Shadow, ex Athens Return
Cruise Line Silversea Cruises
Ship Silver Shadow
Destination EU Mediterranean
Nights 15
Departure Date 20 Sep 2021
Description 15 Night Cruise sailing from Athens roundtrip aboard Silver Shadow.

Bordered by six countries – all of which are visited - the Black Sea is a treasure trove of eastern delights. Yet, despite its rich history, it remains a destination to be uncovered by travellers. Beginning with an overnight in Istanbul, you’ll quickly be consumed by the beauty the Botanical forests of Georgia, the ex-Olympic sites of Sochi and the Baroque architecture of Odessa. A Bosphorus cruise completes the trip.

Highlights of this cruise:

Athens
A city of legend, civilisation and enduring culture, Athens is a majestic and magical urban sprawl. Extraordinary elegance and grace combine with grit and graft in Greece's capital, where highways encase ruins from antiquity, and gleaming museums and galleries stand beside concrete sprayed with edgy street art. These contrasts enhance and elevate the wonders of this 2,500-year-old city, however, which can count notable contributions to philosophy, drama and democracy, among its global legacy. Piraeus' giant port and naval base welcome you to the edge of the Athens' urban area. From there it's a simple jaunt to the centre. The majestic ancient citadel of the Acropolis dominates an elevated platform and is a constant presence as you explore the city. The wonderful remains of the columned temple of the Parthenon - which date back to the 5th century BC - stand here, representing the pinnacle of classical architecture. The nearby Acropolis Museum adds context to your visit and frames the broad views from its giant glass windows. Or rise up Mount Lycabettus, to be rewarded with perhaps Athens' best panorama of the Acropolis sitting high over the city on its grand stage. See the marble horseshoe of the Old Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, for more of the city's enduring legacy. Elsewhere, golden beaches and temples stretch out along the coastline, should you wish to explore a little further afield. Coffee is an art form to the Greeks, and it's an unwritten rule that coffee time must never be rushed. So prepare to settle down for a couple of hours and lose yourself in a good chat. Feeling hungry - try traditional souvlaki made with sauces handed from generation to generation.

Istanbul
A chaotic, colossal collision of east and west – start your day in Europe and end it in Asia, all without breaking a sweat. Sprawling across two continents, the city has been toed, froed and yanked between countless civilisations over its history, leaving a multi-layered, majestic tapestry of culture to untangle. An army of narrow minarets puncture the skyline, while the soaring towers of palaces and labyrinths of bazaars - where bargains are the reward for brave hagglers - fill up this dynamic city of 15 million people. With a rich portfolio of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, Istanbul enjoys one of the world's most dynamic skylines and has an intense, infectious energy. The vast Aya Sofya is the starting point for exploring this huge city's deep wealth of cultural treasures. Built in the 6th century as a Greek Orthodox church, it was later transformed into an Ottoman imperial mosque – and latterly a museum. Cast your eyes up to take in the full scale of the colossal dome, one of the world's largest, which floats on a magnificent bed of light. See the Blue Mosque, with its glorious blue İznik tiles, or head to the Galata Tower which was once the tallest structure in Istanbul, and is ideal for a panoramic view of the city. Grab handfuls of dates and spices, shop for jewellery and patterned fabrics as you're swallowed whole by the Grand Bazaar - one of the world's biggest and busiest covered indoor markets. To understand Istanbul is to visit its kahvehans. Few rituals are taken as seriously as Turkish coffee - prepared to be incredibly strong. Sweeten the aftertaste with Turkish delight, or baklava – try the smooth pistachio version called kuru baklava.

Sochi
The breadbasket of Russia, the Krasnodar Krai is almost the size of Ireland. It's a region where the banks of the Kuban River gave a name (not to mention freedom) to the famous Kuban Cossacks; it is also a land where wheat fields and vineyards chase the horizon and the high Caucasus Mountains meet the sunlit shores of the Black Sea. The region became part of Russia in 1829. Sochi, often called the "Pearl of the Black Sea," includes four districts and stretches for about 90 miles along Russia's southern coast. This area enjoys the northernmost subtropical climate in the world. Nature has been generous to Sochi by creating a unique location where in 40 minutes you can travel between the sunny beaches of the Black Sea and the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains. Since Sochi is Russia's premier summer resort destination, the announcement that it would host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games was seen as ironic, but the winter sports in these parts are also legendary. Sochi is surrounded by striking natural beauty: the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; many caves, which were dwellings of prehistoric people; megalithic tombs (called dolmens); and curative mineral springs. And don't forget all those new luxury hotels and spa complexes underway, set to open in time for the Olympics. Sochi is a sightseer's dream—from monuments to natural attractions, you can spend weeks exploring the region. Top cultural attractions are mostly in central Sochi, while the other districts have more nature sights.

Constanta
Constanţa is Romania's largest Black Sea port and one of the country's biggest cities, with a population of some 260,000. The modern port was built up rapidly by Romania's post-war Communist government, but the city's history goes back more than 2,500 years when it founded by the Greeks as a fishing village called Tomis. Constanţa was captured by the Romans in 29 BC. The noted Roman poet Ovid was banished here in 8 AD for the last years of his life by Emperor Augustus after allegedly writing poetry that was too racy (even by the lax standards of ancient Rome). Ovid remains the city's most famous resident, and a large statue of him stands in the central square, Piaţa Ovidiu. Beyond the city limits of Constanţa, the resort area of Mamaia (Romania's most popular seaside holiday destination) stretches out along a sandbar for a length of about 6 kms (4 mi). Bucharest is also within reach, though it is a long (150+ mi) drive. Passenger cruise ships dock in the main port, just a short walk from the center of the city and the main museums and cultural sights. Though Constanţa is a large city, the historic core is small and easily managed on foot. Most of the sights are clustered around the central square, Piaţa Ovidiu.
Sailing Dates
  • 20 Sep 2021
Prices
Category Twin Per Person Single Per Person
VI - Vista Suite AU $21,200 Request Price
CV - Classic Veranda Suite (From 04 Dec 2020) AU $24,200 Request Price
DX - Deluxe Veranda Suite (From 04 Dec 2020) AU $25,300 Request Price
SV - Superior Veranda Suite (From 04 Dec 2020) AU $25,800 Request Price
SL - Silver Suite AU $46,400 Request Price
G1 - Grand 1 Bedroom Suite AU $54,300 Request Price
Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

DayDateActivityArriveDepart
1 20/09 Athens (Piraeus) Greece 07:00 PM
2 21/09 At sea    
3 22/09 Istanbul, Turkey 08:00 AM overnight
4 23/09 Istanbul, Turkey 06:00 PM
5 24/09 At sea    
6 25/09 Trabzon, Turkey 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
7 26/09 Batumi, Georgia 08:00 AM 09:00 PM
8 27/09 Sochi, Russia 08:00 AM 10:00 PM
9 28/09 At sea    
10 29/09 Odessa, Ukraine 08:00 AM 11:00 PM
11 30/09 Constanta, Romania 01:00 PM 08:00 PM
12 01/10 Bourgas, Bulgaria 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
13 02/10 At sea    
14 03/10 Kusadasi, Turkey 08:00 AM 11:00 PM
15 04/10 Rhodes, Greece 09:00 AM 02:00 PM
16 05/10 Athens (Piraeus) Greece 07:00 AM
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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