture in this city named for Constantine the Great. Enjoy some leisure time to sample the beautiful beaches that make it popular with vacationers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
• Day 7: The St. Petersburg of the South
When she founded Odessa in 1794, Catherine the Great envisioned a city in the south of Russia that would rival St. Petersburg in the north. Explore the tunnels that sheltered resistance fighters during the 1905 workers’ revolution and Russian partisan freedom fighters during World War II.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
• Day 8: Submarines in a mountain
Today, your Black Sea cruise calls at intriguing Sevastopol in Ukraine, once the Soviet Navy's main port. Discover the “City of the Sea Glory” on a tour during which you will see the former Black Sea Fleet Headquarters and the Monument to the Sunken Ships. Drive to Bakhchisarai to see the Fountain of Tears and the Palace of the Khans. Learn the secrets of a submarine base concealed in a mountain during a visit to Balaclava.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
• Day 9: Where the Cold War began
No Black Sea cruise would be complete without a visit to Yalta, where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met to discuss the future of Europe in 1945. The center of the Ukraine Riviera, today Yalta is a very popular seaside vacation destination. Learn how the tsars spent their summer vacations at Livadia Palace, followed by a visit to the private wine collection at the Massandra winery and a wine tasting.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
• Day 10: Over the bounding main
Today is a glorious day at sea. Relax and reflect upon all that you’ve seen during your Black Sea cruise as Le Levant sails back to Istanbul. The Captain invites you to join him for a farewell cocktail party and dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant
Day 11: Spices and summer estates
Two more of Istanbul’s renowned sights await your exploration today. Built in the mid-1500s, the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque is considered to be the most beautiful of Istanbul’s imperial mosques. The famed Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, intrigues the senses with its scents and sights. Cross the Bosphorus to view the magnificent summer homes on the Asian side.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul
Day 12: Homeward bound
Tour ends: Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. As your Black Sea cruise comes to an end, a transfer is included from Ceylan InterContinental to Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
Let the Black Sea beguile you in 2008. Space on this Istanbul & the Black Sea cruise will fill quickly, so make your reservations today to avoid disappointment.
Dates & Prices
2007
Jul 20, 27
Aug 3, 10, 17
2008
Aug 12, 19, 26
Sep 24
12 Days from $6,390 | Cabin Category | Double | Single | Triple | Champlain Deck
| $6390 | $10,625 | $5686 | | La Pérouse Deck | $6690 | $10,925 | $5986 | | Bouogainville Deck | $7190 | $11,825 | N/A |
Special Singles Departure dates of August 12 and September 24, 2008 where the single price is: Champlain Deck $7625; La Pérouse Deck $7925; Bougainville Deck $8825. Ask at booking for details.
29 meals included.
International Airfare is additional. Tauck can book your international air for travel originating in the United States, subject to availability; inquire upon booking for special airfares that may be available.
Land / Cruise Price includes private Tauck shore excursions, cruise fare, port charges, wine with dinner aboard Le Levant, and gratuities to ship staff.
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise and about our comprehensive Cruise Protection Plan.
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. |
