Heritage of the Tsars Cruise aboard Quest for Adventure

1 Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey
The legendary city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was originally named after Emperor Constantine when the Romans made it their eastern capital in 324AD. A city has stood here for almost three millennia, ruled by various empires from the Greeks to the Ottomans.
Blessed with a magnificent natural setting on the Bosphorous Strait and encompassing a fabulous natural harbour known as the ‘Golden Horn’, Istanbul has long been a draw for travellers. Today, Turkey’s largest metropolis is a melting pot of cultures and is the only city in the world to straddle two continents – Europe and Asia.
It offers a dazzling wealth of culture and traditions, a rich variety of architecture and an intriguing blend of ancient and modern.

2 Batumi Georgia

Batumi
Batumi is a seaside resort and port in the southwest of the Republic of Georgia. It is the capital of the Ajarian Autonomous Republic. Close to the Turkish border, the town has a decidedly Turkish character, with a mosque and 19th-century bath house. Under Turkish rule in the 17th Century, Batumi was famous for its slave market. Its charm lies in its lush, subtropical setting, among citrus groves and tea plantations, with mountains rising up from the edge of the sea. The Ajarian Museum, the circus, park, Botanical Garden and the theatre are well worth visiting.
Please note: Subject to the poor tourist infrastructure in this port, the quality of coaches and guides is the best available but may not meet your expectations. However, the locals’ hospitality and great cultural heritage more than makes up for this.

3 Sochi, Russia

Sochi
Lying in the south west of European Russia, Sochi is one of the Black Sea’s most popular resorts thanks to its attractive beaches, mineral springs, shady streets and parks that stretch for one hundred miles along the Caucasian coastline. By the turn of the 20th century many luxurious spa retreats had been created and Russian nobility flocked to build their summer residences here.
Another draw is Sochi’s subtropical climate, which allows citrus fruit, tea and tobacco to flourish nearby. The resort is backed by the picturesque Caucasus Mountains, whose lush forests are laced with sparkling streams that wind their way down to the golden beaches of the Black Sea coast.

4 Kerch Ukraine

One of the most ancient cities in the Ukraine, Kerch is a new port for Quest for Adventure and is overflowing with history. Perhaps visit the Yeni-Kale fortress, built by the Ottoman Turks in the early 18th-century.

5 Yalta, Ukraine

Yalta
Situated on the site of an ancient Greek colony, Yalta was built by the Tsars of Russia and enjoys a spectacular setting on the Crimean Coast, backed by lush mountains overlooking the Black Sea. Residents of this magnificent city have included the playwright Anton Chekhov and the novelist Leo Tolstoy, whose legendary book War and Peace is considered one of the greatest novels in history.
Bursting with life and a convivial atmosphere, Yalta is one of Crimea’s top tourist towns and visitors never tire of strolling along the palm-lined promenade dotted with many amusement arcades. The pebble beaches and mountain backdrop attracted the Russian aristocracy to its shores during the 19th century. Today visitors can explore this intriguing seaside resort that is twinned with Margate in Kent.
Below are examples of excursions that may be available at this port of call. You will be notified of the optional excursions available during your cruise shortly before you depart

6 Sevastopol, Ukraine

Sevastopel
Situated on the Black Sea coast of the Crimean Peninsula, Sevastopol is an elegant city with neoclassical buildings and historic forts edged by a beautiful waterfront promenade. Until 1996 this naval base was closed to the public, and the imposing ships of the Ukranian and Russian fleets are still stationed here in South Bay.
Sevastopol is famous for being the site of the tragic 1850s Crimean War that saw the city attacked by allied forces. One of the young defenders was Leo Tolstoy, a hero of the Russian Revolution. At least 400 monuments can be found in and around the city, many of which commemorate this event.
Other sights of interest include Nakhimov Square, Prymorsky Boulevard with its Monument to Scuttled Ships and St Vladimir Cathedral, built in Byzantine style but badly damaged during World War II. From Sevastopol you can visit the site of the well-known Battle of Balaklava and see where the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade took place.

