Footsteps of the Cossacks
Hosted by Bev & Archie Esplin
June 26 - July 8, 2012
Optional 8-Day Western Ukraine & Poland Extension
Day 1, June 26, Depart Canada on an overnight flight and arrive in the capital city of Kiev, Ukraine the next day. (D)
Day 2, June 27, Kiev: Our group will be met at the Kiev airport & transferred to our ship. After boarding, join our "welcome walk" to stretch your legs before dinner on the ship. (D)
Our Ship- Viking Lomonosov:
Join us on an unforgettable journey along the Dnieper River through the heart of Ukraine on this traditional cruising vessel. Constructed at the famous Boizenburg Shipyard on the Elbe River in Germany, Viking Lomonosov is part of the 22-ship “301” series, the largest and most luxurious ships in Russia at the time. Viking Lomonosov was fully refurbished in 2003, and refitted for the 2011 sailing season to offer additional deluxe staterooms on the Middle Deck.
Ship Features:
- 102 comfortable outside staterooms
- Sun deck with 360-degree views and shaded sitting area
- Observation lounge and two bars with panoramic windows
- Two restaurants with panoramic views
- Library, sauna and onboard boutique
- Free shipwide wireless internet service
- Laundry service
- Three walk-around, open air promenade decks
- Doctor on board
Stateroom Features:
- Stateroom size: 93 sq. ft.
- Two single beds 75 inches x 30 inches
- Large window 3.97 ft. x 2.66 ft. (can be opened)
- Private yacht-style bathroom with handheld shower head and premium bath products
- Bathrobe and slippers available upon request
- Air conditioning
- Space under bed for storing suitcases
- Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers
- Voltage: 220V
Fine dining aboard Viking Lomonosov:
Our chefs create a variety of tasty off erings for you, with freshly prepared seasonal local vegetables, local specialties adapted to satisfy the tastes of our passengers, and homemade soups prepared daily. For breakfast, choose from our selections of pastries, cereals, breakfast meats, egg dishes, fresh fruit and selected cheeses. At lunch, select from the soup and sandwich bar, or a choice of entrées and dessert. And for dinner, you are treated to a five-course gourmet menu with regional specialties. You can also select from our regional wines to perfectly complement your meal. And wherever you sail, you will find enhancements reflecting your itinerary—it is all part of experiencing the local culture.
Day 3, June 28, Kiev: Tour Kiev, one of Europe's oldest cities, experiencing the heritage of the Viking, Cossack and Ukrainian peoples. Explore it's historic buildings and monuments, then take a guided tour of the lovely domed St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch aboard, tour the Monastery of Caves, an extensive complex of churches and museums founded by monks in 1051. Dinner on board the ship is followed by an evening of sailing along the peaceful Dnieper River.
Day 4, June 29, Dnieper River: Enjoy a full day of scenic cruising, taking in the Dnieper's landscape of rolling hills, ancient forest groves, historic villages and wide lakes. A series of onboard activities are available to help you familiarize yourself with the history and culture of Ukraine. (B, L, D)
Day 5, June 30, Zaporozhye: After breakfast, tour Zaporozhye, ancestral home of the Cossacks. Drive along Lenin Street, see the Lenin Monument, dam and the city's massive hydroelectric plant. Next, visit the Cossack Museum of Khortitsa. Enjoy a special Cossack horsemanship show including folkloric music and dance. Return to the boat for lunch and cruise away the lovely afternoon while enjoying onboard activities such as a Ukrainian tea party. (B, L, D)
Day 6, July 1, Kherson: After a morning of scenic cruising and a Ukrainian language lesson, your ship arrives in Kherson, an important Ukrainian port on the Black Sea. Disembark for a tour of this small city, founded in 1778 by the order of Catherine the Great and named after the nearby ancient Greek colony of Chersonesus Taurica. Walking along the river embankment, you will see the monument to Prince Potjomkin and visit St. Catherine's Cathedral, decidedly Mediterranean in design. Dinner is served as the boat departs. (B, L, D)
Day 7, July 2, Sevastopol: After lunch, arrive in Sevastopol, base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Tour the city center and see St. Vladimir Cathedral and Admiral Nakhimov Square. The rest of the afternoon is free, or join an optional archeological tour of the ancient Greek city of Chersonese, founded in the 6th century B.C. near today’s Quarantine Bay and designated one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. Dine aboard and remain docked overnight; this evening you can attend an optional Black Sea Choir concert. (B, L, D)
Day 8, July 3, Sevastopol: This morning’s tour goes to the Tatar city of Bakhchisarai. Tour the Khan Palace, built in 1519, and see the many different architectural styles within the complex. Visit the courthouse, harem and mosques, then stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds. After lunch, enjoy free time to further explore Sevastopol, site of the famed “Charge of the Light Brigade” during the Crimean War, or take an optional tour toBalaklava to visit the Panorama Museum and the submarine tunnels. (B, L, D)
Day 9, July 4, Yalta: Enjoy a morning tour of Yalta. Travel along Lenin Embankment to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Livadia. Visit the White Palace, site of the 1945 Yalta Conference between Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill, and take a guided tour through official halls and private apartments of the czar’s family.
