AUGUST 12-24, 2008
THE BLACK SEA
VENICE TO ATHENS
The Six-Star Crystal Serenity
Itinerary
August 12-13 - Venice, Italy
August 14 - Cruising the Adriatic Sea
August 15 - Katakolon, Greece
August 16 - Mykonos, Greece
August 17 - Cruising the Bosporous & Black Sea
August 18 - Yalta, Ukraine
August 19 - Odessa, Ukraine
August 20 - Constanta, Romania
August 21-22 - Istanbul, Turkey
August 23 - Cruising the Aegean Sea
August 24 - Athens/Piraeus, Greece
HIGHLIGHTS:
Venice, Italy: Venice rests three miles off the coast of mainland Italy and is considered one of the world's most enchanting cities. Known as the "Queen of the Adriatic," it actually comprises more than 100 separate islands. Laced together by a string of 400 intricate bridges, Venice is legendary for its labyrinth network of canals. Getting lost in Venice can be a truly delightful experience. The place of dreams, this romantic city will live long in your memory.
Katakolon, Greece: Venture out to see the ancient site of Olympia, the storied place where the Olympic Games originated in 776 BC. Back in town, stroll the oceanfront walkway, relax over ouzo in an open-air café, or engage in a friendly round of haggling for jewelry and handcrafts.
Mykonos, Greece: This quintessential Greek island offers a maze of winding streets, graceful windmills, inviting beaches, domed churches and whitewashed houses accented in blue. Investigate its fine boutiques and charming, labyrinth streets.
Yalta, Ukraine: Everyone flocks to the Naberezhna Lenia, a vehicle-free waterfront promenade with jetties, palms, pebble beaches and art markets. Yalta was a favorite vacation spot of the czars, whose palaces remain as lasting memorials. Visit the White Palace, site of the WWII Yalta Conference.
Odessa, Ukraine: A summer retreat of the czars, this “Pearl of the Black Sea” also hosted Russia’s greatest artists, writers and musicians. Many historic opera houses, museums and ballet theaters remain.
Constanta, Romania: Boasting a beautiful location on the Black Sea and plentiful historic sights, Romania’s second-largest city is a first-rate destination. Enjoy a stroll through Old Town, and don’t miss seeing Europe’s largest carpet, a work of art.
Istanbul, Turkey: For poets, Istanbul, next to Venice and Rome is the loveliest city in Europe and one of the most splendid in Asia. Must-see attractions include the dazzling treasury in Topkapi Palace and exquisite buildings of timeless beauty such as the Blue Mosque and Basilica of St. Sophia. Even those who are not avid shoppers will be enticed by the colorful sights and sounds of the world’s largest bazaar.
Athens/Piraeus, Greece: The landmark hill of the Acropolis looms over Greece's busy metropolis. Together with the Parthenon, the Acropolis complex was regarded as a holy shrine and a citadel of the gods.
|
