Topic: Fees fall in the Black Sea, but will the fleets flood in?

Ukrainian ports are dropping their fees by up to 50% in a bid to lure in more cruise business.

A wopping 100% discount will also be granted from the third call of any vessel of one cruise company to a single port throughout the year.

The Black Sea has always been something of a poor relation to the Mediterranean for cruises and, as a result, easily overlooked but the region has a lot to offer.

Lets hope it gets the boost it so obviously needs!

Not sure where it is? Watch this for quick geography lesson...



Have you been to the Black Sea? Or is it somewhere you'd like to go?

Thanks for that Robinson. The Black Sea is on our 'to do' list but there are so few cruises that cover that area and it is expensive. Maybe the xpensive mooring fees explains it.

I am booked on the Fred. Olsen "Black Watch" from Southampton to the Black Sea in September this year. it's a 28 night cruise which appears very attractive.

Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria - would love to visit some of the ports, especially Istanbul.

I visited Istanbul on a Greece and Turkey cruise and it was spectacular , I would have loved to have gone further in and around the Black sea. It's still on the to do list

QUOTE:

I visited Istanbul on a Greece and Turkey cruise and it was spectacular , I would have loved to have gone further in and around the Black sea. It's still on the to do list

I'd second that. We visited Istanbul last year and there is plenty to see. You need to spend a very full day in the town to have a chance of seeing everything even though it is all within easy walking distance once you get to the centre of town.

An amazing city.

QUOTE:

I'd second that. We visited Istanbul last year and there is plenty to see. You need to spend a very full day in the town to have a chance of seeing everything even though it is all within easy walking distance once you get to the centre of town.

An amazing city.

Hi
Booked on Thomson in October that includes Istanbul,because i have never been before i will book a ship excursion.
They do one which is a tour AM,back to ship for lunch,then tour PM
with free time.
I think we will see more in one day this way rather than do my own thing,which i usually do.
JC

QUOTE:

Hi
Booked on Thomson in October that includes Istanbul,because i have never been before i will book a ship excursion.
They do one which is a tour AM,back to ship for lunch,then tour PM
with free time.
I think we will see more in one day this way rather than do my own thing,which i usually do.
JC

We booked a ships excursion last year when we visited with OV as we weren't sure we'd be able to get to the front of the queues to see everything otherwise. It was a very full day and we still didn't get enough time to see the Topkapi Palace properly.

We did escape from our excursion for an hour whilst they went to the bazaar as we wanted to see the forum and the Egyptian obelisk which oddly isn't on any of the tours.

We joined up with another couple took a taxi to the Blue Mosque What a place !!fabulous colors on the tiles, then across to the church of Hagia Sophia another wonderful place, we had lunch in a little cafe. We then spent the afternoon at the bazaar and the streets surrounding it it was wonderful, we felt completely safe, they love Man United and will ask about Rooney now I suppose [it was David Platts time when we went].I really would like to go again.and include it in a black sea cruise.

QUOTE:

I visited Istanbul on a Greece and Turkey cruise and it was spectacular , I would have loved to have gone further in and around the Black sea. It's still on the to do list

That's why we booked Thomson Celebration for September, so we can visit Istanbul
We've stayed in Turkey 4 times and love it so much, staying just outside Marmaris in the same gorgeous hotel each time. We asked about an excursion to Istanbul last time which would have meant extra flying and hotels and cost about £580!!!!
Can't wait for September!:D Cruise upto Istanbul (and other places) then stay in hotel for a week