Exclusive Highlights

• Unpack only once and explore the wonders of Ukraine aboard the exclusively chartered MS Dnieper Princess
• Explore Kiev and the fascinating Caves Monastery.
• See a Cossack horse show and learn about Cossack culture in Zaporizhia.
• Visit the small fishing villages of the Dnieper Delta.
• In the Crimea, discover seaside Sevastopol; Bakhchisarai, the city that inspired poet Alexander Pushkin; and the regal Black Sea resort of Yalta.
• Delight in a musical performance at Tolstoy's Palace in Odessa.
• Marvel at the diverse array of wildlife in the Danube Delta.
• Admire stunning architecture in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.
• Enjoy a customized educational program featuring local experts and historians.

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart your gateway city for Kiev, Ukraine.

Day 2: Upon arrival in Kiev, transfer to the MS Dneiper Princess  and attend a festive captain's welcome reception and dinner aboard the ship.

Day 3: A panoramic city tour begins atop Vladimir Hill, where Prince Vladimir supervised the baptizing of all Kievans after establishing Christianity as the state religion of Kiev Rus in 988. Explore the vast complex of caves and tunnels overlooking the Dnieper River Valley. This evening enjoy a private performance of the Ukrainian National Choir.

Day 4: See authentic regional houses in the open-air Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture, Rural Life, and Folk Art. Visit a memorial to the Jewish victims of the September 1941 massacre. Also stop at the memorial honoring the Soviet victims of Nazi-occupied Kiev.

Day 5: Enjoy a full-day celebration of Ukraine's traditions. On-board dance and music performances combine with menus of local specialties to provide an immersion into the Ukrainian culture..

Day 6: In Zaphorizhia, learn the story of the Cossacks, warrior horsemen who once dominated Ukraine. Visit the Cossack Glory Museum and attend an exciting Cossack horsemanship show.

Day 7: Explore Kherson in the Tavria region. Travel on a smaller boat to the delta. Visit a traditional fishing village and meet local residents in their homes.

Day 8: After a tour of Sevastopol, travel a scenic route to Bakhchisarai. Its palace was the seat of the Giray Dynasty of the Crimean Khanate. Attend a concert by the Black Sea Naval Fleet Ensemble.

Day 9: The Crimean Resort town of Yalta is referred to as the "Nice of the Black Sea." See Livadia Palace, the former summer residence of Russia's Romanov family and stately setting for the 1945 Yalta Conference.

Day 10: Experience the historic sites of Odessa, the "Pearl of the Black Sea." See the grand Potemkin Steps and Shevchenko Park, which overlooks the Black Sea. The park has many monuments, including those for fallen soldiers as well as sailors lost at sea. Attend a performance of ballet or opera at the Odessa Theater of Opera and Ballet.

Day 11: Depart Odessa for Tulcea, Romania. Enjoy a day at leisure as you cruise the scenic coastline of the Black Sea.

Day 12: Disembark the ship and transfer by motorcoach to the Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest. Discover the treasures of Bucharest on your own. This evening, enjoy a festive Romanian dinner and folkloric show.

Day 13: A panoramic tour of Bucharest showcases the city's many romantic squares and eclectic mix of architectural styles. Visit the Palace of the Parliament, the world's second-largest office building. Tonight, attend a farewell reception.

Day 14: Transfer to the airport for the return flight to your gateway city.

A Bates College professor will accompany the trip.

Request a Brochure

Land-only price starts at $1,795 if booked before December 4, 2007, $1,995 if booked after December 4, 2007. An airfare program that provides special airfares in conjunction with the land-only options also is available.