Each one of our Ukrainian cruises is a sail through magical Slavic hinterlands!
Ukraine is one of the largest and the most vibrant European countries. Cruising downstream the Dnieper, from Ukrainian capital, Kyiv to the Black Sea gives great opportunities for exploring ancient and legendary trade routes of this fine country. The Dnieper is the fourth largest river in Europe and the main waterway of Ukraine. Ports of call are large cities and small traditional villages, all rich in culture and history. Ukrainian Black Sea Port, the fabulous city of Odessa is often called the Black Sea Pearl. The fighting and riding skills of the Cossacks on Khortitsa Island, the magnificent Monastery of the Caves in Kyiv, and ballet in Odessa are just a few highlights of these voyages. The Danube Delta is one of the most incredible highlights of our Ukrainian cruises because of its unique wildlife and stunning nature. Our experience and horizons will be also widened when visiting the village of Vilkovo that really is the ‘Ukrainian Venice’ at the Danube Delta. Learn about the great history and great people, whose wisdom, goodness, and hospitality have already become a legend!
Cruises 2020
Kyiv—Vilkovo—Odessa—Kyiv
Kyiv—Vilkovo—Odessa
Sightseeing
Kherson
Kherson is located approximately 60 miles or little less than 100 kilometers from the Black Sea. The city was built in 1778 by the order of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great as a fortress where Cossacks fought against the Tatars and Turks. Shortly after Kherson became the first Russian Imperial naval base and shipyard on the Black Sea. Present day city is a large ship-building center as well. The name Kherson is a contraction of Chersonesos, an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2500 years ago in the southwestern part of Crimea. One of the interesting facts is that the last tarpan (Eurasian wild horse, now extinct) was caught near Kherson in 1866. One of the main streets of the city – Ushakov Prospect – is not crossed by any other street: all the streets that ‘touch’ the Prospect, take their origin here and run eastwards or westwards. Kherson is a city of two ports, a river and a sea port, that's why it is said that the place is connected with 42 countries of the world. Kherson stretches along the high right bank of the river Dnipro, this is the area where the Dnipro runs into many branches and forms many islands. Many local people have their dachas on these islands – lots of islands have already turned into holiday villages.
Vilkovo
Vilkovo. This unique small village on the Ukrainian-Romanian border really is a pearl of the pre-Danube lows. Located where the Danube meets the Black Sea, it is often called the ‘Ukrainian Venice’: nearly half of it stands on water. The land that holds houses and gardens appears to be numerous man-made islands. Instead of the ordinary street roads the blocks are separated by the water channels. The most common transport here is the local “gondola” built by skilled craftsmen. Not far from the settlement, on the coastline at the confluence of the Danube and the Black Sea there is “0 km” sign symbolizing the end of the mighty Danube and the beginning of the vast Black Sea. Vilkovo is known to be the town of fishermen and winemakers. The latter produce delicious house wine out of unique local grapes named ‘Novak’. Village of Vilkovo is famous all over Ukraine for its incredibly tasty strawberry: local gardens are normally fenced with two-meter (six and a half feet) cane on the three sides, with the fourth side covered by the Danube - thus ideal conditions for the accumulation of sunlight and heat are created, providing for best sweetness and aroma. Foods cultivated in Vilkovo are organic and ecological: only the sludge from the Danube is used for fertilizing.