BLACK SEA CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE aboard Island Sky September 25October 6, 2016
LEGENDARY Jason and the Argonauts searched for the Golden Fleece at the end of the known world the Black Sea. Join our fascinating lecture team and circumnavigate this fabled body of water, discovering ancient civilizations, vibrant contemporary cultures, and beautiful landscapes. Our base is the 57-cabin, all-suite cruise ship Island Sky, from which we explore areas of Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. You will cruise round-trip from Istanbul, visiting a variety of historic sites and cities, enjoying dance and music performances, and sampling delicious local cuisines. From the ports of Samsun, Batumi, Trabzon, Odessa, and Varna, and via charter flight to Tbilisi, you will enjoy fascinating, informative excursions. Extend your adventure on the optional pre-cruise extension in Istanbul, an imperial capital for 1,500 years at the crossroads of Europe and Asia; and/or the optional post-cruise extension to Cappadocia, land of towering fairy chimneys, in central Anatolia. HIGHLIGHTS Visit the Narikala Fortress and Orthodox churches in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi Enjoy a cappella singers, private concerts, and folk dancing in Odessa, Varna, and Batumi Explore historic Amasya, where Pontic tombs honeycomb the mountains and classical Ottoman buildings line the riverbanks View the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Sumela Monastery), carved into the Pontic Mountains near Trabzon Marvel at the spectacular collection of Scythian gold artifacts in the archaeological museum in Varna
ITINERARY SundayMonday, September 2526 HOME / ISTANBUL, TURKEY Depart home on an overnight flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, transfer to the Island Sky for a welcome orientation and reception while cruising the Bosphorus Strait. ISLAND SKY (R,D) Tuesday, September 27 AT SEA Relax aboard ship as the Island Sky cruises along Turkey s coastline. Enjoy the beginning of the lecture program. Wednesday, September 28 SAMSUN / AMASYA Dock in Samsun and travel to Amasya, the former capital of the ancient Pontic Kingdom and a treasure of rock-hewn tombs, classical wooden mansions, and Seljuk and Ottoman monuments. Also visit the archaeological Museum, where artifacts from 13 civilizations are on display. Thursday, September 29 AT SEA / BATUMI, GEORGIA Batumi, a seaport on the Black Sea coast of Georgia, lies at the northern edge of the humid subtropical zone. This afternoon, choose to visit either the Batumi Botanical Garden, which overlooks the Black Sea and is one of the richest botanical gardens in the world; or Gonio Fortress, built by the Romans in the 1st century and the site of ongoing excavations. Enjoy dinner off the ship and a performance by a noted Georgian folk dance ensemble. Friday, September 30 TBILISI Take an early-morning charter flight from Batumi to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. On arrival explore the 4th-century Narikala Fortress, which dominates the Old Town skyline; Abanotubani, the historic bath house district; and the city s churches and Eastern Orthodox cathedral. Return to Batumi for dinner on board. Saturday, October 1 TRABZON, TURKEY Upon arrival in Trabzon, travel to the spectacularly situated Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Sumela Monastery) in the Pontic Mountains. afterward, enjoy a tasting of local cheese specialties and a visit to the colorful local market. Sunday, October 2 AT SEA The onboard lecture series continues as the ship cruises to Odessa. Monday, October 3 ODESSA, UKRAINE Odessa is a city of resplendent mansions and fine old churches. During a city tour, visit the Holocaust Memorial; the Potemkin Steps, famously depicted in Sergei Eisenstein s classic 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin; and the Odessa archaeological Museum. Dine off the ship in central Odessa at a historic venue followed by a special performance of classical music. Tuesday, October 4 ODESSA This morning tour the stunning Hapsburgstyle opera house and delight in the enchanting singing of the Eastern Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral Choir. Enjoy free time for an independent look at the heart of Odessa before returning to the ship. Wednesday, October 5 VARNA, BULGARIA Arrive in Varna, the largest city and resort on Bulgaria s Black Sea coast, for
Odessa Sea Air Varna BLACK SEA Batumi Tbilisi Istanbul Samsun Trabzon an afternoon of exploration. Marvel at the world-class collection of Scythian gold from the 5th millennium B.C. at the archaeological museum, visit the imposing domed Cathedral of the Assumption, and enjoy an a cappella choir performance. The Island Sky departs for istanbul this evening as you celebrate your Black Sea voyage at a festive farewell reception and dinner on board. Thursday, October 6 ISTANBUL, TURKEY / HOME Disembark in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for flights home. (B) OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR EXTENSION September 2226, 2016 ISTANBUL Spend three days exploring Istanbul s exceptional treasures, including Hagia Sophia, once the largest cathedral in the world; Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), its interior adorned with blue Iznik tiles; Topkapi Palace; the Hippodrome, once the center of Byzantine life; and the Grand Bazaar, where 61 labyrinthine covered streets house more than 3,000 shops. HAGIA SOFIA HOTEL (3B,2L,1R,1D) OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXTENSION October 69, 2016 CAPPADOCIA Spend three nights in World Heritagelisted Cappadocia, land of fairy chimneys, troglodytic villages, and underground cities. Fly to Kayseri, once an important stop on the Silk Road and rich in historical monuments. Explore Byzantine cave churches decorated with colorful frescoes, visit an underground city, marvel at the thousands of dovecotes in Pigeon Valley, and attend a Whirling Dervish ceremony. ARGOS HOTEL (3B,2L,2D)
