ISTANBUL & THE BLACK SEA ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Istanbul
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. A
transfer is included from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Ceylan
InterContinental Istanbul. Accommodations at your city-center
hotel offer impressive views of the Bosphorus, dividing Europe
from the Asian continent. Please join us tonight for a welcome
reception and dinner. Meals D
2. Treasures of Istanbul / Hagia Sophia
City sightseeing today includes the Hippodrome, the
magnificent Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site more than 1400 hundred years old. A guided tour of
Topkapi Palace and its collection of priceless treasures and
jewels is a highlight; it was the residence of the Ottoman
sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. Meals BLD
3. Turkish Art and Architecture
Explore the opulent Dolmabahce Palace, presenting an
intriguing blend of architectural styles; it is reminiscent of
the Palace of Versailles. Visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum,
enticing with decorative arts spanning centuries, and journey
along the Bosphorus Strait. Meals BL
• 4. Grand Bazaar / Embark Le Levant
A local lecturer sets the stage for a look at life in
Turkey; city sightseeing includes the Theodosian Walls, the
Church of St. Saviour and the Rustem Pasha Mosque, perhaps the
most magnificently decorated mosque in the city. No trip to
Istanbul is complete without a visit to the Grand Bazaar; this
labyrinth of streets is covered with painted vaults and is lined
with thousands of “shops” selling jewelry, carpets, gold and
more. Embark Le Levant late afternoon; be sure to stand on deck
as she sails along the 13-mile length of the Bosphorus Strait,
passing by historic palaces, yalis (grand houses) and castles.
Meals BD
• 5. Ancient Nessebur, Bulgaria
Explore the narrow cobblestone streets of Nessebur, one of
the oldest cities in Europe. The entire city was designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site based on its historical,
architectural and archaeological treasures. You’ll relish the
special character of this city, created by its 19th-century
timbered houses, ancient Greek ruins, medieval churches,
charming courtyards and small taverns. Have lunch at a winery,
where you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy some Bulgarian wines
as well as some traditional Bulgarian folk music and dance. A
walking tour of the town is followed by some free time to
explore on your own. Return to the ship, where tonight Le Levant
charts a course for Constanta, the largest Romanian seaport on
the Black Sea. Meals BLD
• 6. Constanta, Romania
Today you’ll have a chance to witness first-hand an emerging
tourist destination on your visit to Constanta. Steeped in Greek
mythology, the city tempts with Black Sea beaches as well as
Greek and Roman ruins. You’ll see sights such as the mosque, the
Archaeological Museum and the Orthodox Cathedral on a
sightseeing tour. You will have time to take an excursion to a
nearby beach or return to the ship. An on-board lecture will be
included. Meals BLD
• 7. Odessa, Ukraine
A cultural treasure house, “modern day” Odessa was founded
by Catherine the Great in 1794 with the hope that it would
become the St. Petersburg of the South; the architecture in the
city has more of a Mediterranean look to it rather than Russian.
Today, Odessa is one of the major ports on the Black Sea. A tour
of city sights includes the Potemkin Steps, the Opera House, the
Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of Partisan Glory, which is
housed in the city’s catacombs – over 600 miles of tunnels that
sheltered World War II resistance fighters. Meals BLD
• 8. Crimea / Secrets of Sevastopol
Explore Sevastopol on the Crimea, once the main port for the
Soviet Navy, and closed to “outsiders” until 1995. See the
Central Hill District, the Black Sea Fleet Headquarters and the
famous Monument to the Sunken Ships. Drive to Bakhchisarai to
see the Palace of the Khans, as well as the Fountain of Tears.
Discover the story behind The Charge of the Light Brigade, and
make a visit to a secret submarine base hidden under a mountain
where you’ll gain a new perspective on Cold War history –
Balaclava was one of the most secret villages in the Soviet
Union. Reboard Le Levant and sail to Yalta. Meals BLD
• 9. Yalta, Seaside Resort of the Czars
Travel today to seaside Yalta, where the former Russian
nobility built their summer palaces. A drive along the coast
affords an opportunity to view Swallow’s Nest, one of Europe’s
most romantic castles, en route to Livadia Palace, summer
retreat of the czars and site of the 1945 Yalta Conference.
Code-named the “Argonaut Conference,” this World War II meeting
between Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph
Stalin confirmed a decision to form the United Nations. Attend a
wine tasting at the Massandra Winery, home to the world’s
largest private wine collection. Located in the Crimea, the
winery was built in the 1890s to supply Czar Nicholas II’s
nearby summer palace. Dessert wines are a specialty of the
region. Meals BLD
• 10. Day at Sea
Enjoy a relaxing day aboard Le Levant as she cruises the
Black Sea to Turkey. The Black Sea is actually connected to the
Atlantic Ocean via the Bosphorus Strait, the Aegean Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea; where the name came from isn’t clear, most
logically thought to be due to its dark color. Join us for the
Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner tonight. Meals BLD
11. Disembark in Istanbul
Your cruise ends with Le Levant’s return to Istanbul, and a
day spent exploring more famous sights in the city. Visit the
16th-century Suleymaniye Mosque to see the fascinating
mausoleums, and the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, which is a
kaleidoscope of colorful sights and fragrant smells. Drive along
the Asian side of the Bosphorus to see a parade of summer
estates, palaces and ruins of fortifications that depict the
march of time. Join us this evening for a farewell reception
followed by a special dinner. Meals BD
12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Transfers are included
from Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul to the Istanbul Ataturk
Airport. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals
B
Above itinerary reflects 2008,
please call for 2009 details.
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