2013

They say a visit to Yalta is good for your health, and it is only because the Russian aristocracy believed that, that the city became more than a backwater. In the mid 19th century, its mild climate was deemed beneficial for recovering from various ailments, and once the tsar bought property there, the race to wellness was on. The elite built neo-gothic chateaux, as did the tsar, whose Livadia Palace eventually hosted Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt for the Yalta Conference at the end of WWII. In the Soviet era dutiful comrades were rewarded with rest trips, though in somewhat less luxurious facilities.

 

Relatively new as European cities go, Odessa was founded in 1794 by Catherine the Great, and became an important commercial and cultural center, and the Black Sea's greatest seaport. Two famous sites claim the interests of most visitors: The neo-baroque Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater is considered one of the world's finest opera houses, with unique acoustics in its luxurious rococo hall, that allow even a whisper from the stage to be heard in every corner. The Odessa Steps were the set for an iconic scene in motion picture history, in a scene from the Battleship Potemkin, where hundreds of citizens were killed on the great stone steps.

 

Romania counts as one of the most diversely beautiful countries in Europe and the thriving city of Constanta – pronounced Constantza – not only counts the country’s largest seaport, but also as one of its loveliest seaside resorts. As the portal to Romania’s Dobruja region, the city offers a multitude of sights to see, things to do and destinations to explore, such as the glorious Danube Delta near Tulcea to the north.Situated towards the southern end of the Black Sea coast, Constanta was originally founded by the Greeks around 2,600 years ago and, according to Greek mythology, is even said to have been the very port that welcomed Jason, the Argonauts and the much-prized Golden Fleece on their return.

 

This is the time to personalize your cruise experience—you can participate in any or all the activities scheduled onboard or do nothing more strenuous than lift an umbrella drink while reading a book poolside.

 

Gythion is a port town on the Gulf of Laconia in Greece, located on the Peloponnese peninsula in the area of Mani. This part of Greece is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, where sleepy fishing villages and idyllic white beaches play host to rich history and cultures.

 

This is the time to personalize your cruise experience—you can participate in any or all the activities scheduled onboard or do nothing more strenuous than lift an umbrella drink while reading a book poolside.

 

Of Venice, the American writer Henry James wrote; “You desire to embrace it, to caress it, to possess it; and finally a soft sense of possession grows up and your visit becomes a perpetual love affair”.
One of the world's most beautiful cities also happens to be one of its most unusual. Venice is actually spread over 120 islands in the Adriatic Sea. Because the city is connected by canals instead of streets, a good way to see Venice is on a romantic gondola ride. The epicenter of the city is St.Mark's Square, where you'll find the 900-year-old St. Mark's Basilica.