KIEV TO THE BLACK SEA

UKRAINE HISTORIC RIVER CRUISE

Departing Saturday July 15th 2018 for 12 days / 11 nights

Cruise the Dnieper River to the Black Sea, an ancient and splendid trade route lined with rich cultural

treasures, onion-domed churches and rural folkways that recall the days of Vikings, Tatars and Cossacks. Visit

Kiev’s Cave Monasteries. Marvel at the riding skill of Cossack horsemen...and trace the footsteps of history at

Odessa’s Potemkin Steps.

Ukraine is the largest country that lies wholly within Europe, and is home to about 46 million people who can

trace their lineage back to a succession of diverse ethnic groups. The capital and largest city is Kiev, where

minority Armenian, Jewish, Azeri, Russian, Polish, Georgian and Romanian groups add their diverse traditions

to the colorful cultural scene. Odessa, in the Crimea on the Black Sea, is an historic port fringed by popular

beach resorts. Among the folk arts Ukraine is famous for is the production of the intricately decorated Easter

eggs known as pysanka, made using a wax-resist or batik process. The local cuisine is hearty; a well-known

specialty is Chicken Kiev. Visitors enjoy seeing Ukraine’s historic cathedrals and monasteries, Soviet-era

monuments, museums and displays of legendary traditional horsemanship, colorful folkloric costumes, and

music and dance.

The country’s name derives from a Slavic word meaning “borderland,” but the region was originally populated

by an Iranian tribe called the Scythians, who established a kingdom here from 700 BC to 200 BC. The region

was then inhabited by a succession of groups including the Goths, the Bulgars and the Khazars. During the

10th and 11th centuries Ukraine became the center of a European state called the Kievan Rus, which

prospered until it was destroyed by the Mongol invasion in 1240. The area fell under Lithuanian and then

Polish rule after a royal marriage created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which in the 16th century

underwent a series of Tatar invasions. In the mid-17th century a Cossack state was established, which was

then split between Russia and Poland. Ukraine spent much of the 20th century attempting to reunite and

become its own nation, but this did not come to pass until 1991. Ukraine is now in a state of political transition

and the country is still challenged economically following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ship Highlights – The Viking Sineus

Completely refurbished in 2014, Viking Sineus offers exceptional ambiance with the comforts of a fine hotel.

Enjoy spacious staterooms and suites, an inviting restaurant and beautiful public spaces on an elegant ship

that sets a new standard of river cruising excellence in this region.

Day to Day Itinerary: Day 1: Rapid City by road to Sioux Falls, SD to Kiev, Ukraine Our journey begins in Rapid City with a transfer to Sioux Falls airport by road, followed by our overnight transatlantic flight to Kiev, Ukraine. Meals as per airline schedule.

Day 2: Kiev, Ukraine On arrival in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, we transfer to our ship. After boarding, take free time to relax before dinner, or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. Dinner aboard included

Day 3: Kiev, Ukraine Tour Kiev, one of Europe’s oldest cities, with a heritage of Viking, Cossack and Ukrainian peoples. See its historic buildings and monuments, and take a guided tour of the lovely St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site crowned with 13 glimmering domes. Afterward, continue to the Monastery of Caves, an extensive complex of domed churches and museums founded by monks in 1051. Its Ukrainian name, Pechersk, comes from the underground passages and chapels that have been dug into the rocks alongside it. After lunch, spend some time exploring Kiev on your own, perhaps strolling the city center’s broad Kreshchatik Avenue, lined with inviting shops and chestnut trees. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 4: Kiev, Ukraine Today visit the fascinating Pirogovo Folk Museum today, a remarkable collection of more than 200 wooden structures relocated and rebuilt here from regions throughout Ukraine. Each building reflects a particular region, style and historical period of the country’s past and is brought to life by exhibits of folk costumes, musical instruments and household articles. You may spend the remainder of the day on your own or take an optional Jewish Kiev tour. Dinner aboard is followed by evening sailing along the peaceful Dnieper River, past gently rolling hills, forests and quaint villages. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 5: Kremenchug, Ukraine After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Kremenchug. With its riverside location along the trade route between the 16th-century duchy of Muscovy (today’s Moscow) and the Black Sea, this town grew into a wealthy Cossack center. You will be welcomed today into the home of a local family for snacks. Your enriching visit will shine a light on the daily lives of Ukrainians and you’ll come to embrace both your differences and your similarities. You can share your experiences and impressions this evening during our onboard dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 6: Dnipro, Ukraine Undulating hills, vast open landscapes and a bend in the rambling river lead to Dnipro, a former fortress settlement. The city was founded by Catherine the Great’s lover as a summer residence for the tsarina. During a city tour, you will see the long boulevards, green parks and provincial public buildings. Stop to browse the Petrykivka Folk Art Center, founded by the celebrated Cossack known as Petryk. This settlement is famed for its rich ornamental style of decorative floral painting that embodies the culture’s connection to the natural world. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 7: Zaporozhye, Ukraine After breakfast, we tour Zaporozhye, ancestral home of the Cossacks. Drive along Lenin Street; see the Lenin Monument, dam and the city’s massive hydroelectric plant. Then visit the Cossack Museum of Khortitsa. We enjoy a special Cossack horsemanship show full of spectacular acrobatics accompanied by folkloric music and dance.