Lunch aboard; this afternoon, explore at your leisure or choose an optional tour either to the Nikita Botanical Garden featuring 20,000 plant species, or to one of Anton Chekhov’s homes in Yalta, now a museum about the famous playwright. Dine aboard; dock overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 10, July 5 Yalta: Spend the morning further exploring Yalta, or join one of the optional tours including the beautiful mid-19th-century Aloupka Palace and gardens or a wine-tasting excursion to Massandra . Depart this afternoon. (B, L, D)
Day 11, July 6, Odessa: After breakfast, enjoy a half-day city tour of Odessa, an elegant city of terraced hills and landscaped parks. Travel along Primorski Boulevard to the Opera House and Potemkin Steps. Lunch and dinner are served aboard; take the afternoon and evening at leisure to explore this fascinating city. (B, L, D)
Day 12, July 7, Odessa: Today is yours to explore enchanting Odessa on your own. The city’s stately 19th-century architecture is a blend of its Russian heritage and more Mediterranean sensibilities, and there are miles of sandy beaches to stroll along. Or, you may opt for an art museum and/or Jewish Odessa tour. This evening we will attend a musical or ballet performance. (B, L, D)
Day 13, July 8, Odessa: Disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Canada with your new friends. In Toronto, overnight then catch your morning flight back to your departure city.
OR
Take the optional extension! Meet your guide after disembarkation and transfer to your overnight hotel. The remainder of your day is free to explore.
Click here to learn more about the
This tour includes:
- Return Airfare from Saskatoon/Regina (other gateways may be subject to surcharges, please inquire)
- 11 Night / 12 Day River Cruise aboard the Viking Lomonosov (main deck)
- Airport Transfers
- 11 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 12 Dinners (complementary wine, beer and soft drinks with your lunch and dinner aboard the river cruise)
- 8 Guided Tours with audio headsets
- 1 Overnight in Toronto if departing from Odessa
- Professional Hosts
Please call for pricing! 1-800-665-0171
Cancellation Penalties: If you must cancel the trip, please contact Lobstick Tours immediately. Cancellation penalties on the tour apply the day you give notification.
Without a valid cancellation insurance claim, penalties are:
Up to 75 day or more prior: Loss of deposit
74 - 60 days prior to departure: 50% non-refundable
0 - 59 days prior to departure: 100% non-refundable
Insurance: All passengers must have adequate out of country medical insurance to travel on this tour. Passengers have the option to obtain insurance at their own discretion. We recommend RBC Insurance. Please call Carla at Lobstick Tours for details and rates: 1-800-665-0171
Documentation: All passengers will require a valid passport for the trip. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of return.
Medical: Please contact a public health nurse or international travel clinic regarding recommended booster shots or medications for traveling.
Photo Credits:
Viking River Cruises, Kiev- Visit and Care http://www.visitandcare.com/images/hospital_images/Image/kiev-ukraine-pictures-1.jpg, Alexander Noskin, http://www.simeis.com/crimean_sights/chersonese.jpg, http://sevastopol.russian-women.net/images/photoalbum/sevastopol/wallpapers/Nic47454.jpg, 50 Plus Travel http://www.50plustravel.co.nz/images/640/0/cimg1631.jpg, Stevelegassick, Metafilter- http://www.metafilter.com/51108/Soviet-Underground-Submarine-Base, http://www.galen-frysinger.com/ukraine/odessa25.jpg, Tony Page, Travel Signposts, Roman Zakharii, Duncan Lawson
Responsibility: Lobstick Tours acts only as an agent for passengers and accepts no responsibility for delays, misconnections, loss, damage or injury to persons or property, or mechanical defect or failure, however caused, or any substitution of carrier equipment beyond our control with or without notice, or for any additional expenses associated thereby.