DAY 1: UK - Kiev.
Fly to Kiev, where you will be met and transferred to your ship, Viking Lavrinenkov. Your cruise is full board from dinner this evening until breakfast on day 11. (D)

DAY 2: Kiev.
One of Eastern Europe's oldest cities, elegant Kiev is capital of the Ukraine and was a trading post on the Dnieper River route linking Scandinavia with Constantinople, now Istanbul. Straddling the Dnieper, this sophisticated city overflows with tree-lined boulevards, museums, cathedrals and theatres. Today, join an optional morning tour around its beautiful old quarter, filled with stunning, onion-domed churches. Witness spectacular St Sophia Cathedral, with its 13 golden domes and interior frescoes. After lunch on board, enjoy an optional excursion to the ancient Pechersk Lavra, or 'Monastery of the Caves'. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this incredible 11th century complex of domed churches and monasteries is linked by underground corridors, living quarters and chapels guarded by mighty fortifications. (B, L, D)

DAY 3: Cruising.
Spend the day relaxing on board Viking Lavrinenkov, as you continue cruising through the Ukrainian countryside. (B, L, D)

DAY 4: Zaporozhye.
This historic small town is renowned as the original home of the legendary, fierce Cossack warriors. Spend today on an optional tour, admiring its main Lenin Avenue and elegant squares. Join an optional excursion to the Cossack Museum with its amazing 16th and 17th century exhibits, followed by a Cossack show of horsemanship, music and dance. Return to the ship at lunchtime and start sailing towards Kherson. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: Kherson.
Founded in 1778, this naval town stands at the mouth of the Dnieper and provides the setting for an enjoyable optional river boat trip along the picturesque canals of the Dnieper Delta. You'll sail to Fisherman's Island before rejoining your ship to cruise the Black Sea towards Sevastopol. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Sevastopol.
Site of the tragic Crimean War of 1853-56 when French, English and Turkish forces battled for the city, historic Sevastopol was 'closed' until 1992, with non-residents needing special entry permits. An optional tour of this legendary Black Sea port takes you on a fascinating journey through its bloody past, visiting the magnificent St Vladimir Cathedral, Admiral Nakhimov Square and military memorials. After lunch, there is an optional trip to the ancient Greek colony of Chersoneses, founded in the 6th-Century BC. This evening, enjoy an optional concert by the Black Sea Fleet Choir. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Sevastopol.
The highpoint of today is an optional visit to the magnificent Khan Palace at Bakhchisaray, built in 1519 and home to a succession of Crimean Khans. The walled enclosure contains a mosque, a harem and living quarters in a combination of different architectural styles within beautifully landscaped gardens. After lunch, enjoy an optional excursion to Balaklava and the Panorama Museum, home to the monumental masterpiece, the 'Panorama of the Sevastopol Battle', which recreates 24 hours in the city's Crimean War defence. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Yalta.
This morning, arrive in Yalta, a picturesque, mountain-framed summer resort known as the 'Pearl of the Crimea'. Enjoy an optional sightseeing tour of the city and marvel at the extravagant Livadia Palace, once a summer residence of Russia's imperial family and the famous meeting place of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at the 1945 Yalta Conference. In the afternoon, choose between an optional excursion to either the Nikita Botanical Gardens or the house where Anton Chekhov lived which is now a museum. (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Yalta.
A morning at leisure, perhaps relaxing on the deck of your ship. Alternatively, choose an optional trip to the stunning Alupka, or Vorontsovsky Palace, where English, Scottish and Moorish architectural styles meet and echo the shapes of the mountains behind. In the afternoon, your ship sails for Odessa. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Odessa.
Designed in classical style with wide, tree-lined avenues, beautiful Odessa is crammed with historic and cultural sights. This morning, marvel at the grandiose Opera House, explore the superb Art Museum and gaze at the world-famous Potemkin Steps, a 27-metre staircase leading to the city's upper levels from the sea, on an optional city sightseeing tour. This evening, don't miss an optional excursion to either a concert or opera performance. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Odessa - UK.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport in Odessa for your return flight to the UK. (B)