With idyllic beaches, enchanting cities and millennia of intriguing history, Black Sea cruises take you to the more niche cruise destinations in Europe in luxury and style. Ranging from four day short break itineraries to longer voyages of two weeks, you'll be able to sail to truly unique sights in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.
From city tours and tasting local cuisine to immersing yourself in the past at historic landmarks and outdoor adventures or simply relaxing on the stunning beaches, Black Sea cruises take in a myriad of truly special holiday destinations.
Odessa in Ukraine is a great city for a shore excursion, the scene of the 1905 Russian naval mutiny that inspired the classic Soviet silent movie Battleship Potemkin. The old town features historic buildings from the 19th century and early 20th century.
The Crimea is an excellent stopping point for cruise passengers interested in history. The peninsula was ruled by the Venetians and later Genoa, before later becoming part of the Russian Empire. Florence Nightingale rose to fame as a military nurse here during the Crimean War, while Yalta was a favourite holiday resort of Stalin. Here, passengers can visit Livadia Palace, the last holiday home of the Tsar and scene of the vital 1945 Yalta Conference between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin.
The northern coast of Turkey offers cruise passengers the delightful Sümela Monastery in Trabzon, the last bastion of the Byzantine Empire, lasting into the 15th century. Cruises often stop at the idyllic seaside town of Amasra on Turkey’s Black Sea coast before finishing back in Istanbul.
