Ship MS Dnieper Princess: Dniper River Cruise, River Cruise 28 Aug 2010 - 08 Sep 2010

Route description:

Itinerary

Day 1	Kiev: Embarkation Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport with your name sign. He will take you to the port for embarkation. At 4 pm the Captain will be organizing a Welcome Cocktail Party that you are cordially invited to attend. The rest of this day is reserved for you to rest. You have an eventful program ahead and, probably, will want to get some rest. If you prefer to socialize, you can make first friends at the ship's bar.
Day 2	Kiev Kiev is one of the oldest cities of the ancient Russ and, as many historians say, the cradle of whole Russian civilization. The city was incredible wealthy, had powerful military and an amazing rate of literacy for its time. The golden age of Kiev came to an end when the Mongol hordes burnt it to the ground. There are many important historical sights in Kiev, the most important being St. Sophia Cathedral and Pecherskaya Lavra. St. Sophia's Cathedral echoes the past glory of Byzantium, while the Pecherskaya Lavra (Cave Monastery) recalls the deep asceticism of early Christianity. For this day, we have planned a general tour of the city including the visit to Maidan Nezalejnosti - Kiev's central square where events of the Orange Revolution took place few years ago. There are two optional tours: to St. Sophia's Cathedral and performance of the Ukrainian National Choir. St. Sofia Cathedral St. Sofia Cathedral (1037 AD) is an outstanding architectural monument of Kievan Rus'. Originally the cathedral was a burial place of the Kievan rulers, but after the pillaging of Kiev dukes of Vladimir-Suzdal in 1169 and then by the Mongols in 1240, the cathedral fell into disrepair. The Soviet rules called for destruction of the cathedral, but thanks to the efforts of scientists and historians, this national heritage has been preserved.
Day 3	Kiev This day is free for you to explore Kiev on your own. We recommend you to explore the Andreevsky Izviz. Andreevsky Izviz Today we will explore the "Old Kiev" - the Andreevsky Descent Street. Andreevsky Izviz is one of the best known historic streets and a major tourist attraction in Kiev that is often compared to the Montmartre. Some of the Kiev's most interesting historica sights can be found here, including the Castle of Richard Lionheart; the St Andrew's Church; Mikhail Bulgakov's house. The street also has a galore of gift shops and art galleries, great restaurants and museums, making it popular among the locals and the tourists alike. The optional tours for the day include Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra and Open Air Museum. Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra was the center of Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe for many centuries, until the seat of Russian Orthodox Church was moved to the Novodevichiy Convent in Moscow. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra contains numerous architectural monuments, ranging from belltowers to cathedrals, from underground cave systems to strong fortification walls. Lavra is aslo the burrial place of many of the rules of the ancient Russ. Today, it is one of the largest museums in Kiev.
Day 4	Kaniv Founded in the 11th century by Kyivan Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Kaniv is known today mostly as the burial site of Taras Schevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet and artist. We have included the visit to his grave and the museum dedicated to him in the program and after that, we will explore a traditional Ukrainian village. You will feel like you have four centuries back in time.
Day 5	Kremenchuk Kremenchuk is a provincial town in Poltava region founded about 400 years ago. It was here that Peter the Great led Russian army against then powerful Swedish Empire. It took Peter nearly 20 years to finish of with the Swedes and when he was done, Russia took a prominent spot as a new European power that it has not relinquished ever since. Did you know? The literal translation of the word "Ukraine" is sideways or periphery in Russian language. It is interesting that Ukraine has long been the center of Russ, but when the power shifted eastwards, the name stuck.
Day 6	Zaporozhia Zaporozhia - the lands of Cossacks - is a territory in southern part of the Ukraine. In the 16th century Cossacks built a fortress on the Khortitsa Island and lived there according to their laws. Cossacks were semi-independent tribes who defended Russian lands from Turkish Empire. In return, Russian tsars allowed them to have their own rules and order. For this day, we have planned a visit to Cossack Glory Museum and an optional Cossack Horse Show - cossacks have always been some of the best hourse riders in the world and for centuries, they constituted the core of the Russian cavalry.
Day 7	Kherson Today, our ship will enter the Dnieper Delta and approach the town of Kherson that has been standing on the hill for three thousand years. It was originally build by Greeks as their trading outpost in the region and today, these beautiful lands boast wide steps and vineyards. After exploring Kherson we will stop by at a traditional Ukrainian fishing village.
Day 8	Sevastopol Sevastopol is the capital of the Crimea. The Crimea Peninsula was granted by Nikita Khrushev as a preset to the Soviet Republic of the Ukraine (of course Nikita Khrushev was from the Ukraine himself). The future status of the Crimea has become a point of contention between Russia and the Ukraine in the recent years. The political arguments do not diminish the natural beauty of this place. Sevastopol has a magnificent natural harbor - the whole of the Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Closed for a long time for the foreign visitors, because of the Black Sea Fleet, the city and its history are more accessible for visitors these days. You will see the remnants of the Greek colony Khersones and a Panorama of Defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean war of 1853-1856. We will also visit the World War II Memorials Malakhov Barrow, Sapun Mountain and the cemetery of the German soldiers. Optional tours for the day include a bus tour to Bakchisarai and performance of the Black Sea Fleet Ensemble.
Day 9	Sevastopol This day is free for you to explore Sevastopol. The optional tour for the day is a bus trip to Yalta that includes a visit to Livadia Palace where Russian tsars liked to spend their summer. It was here that Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin met in 1945 to establish the world order after defeat of the Germany.
Day 9	Odessa Odessa was one of the most important cities of the Russian Empire, third-largest, in fact. Odessa was built by the order of Catherine the Great to defend the southern flanks of the empire from the Turks. Today, Odessa is an important economic and cultural center of the modern-day Ukraine. The city is most known for its distinct dialect and for massive migration to Brighton beach in late 80s - early 90s. The optional tour for the day is the opera or ballet performance at Odessa Theater.
Day 10	Odessa This day is for you to explore Odessa. The optional tours for the day include the Fine Arts Museum and an optional farewell dinner at Belgorod-Dnestrovsky restaurant.
Day 12	Odessa: disembarkation This is the final day of your cruise. After disembarkation your driver will take you to the airport for you to return home or to continue your journey to other exciting destinations that we cover.