Fly from London to Kiev, and transfer to your ship. After boarding, take free time to relax before dinner. (D)

Tour Kiev, one of Europe’s oldest cities, with an heritage of Viking, Cossack, and Ukrainian peoples. Explore its historic buildings and monuments, including a guided tour of the lovely domed St. Sophia Cathedral. After lunch aboard, tour the Monastery of Caves, an incredible complex of churches and museums which were founded by monks in 1051. Enjoy dinner aboard followed by evening sailing along the peaceful Dnieper River. (B,L,D)

Scenic cruising on the Dneiper River. (B,L,D)

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. Then visit the Cossack Museum of Khortitsa. Enjoy a special Cossack horsemanship show including folkloric music and dance. Depart during lunch; this afternoon, enjoy on-board activities and a Ukrainian tea party. (B,L,D)

After a morning of scenic cruising and a Ukraine language lesson, arrive in Kherson. There is a city tour which includes the monument to Prince Potjomkin and a visit St. Catherine's Cathedral. (B,L,D)

After lunch, arrive in Sevastopol, base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Tour the city centre 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 BC 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)

This morning, take a coach excursion to the Tartar city of Bachtischisarai to visit the Khan Palace, built in 1519. During your tour, see many different architectural styles within the complex. Visit the courthouse, harem and mosques. Witness the Turkish influence on its various interiors. Later, stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds. After lunch, enjoy free time to further explore Sevastopol, site of the famed “Charge of the Light Brigade” or take an optional tour to Balaklava with a visit to the Panorama Museum. (B,L,D)

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 a guided tour takes you through official halls and private apartments of the Tsar’s family. Return to your ship for lunch aboard. This afternoon, explore at your leisure or choose an optional tour to the Nikita Botanical Garden featuring 50,000 species of plant life. There is an additional optional tour to the Anton Chekhov Museum. Dine aboard; moor overnight. (B,L,D)

2012: Spend your full day of free time exploring Yalta. Or join one of the optional tours available before the ship sails this afternoon. (B,L,D)

2013: Enjoy a tour of the beautiful Aloupka Palace and gardens or join an optional wine tasting excursion to Massandra (B,L,D)

Cruise through lunch then enjoy a half-day tour of Odessa. See the elegant city filled with terraced hills and landscaped parks. Travel along Pimorski Boulevard to the Opera House and Potemkin Steps. You have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to further explore Odessa independently. Dinner aboard. 2013 - optional evening performance at the Odessa Opera House.(B,L,D)

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 on an optional tour. This evening we will attend a musical or ballet performance. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Odessa airport for your flight to London. (B)