Cruised in 2012 on Oceania to Black Sea. Nessabur, Bulgaria was most interesting town and lunch/winery visit with ship's tour was very good. Constanza, Romania has old Roman ruins outside of town and a good cultural museum in town- otherwise not very worthwhile stop. I assume Odessa, Sevastopol (with the fascinating nearby Soviet -era sub base and valley where the Charge of the Light Brigade took place) and Yalta will be eliminated due to continued violence in Crimea and, now, Odessa. (as of May 2). I would cancel an existing cruise on Black Sea until these ports reopen- the Yalta conference site and nearby elaborate estate were fabulous. Odessa is dirty, rundown, and disappointing. The art museum doesn't even have air conditioning so the art work is not being cared for properly. Trabzon , Turkey was very worthwhile to see Sumela monestary- MUST be in good physical shape to walk there over very uneven ground, no handrails or paved walks, stairs. Sochi was a rip off- nothing much to see in town but a walk along the promenade. Took us into the mountains to see a tea growing estate with a very touristy entertainment. A real dud of a stop. Butumi, Georgia was fabulous! On our tour: a roman fort, a marvelous botanical garden, folk dancing by the national ballet troop and a multi course terrific lunch. They have left the Soviet era in the dust and are rebuilding and drawing lots of foreign investors. So why did Oceania keep Sochi and dump Butumi in 2013??
Batumi Georgia, Trabzon and Sinop Turkey
in Other Mediterranean and Black Sea Ports
Posted
Cruised in 2012 on Oceania to Black Sea. Nessabur, Bulgaria was most interesting town and lunch/winery visit with ship's tour was very good. Constanza, Romania has old Roman ruins outside of town and a good cultural museum in town- otherwise not very worthwhile stop. I assume Odessa, Sevastopol (with the fascinating nearby Soviet -era sub base and valley where the Charge of the Light Brigade took place) and Yalta will be eliminated due to continued violence in Crimea and, now, Odessa. (as of May 2). I would cancel an existing cruise on Black Sea until these ports reopen- the Yalta conference site and nearby elaborate estate were fabulous. Odessa is dirty, rundown, and disappointing. The art museum doesn't even have air conditioning so the art work is not being cared for properly. Trabzon , Turkey was very worthwhile to see Sumela monestary- MUST be in good physical shape to walk there over very uneven ground, no handrails or paved walks, stairs. Sochi was a rip off- nothing much to see in town but a walk along the promenade. Took us into the mountains to see a tea growing estate with a very touristy entertainment. A real dud of a stop. Butumi, Georgia was fabulous! On our tour: a roman fort, a marvelous botanical garden, folk dancing by the national ballet troop and a multi course terrific lunch. They have left the Soviet era in the dust and are rebuilding and drawing lots of foreign investors. So why did Oceania keep Sochi and dump Butumi in 2013??