Overview

From the fall of Constantinople to the fall of the Soviet Union, so many pivotal events of world history have played out within the margins of the Black Sea. There is no better way to explore this diverse region than cruising, and two days at sea provides ample time for enjoying lectures and informal discussions with our expert.




Embark Corinthian II and sail from Athens through the Bosphorus Strait to call in Constanta, Romania’s cultural and economic center and site of the ruins of Tomis Danubius. Stroll through Odessa’s elegant leafy streets to discover the Potemkin Steps, site of the 1905 uprising of workers and sailors from the battleship Potemkin.

Visit Sevastopol, the former base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from the days of Catherine II until the fall of the Soviet Union, and nearby Chersonesos, an ancient city founded by Greeks. The past comes alive as you walk through Livadia Palace and imagine the meeting of world leaders, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin during the historic 1945 Yalta Conference.

Before concluding the voyage in Istanbul, explore the treasures of the seldomvisited north coast of Turkey from Trapezus one of antiquity’s greatest cities and commercial centers to the spectacular frescoes that adorn the rock church of Sumela Monastery, and the rock-cut tombs of the Pontic Kings carved into vertical cliff overlooking the ancient citadel of Amasya.

Throughout the cruise, enjoy concerts performed by legendary pianist Leon Fleisher. At the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007, he was recognized as “a consummate musician whose career is a testament to the life-affirming power of art.” He will be joined by wife, Kathy Jacobson-Fleisher, and his children, Deborah, Richard, Leah, Julian, and Paula, who will perform alongside him during the voyage.