During lunch aboard, continue sailing down the Dnieper; this afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising and onboard activities, including a Ukrainian tea party. Cruise through the night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 8: Kherson, Ukraine Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising through a rich, fertile landscape of corn and watermelon fields. After an onboard Ukraine history lecture, arrive in Kherson mid-afternoon. Disembark for a tour of this small city, founded in 1778 by order of Catherine the Great and named after the nearby ancient Greek colony of Chersonesos Taurica. Walk along the river embankment, see the monument to Prince Potemkin and visit St. Catherine’s Cathedral, decidedly Mediterranean in design. You will also visit the local craft market, where you’ll find colorful fabric, nesting dolls and decorative housewares. Dinner is served as we depart and make our way into the wide-open waters of the Black Sea. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 9: Odessa, Ukraine After breakfast, enjoy a half-day city tour of Odessa, an elegant city of terraced hills and landscaped parks. Travel along Primorski Boulevard to the Italian-baroque Opera House and to Potemkin Steps, where one of the most famous scenes shot by Sergei Eisenstein for his 1925 classic, The Battleship Potemkin. After dinner, you may choose to attend an optional performance at the Odessa Opera House, known for its splendid acoustics.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 10: Odessa, Ukraine Begin today with a tour of Akkerman Fortress of Bilgorod–Dnistrovski, a mighty and imposing citadel dramatically overlooking the Black Sea. It is the largest and best preserved fortress in Ukraine. Later, spend more time exploring Odessa’s stately 19th-century architecture, a blend of its Russian heritage and Mediterranean sensibilities, or stroll along its miles of sandy beaches. Or you might join an afternoon optional excursion to the Odessa Opera House, where you can see a special performance in the oldest theater in the city. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 11: Odessa, Ukraine After breakfast, tour the fascinating Odessa Catacombs. This maze of underground tunnels began as a sandstone mining operation but the abandoned mines were later used by smugglers and Soviet partisans fighting fascist invaders during the Second World War. Or visit the Odessa Art Museum in Potocki Palace, a treasure of 19th-century architecture and colorful, eclectic interiors. During your visit, browse a rich collection of Russian and European paintings, sculptures and decorative arts spanning centuries. This afternoon, enjoy free time discovering more of this remarkable city, perhaps visiting the Uspensky Cathedral, a vision of blue and white domes, or joining an optional excursion to Odessa, where you’ll tour historic synagogues and monuments of Jewish heritage and significance. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard ship

Day 12: Odessa, Ukraine back to Sioux Falls, SD After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight back to Sioux Falls and then to Rapid City by road. Breakfast included plus meals aboard aircraft as schedule determines.

Staterooms & Pricing:

Completely refurbished in 2014, the Viking fleet in Eastern Europe offers exceptional ambiance with all the

comforts of a fine hotel. Enjoy spacious staterooms and suites, an inviting restaurant and beautiful public

spaces on elegant ships that set a new standard of river cruising excellence in the region.

➢ All staterooms are outside with river view ➢ All Cat AX & BX staterooms have a veranda ➢ All Cat CX, DX & EX staterooms have a large picture window that opens ➢ Private, modern bathrooms with separate shower & premium bath products ➢ 26" Sony® TV with CNBC, CNN, BBC & more ➢ Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & air conditioning ➢ Bottled water replenished daily ➢ Sun deck with shaded sitting area - Restaurant with panoramic views ➢ Elevator - Observation lounge & bar with panoramic windows ➢ Library & onboard boutique - Free wireless internet ➢ Doctor on board - Laundry service ➢ Voltage: 220V & 110V (U.S. outlet) in stateroom

Different Stateroom Types:

Stateroom Type Deluxe EX & Deluxe DX & Deluxe CX

Category Deluxe Ocean View EX is $4,699 per person based on Double Occupancy

Category Deluxe Ocean View DX is $4,799 per person based on Double Occupancy

Category Deluxe Ocean View CX is $4,899 per person based on Double Occupancy

Stateroom Type Veranda BX & Veranda AX

Category Private Veranda BX is $6,599 per person based on Double Occupancy

Category Private Veranda AX is $6,999 per person based on Double Occupancy

Itinerary at a glance:

Price: from $4,699 per person based on double occupancy Starts: Sunday July 15th 2018 Ends: Thursday July 26th 2018

What's included?

• Round trip by road from Rapid City to Sioux Falls, SD • Round trip coach class air from Sioux Falls to Kiev return from Odessa/Kherson • Overnight Transatlantic Flight then 10 nights aboard Viking Sineus • All Meals once on board with complimentary Beer and House Wines served with lunch and Dinner • One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call (Total 11 guided tours) • Visits to UNESCO Sites plus enrichment lectures and Destination Performances • 24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water & Unlimited free Wi-Fi • All on board Gratuities, All Taxes and Fees & All Transfers from Airport / Ship / Airport • Fully Escorted

How to book

• Deposit due of $1,000 per person • Final Balance due February 15th 2018

What you'll need

• Full Passport is required for this tour

Weather

1-888-788-6777

abstravelgroup.com

____________________________________________________________________________________________

ABS Travel Group | 945 Enchantment Road, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA

1-888-788-6777 | 1-605-791-2520

Fax 605-791-2618