7 Odessa, Ukraine

Odessa, Ukraine
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Black Sea’ or ‘The Hero City’, Odessa is one of Ukraine’s most remarkable locations. It was established by Catherine the Great in the late 18th century and she imagined Odessa to be her St Petersburg. In time, a great city emerged with beautiful neoclassical buildings and statues built on a grid of avenues.
Art has also played an important part in Odessa’s heritage and culture – Pushkin was exiled here and the world-famous Potemkin Steps featured in one of cinema’s most revered films, The Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein. Odessa has lost none of its charm, energy or beauty.
It is a green and beautifully planned city with tree-lined boulevards, long beaches and leafy parks. At the centre is Deribasivska Street, where you will find an array of shops, stalls and street entertainers.
Visitors to the city can explore many architectural delights such as the Potemkin Steps, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Primorsky Boulevard, Odessa City Hall and a wealth of fabulous museums.

8 Constanza, Romania

Constanza, Romania
Constanza, also spelt ‘Constanta’, is the third largest city in Romania, located on the western coast of the Black Sea.
It has a colourful history: the Greeks settled here first, then the Romans came and named it in honour of Emperor Constantine. Constanza’s fortunes suffered a decline after it was destroyed by the Avars in the 7th century and it was not until the 1800s that it truly developed culturally and economically.

9 Varna, Bulgaria

Varna
Varna, the third largest city in Bulgaria, lies on the Bay of Varna, nestled in a deep valley between the Frengen and Avren plateaus. Often thought of as the summer capital of Bulgaria, this resort attracts thousands of visitors every year because of its warm sunshine and sandy beaches.
The city also boasts an interesting past – the Greeks, Romans and Ottomans have all taken advantage of its strategic location on the coast. This varied past has ensured the city has many historic buildings and cultural attractions, plus a wealth of museums and art galleries.
Close to Varna, other notable highlights include the equally popular resorts of Golden Sands and Albena, the intriguing Fossil Forest and the picturesque town of Balchik with its botanical garden.

10 Nessebar

The ancient but bustling touristic town of Nessebar is set on a rocky peninsula linked to the mainland by a long, narrow isthmus, which is believed to be man-made. Originally a Thracian settlement, Nessebar became a Greek polis and a Roman colony before being tossed between Bulgaria and Byzantium and then seized by the Ottomans in 1453. Under Turkish rule the town declined, but many of the splendid buildings erected between the 11th and 14th centuries survived and the churches are among the best preserved on the Balkan peninsula.
The old town is a romantic hotch-potch of narrow, cobblestoned streets and tiny squares lined with period houses whose stone-built ground levels and wooden upper floors are linked by external staircases. Nessebur was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1983.

11 Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey
The legendary city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was originally named after Emperor Constantine when the Romans made it their eastern capital in 324AD. A city has stood here for almost three millennia, ruled by various empires from the Greeks to the Ottomans.
Blessed with a magnificent natural setting on the Bosphorous Strait and encompassing a fabulous natural harbour known as the ‘Golden Horn’, Istanbul has long been a draw for travellers. Today, Turkey’s largest metropolis is a melting pot of cultures and is the only city in the world to straddle two continents – Europe and Asia.
It offers a dazzling wealth of culture and traditions, a rich variety of architecture and an intriguing blend of ancient and modern.

12 Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey
The legendary city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was originally named after Emperor Constantine when the Romans made it their eastern capital in 324AD. A city has stood here for almost three millennia, ruled by various empires from the Greeks to the Ottomans.
Blessed with a magnificent natural setting on the Bosphorous Strait and encompassing a fabulous natural harbour known as the ‘Golden Horn’, Istanbul has long been a draw for travellers. Today, Turkey’s largest metropolis is a melting pot of cultures and is the only city in the world to straddle two continents – Europe and Asia.
It offers a dazzling wealth of culture and traditions, a rich variety of architecture and an intriguing blend of ancient and modern.

Titan Travel have a reputation for innovative and enthralling escorted holiday itineraries, and through the guidance of their founding principles, “quality, service and value” which have remained unchanged since the 1970′s, their expertise and experience are second to none.

Titan Travel strive to ensure that aspect of their holidays whispers quality, before you fly, you get to appreciate a comfortable, chauffeur-driven transfer from your front door to the airport with our peerless VIP Home Departure Service, check-in assistance and complimentary porterage. All international flights are with world-renowned scheduled airlines and cruises with acclaimed operators. Touring holidays are expertly designed by the product team to present a comprehensive, imaginative introduction to the destination of choice yet still offer plenty of time for relaxation. The services of a tour manager or cruise manager are included throughout. When you return to the UK, you are met in the arrivals hall of the airport and shown to your VIP Home Departure Service vehicle, waiting to return you to your front door.

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