Cruise 4-5 14/12/09 16:55 Page 39
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Black Sea
Sun, sea
T
he Black Sea always seemed to be
something of a poor relation to the
Mediterranean where cruising is
concerned. The name conjured up
images of bloody battles in the Crimean war
and drab echoes of the Communist era.
On realising that my cruise onboard
and
Royal Princess was stopping at Odessa, my
thoughts immediately turned to espionage
and intrigue as I thought of the famous
Frederick Forsyth book, The Odessa File.
I arrived expecting a dingy industrial
sprawl, living off its grand naval past. But
what I discovered was an elegant city of
Stalin
wide boulevards, classical fountains and
beautiful statuesque buildings. Its
continental cafe culture and ambience were
more reminiscent of the streets of Paris.
A date with history
Further along the Black Sea coast is the
pretty Ukrainian resort of Yalta. Its moun-
Eastern Europe’s Black Sea, with its historic port tainous backdrop and lush surroundings
cities and surprisingly cosmopolitan ambience, offers
reminded me more of the French and Italian
intriguing itineraries for discerning passengers, as
Riviera. Yalta is a key port for cruises to this
region, as it boasts a fascinating history.
Sara Macefield discovers on a Princess Cruises voyage As well as being one of the Crimea’s most
18.12.2009 39
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