Cruise Description

12 Night Cruise sailing from Istanbul roundtrip aboard Azamara Journey.

Dive into Black Sea history on this roundtrip from Istanbul, joining Land Discoveries® along the way for immersive experiences in the cultures that shaped this region. You’ll be amazed by the Ottoman Empire town of Safranbolu and the cliff-hanging Sümela Monastry in the Kackar Mountains of Turkey. Batumi is a charming beach resort, while Sochi’s modernist style reflects Russia’s pride as host of the 2014 Winter Olympics. In Ukraine, see how the cultural elite lived it up in Yalta, explore the great naval stronghold of Sevastopol, and spend an evening at the ornate Opera and Ballet Theater in Odessa. Constanta is a beautiful city, and from here you can also opt to visit Bucharest, known as “Little Paris” for its gorgeous architecture. In Nessebar, don’t miss the impressive Middle Ages old town.

Highlights of this cruise:

Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is supremely exotic, warmly welcoming, and quite unique – after all, where else can you tour Europe and Asia on the very same afternoon? Must sees include Haghia Sophia, decorated in 30 million tiny mosaic tiles, the greatest church in Christendom for 1000 years, then a mosque and now a museum; and Topkapi, palace of sultans, complete with harem quarters. And of course shopping in the Grand Bazaar, a medieval version of a mall, for unusual gifts to take home, stopping along the way in a café for a cup of Turkish coffee or mint tea.

Batumi, Georgia
Batumi today is a low-rise, palm-tree lined, provincial capital on the Black Sea. It first attracted international attention in the late 19th century as the railway terminus of a line that carried one-fifth of the world’s oil production, over time developing into a fashionable Russian resort town. Nearby is Kutaisi, first famous as home to the Bagrati Cathedral, a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture; and the 12th century Gelati Monastery, set amidst woods and fields of green, and home to many fine mosaics and frescoes. Kutaisi today is also the brand new capital of Georgia, its parliament building inaugurated only in May 2012.

Sochi, Russia
Sochi resides in that tiny portion of Russia that can boast a subtropical climate, making it a long time holiday heaven for domestic tourists – celebrities and the political elite included. During Soviet days, even Comrade Stalin had a dacha here, now open to visitors. Much has changed since then, but the fresh air, majestic mountain scenery, mineral springs, long beaches, warm sunny days, and bustling nightlife, are still a big draw. Ironically this city known for swaying palms and balmy breezes will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Yalta, Ukraine
They say a visit to Yalta is good for your health, and it is only because the Russian aristocracy believed that, that the city became more than a backwater. In the mid 19th century, its mild climate was deemed beneficial for recovering from various ailments, and once the tsar bought property there, the race to wellness was on. The elite built neo-gothic chateaux, as did the tsar, whose Livadia Palace eventually hosted Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt for the Yalta Conference at the end of WWII. In the Soviet era dutiful comrades were rewarded with rest trips, though in somewhat less luxurious facilities.

Sevastopol, Ukraine
Sevastopol’s status as a strategic naval stronghold has contributed to its fascinating history, but has not been kind to the city itself. Under siege for 11 months during the Crimean War, the formerly glorious city was left in ruins. Reconstructed, it was then besieged again by Germans in WWII, reduced to rubble, and rebuilt once again. During Soviet times a closed city, Sevastopol opened to the outside world only in 1995, and not until 1997 did Russia and the Ukraine sign a peace and friendship treaty, ruling out Moscow’s claims, and making Ukraine a sovereign nation.

Odessa, Ukraine
Relatively new as European cities go, Odessa was founded in 1794 by Catherine the Great, and became an important commercial and cultural center, and the Black Sea’s greatest seaport. Two famous sites claim the interests of most visitors: The neo-baroque Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater is considered one of the world’s finest opera houses, with unique acoustics in its luxurious rococo hall, that allow even a whisper from the stage to be heard in every corner. The Odessa Steps were the set for an iconic scene in motion picture history, in a scene from the Battleship Potemkin, where hundreds of citizens were killed on the great stone steps.

Cruise Itinerary

Itinerary may vary by sailing date and itineraries may be changed at the cruise lines discretion. Please check itinerary details at time of booking and before booking other travel services such as airline tickets.

Available Sailing Dates

• 23 Jun 2015
• 04 Jun 2016
• 21 Jul 2016