25 November 2008 | A unique kind of cruise of the Black Sea, organised by the travel section of the Smithsonian Institution, offers the opportunity to navigate the mysterious waters of the Black Sea and sail to fascinating ports in Turkey, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

The Black Sea Cruise abroad the ship Le Levant is scheduled to take place between October 7 and 16 of 2009. Its highlights include: a visit of Istanbul's splendid Hagia Sophia Basilica, built by the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, exploration of the Topkapi Palace, which served as the home of the sultans and seat of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries, and is now a museum filled with priceless treasures; seeing the opulent waterside palaces, embassies, and mansions as Le Levant cruises the Bosphorus Strait; a tour of the Italian Renaissance-style Livadia Palace, venue for the Yalta Conference where Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill met in 1945 to determine the fate of Europe after World War II; a stop by Nessebar, with its winding cobbled streets, timbered houses, and intricately decorated Byzantine churches; and specially arranged music and folkloric performances and a visit with a Ukrainian family in their home.



The educational cruise is structured in a way that allows travellers to delve into the area’s many layers of history. “Spanning Europe and Asia the Black Sea region has figured prominently in timeless legends and momentous events throughout world history, from antiquity to World War II,” according to the organisers’ explanation. “Here the Greeks built important colonies, jewelled Constantinople rose as one of the world’s greatest capitals, and the Yalta Conference took place at the conclusion of World War II.”

The tour price ranges between $8,195 and $10,485, based on double occupancy, depending on the deck where the cabin is located. Those who book their journey by January 31, 2009 save $700 per person on some cabins.

Smithsonian Journeys is a product of the Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846, after the British scientist James Smithson willed his estate – which amounted to more than $500,000 “to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” For the last 35 years, Smithsonian - as the largest, most diverse museum-based educational travel program in the world, has tapped its resources, developed unique travel itineraries, and assembled the experts for the sole purpose of providing exciting educational travel experiences.

The detailed itinerary of the cruise, information on Le Levant, and other details can be found on the Smithsonian Journeys website.

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