black sea cruise 2014

[mademan6840]

anyinput on black sea 11 days cruis?

[Compass Rose Monica]

I did a black sea, exotic Mediterranean cruise on the Galaxy in 2007. It was a 14 night cruise and included (Rome round trip), Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, overnight in Istanbul, Yalta, Odessa, Kusadasi, Athens, Naples. Wonderful cruise, interesting ports.

 

Monica

[brunello22]

We did the 12-night 'Circumnavigating the Black Sea' last August onboard Azamara Journey. It was a fantastic cruise and well worth it, but I would only do it once. Other cruise lines do a combination of Mediterranean and Black Sea, but we chose Azamara because of the full Black Sea experience.

 

The cruise was round trip from Istanbul. We spent 6 days in Istanbul prior the cruise and 2 days after the cruise (fabulous and magical city, if you explore all areas, not just the old town - would definitely go back). We then went to Amasra, Turkey; Trabzon, Turkey; Batumi, Georgia; Sochi, Russia; Novorossiysk, Russia; Yalta, Ukraine; Sevastopol, Ukraine; Odessa, Ukraine, Constanta, Romania; and Nessebar, Bulgaria.

 

Our favorite ports were Batumi (architecture and beaches), Odessa (architecture and culture), and Nessebar (quaint town and beaches).

 

Our least favorite ports were in Russia and Romania. We always explore ports on our own, but in Russia, since I didn't purchase our own independent visas before the cruise, we took the ship's excursions. We didn't really care for the excursions at all, as we don't like to be restricted with our time, so in hindsight we should have spent the extra money to get our own visas (would not have cost much more than the ship's excursions). In Sochi, we didn't go to the Olympic Village, but we did get to see other places that we might not have otherwise explored on our own.

 

Constanta, Romania was a dump. I do not know why we even stopped here as there was neither nothing to see nor do. I believe the ships call here for tours to Bucharest, but Bucharest was too far away to go for the length of time our ship was in port. They are really trying to beautify the city, as there is a lot of construction, but one could not tell if the rubble were still remains from WWII or just construction.

 

I would say it is one cruise you should do at least once in your life.

Edited January 24, 2014 by brunello22

[mylove]

anyinput on black sea 11 days cruis?

 

Check out our roll call for Oct 14,2014 on the Constellation,it is a Black sea cruise.It is a total Black sea cruise starting in Istanbul.It is a bit pricey but the ports are amazing.Many of us are doing a b2b2b ,Black sea,Holy land,Transatlantic back to US.

Edited January 24, 2014 by mylove

[mademan6840]

What privet excursion did you use in Istambul? Any privet tours in Russia and Ukraine ? I m taking a Black Sea cruise with Celebrity Constellation in October 2014.Thank you

[Phxazzcruisers]

WE did the Black sea last year on Azamara Quest, and loved it. We agree with Brunello22 and think Constanta was a dump, and Bucharest is a long long bus ride. A lot of the Black Sea ports are not really ready for tourists, but it was still interesting to be able to see them and walk around. We are going on Quest again this August in the Black Sea as they have added some additional Countries that we did not stop at last year. We will do a B2B with Istanbul as the middle stop, as we love Istanbul and look forward to seeing the City again. It is a great City and everything is very accessible. We have been several times and do not bother with tours. It is very easy to get around on ones own.

[mylove]

What privet excursion did you use in Istambul? Any privet tours in Russia and Ukraine ? I m taking a Black Sea cruise with Celebrity Constellation in October 2014.Thank you

 

You are probably on our cruise,come and visit the roll call there are many private tours planned.

 

Kimmy

[Biker19]

They are really trying to beautify the city, as there is a lot of construction, but one could not tell if the rubble were still remains from WWII or just construction.

 

The rubble is from decades of communism - never touched in any recent war - even if it might look like it. ;)

[KirkNC]

Be very deliberate in your itinerary. Some of the ports are not all that great, others are fantastic.

[mademan6840]

Dear KirkNC! What do you mean that some ports are not that great? Which one? Why?

[fun on the ocean]

What privet excursion did you use in Istambul? Any privet tours in Russia and Ukraine ? I m taking a Black Sea cruise with Celebrity Constellation in October 2014.Thank you

 

Hi

There is no need for an expensive tour in Istanbul. Walk off the ship and turn left over the bridge and follow your nose uphill. Any route will do! Just wander. Get a guide book and then you can use the maps to identify shortest climb to Blue Mosque. Do NOT let anyone clean your shoes in the gardens by the Blue Mosque. When done, the price will rocket and they get nasty.

Or, take the tram from the ship and save the climb. Why not go to the end of line and get off where you fancy on the way back?

Recommend you go Topkapi Palace early in day and book your tickets for the Jewels (Topkapi Dagger) and Harem straightaway so you can plan your time around them. Follow around Hagia Sophia to enter. Cistern is opposite Hagia Sophia and worth a visit, if it isn't packed with a tour.

Istanbul is no longer the real flavour of Turkey that it was but still exciting especially for first timers. English is widely spoken but you'll get poor exchange for US$ so get some currency. Credit cards widely accepted.

It must be the easiest place in the world to explore and get away from the tour guides.

Have FUN!

PS Turkish folk who live outside Istanbul warn against the dreadful traffic but up at the tip it is now pedestrianised.

Trying to get a crowd together for Sochi, different place altogether. See other thread (Cruise Critic Message Board) and toursbylocalsdotcom

[fun on the ocean]

Hi

There is no need for an expensive tour in Istanbul. Walk off the ship and turn left over the bridge and follow your nose uphill. Any route will do! Just wander. Get a guide book and then you can use the maps to identify shortest climb to Blue Mosque. Do NOT let anyone clean your shoes in the gardens by the Blue Mosque. When done, the price will rocket and they get nasty.

Or, take the tram from the ship and save the climb. Why not go to the end of line and get off where you fancy on the way back?

Recommend you go Topkapi Palace early in day and book your tickets for the Jewels (Topkapi Dagger) and Harem straightaway so you can plan your time around them. Follow around Hagia Sophia to enter. Cistern is opposite Hagia Sophia and worth a visit, if it isn't packed with a tour.

Istanbul is no longer the real flavour of Turkey that it was but still exciting especially for first timers. English is widely spoken but you'll get poor exchange for US$ so get some currency. Credit cards widely accepted.

It must be the easiest place in the world to explore and get away from the tour guides.

Have FUN!

PS Turkish folk who live outside Istanbul warn against the dreadful traffic but up at the tip it is now pedestrianised.

Trying to get a crowd together for Sochi, different place altogether. See other thread (Cruise Critic Message Board) and toursbylocalsdotcom

 

Sorry, up at the TOP not tip!!