ISLAND SKY Originally built in 1992 and refurbished and redecorated in 2015, the Island Sky accommodates all guests in 57 outside suites, each with sea views, a sitting room area, atscreen TV, safe, mini-refrigerator, and an en suite, marble-appointed bathroom with robe, slippers, and hair dryer. Several suites have private balconies. Spacious and finely decorated public areas include a large lounge and elegant bar and a library. The dining room accommodates everyone at one seating, and house wine, beer, and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner. Wi-Fi access is available throughout the vessel (at additional cost and dependent upon satellite reception). The ship s amenities also include a hairdresser, onboard clinic and doctor, elevator serving all passenger decks, and two sun decks, one with a bar. The Island Sky is served by 75 experienced officers and crew. PROGRAM RATES (per person) Category A $8,990 MAGELLAN DECK Portholes (3 in cabin 250, 2 in cabin 252) DOUBLE SINGLE $13,490 B MAGELLAN DECK Portholes (2, 3, or 4, depending on cabin) C COLUMBUS DECK Windows (1 or 2, depending on cabin) D MARCO POLO DECK Window E MARCO POLO DECK Forward and side windows F ERIKSON DECK Sliding glass door, private balcony $9,990 $11,490 $11,990 $13,490 $15,490 $14,990 $17,240 EXPLORER DECK Sliding glass door, private balcony $16,490 Program Rates Include All accommodations, meals, and excursions as specified in the itinerary Full program of briefings, lectures, and presentations On-tour flights between Batumi and Tbilisi Transfers on program and extension arrival/departure days Baggage handling Gratuities to porters, wait staff, guides, drivers, and shipboard personnel Entrance fees Welcome and farewell wine receptions Wine, beer, soft drinks, or water at lunch and dinner aboard Island Sky and at all group meals off the ship Bottled water on motorcoaches Professional tour manager G
To reserve a place on Circumnavigating the Black Sea you may complete and return this form with your deposit of $1,000 per person, payable to Criterion Travel. Mail to: 145 Forest Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94301. For more information or to reserve by phone, please call (888) 328-2089 or (650) 328-2089, or email res@criteriontravel.com GENERAL INFORMATION PROGRAM RATES DO NOT INCLUDE U.S. domestic and international airfare Passport/visa expenses Medical expenses and immunizations Private airport transfers on days other than program arrival/departure days Travel insurance Optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour Excess baggage charges Meals not specified in the itinerary; dishes and beverages not part of the included meals Laundry or dry cleaning Telephone, fax, internet, and email charges Room service Other items of a personal nature In addition, travelers must be able to board the ship via a metal gangplank with rope handrails and be comfortable with the rolling movement of the ship. Daytime temperatures during the trip will generally average in the mid to high 70s F, with infrequent rain. GROUP SIZE The maximum number of participants on this program is 96, including travelers from the Archaeological Institute of America, Harvard, Stanford, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. NAME #1 (as on passport) NAME #2 (as on passport) STREET ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP / POSTAL CODE HOME PHONE WORK PHONE BIRTHDATE BIRTHDATE AIRFARE U.S. domestic and international airfare is not included in the program rates. Information about making flight arrangements will be sent to all participants. WHAT TO EXPECT This is a moderately active trip for travelers who are flexible, comfortable traveling with a group, and can handle the vagaries of travel with good humor. Navigating uneven terrain, walking on cobblestone pavement, and standing for up to two hours in museums or other sites are the most strenuous activities. Some locations may have stairs without handrails. TERMS & CONDITIONS RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS To reserve space, please complete the reservation form and mail it with your check or credit card information to the address at the top of the form. You may also fax the form to (650) 560-6400 and your reservation will be held for five working days pending receipt of your check or credit card information. If you have questions, please call (888) 328-2089 or email res@criteriontravel.com. Final payment deadline is May 28, 2016, 120 days prior to departure. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS Upon payment of a $1,000 deposit per person, all reservations are subject to the cancellation provisions set forth below and by which the passenger agrees to be bound. Cancellations shall not be effective until they are received in writing and confirmed by Criterion Travel. Deposits are refundable (less a $250 per person administration fee) if written notice of cancellation is received within 30 days of reservation; after that, deposits are 100% nonrefundable. Final payment is due May 28, 2016 (120 days prior to departure). Cancellations within 120 days of departure are 100% nonrefundable. For this reason, we strongly urge participants to purchase trip cancellation insurance. If the program is cancelled by Criterion Travel, you will receive a full refund, without further obligation on our part. No refunds will be made for any part of this program on which you choose not to participate. Note: INSURANCE Travel insurance for trip cancellation and interruption, medical problems, baggage loss and delay, etc., is highly recommended, and we hope that you will obtain it for this expedition. Trip cancellation policies that apply to this expedition are included in this brochure. Please be sure to carry the details of your travel insurance coverage with you on the program. Travelers are free to purchase the travel insurance of their choice. It is recommended that travelers clearly understand the difference between primary and secondary travel insurance. Criterion Travel does not accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in conjunction with this tour. ITINERARY CHANGES The itinerary presented for this tour is subject to modification and change by Criterion Travel. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Criterion Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant. RESERVATION CONTACT (888) 328-2089 or res@criteriontravel.com California Seller of Travel Program CST #2088800-40 PHOTO CREDITS: (From Dreamstime.com): Odessa Opera House Soleg 1974; Turkish Tea Linda Caldwell; Saint Nicholas Church Vvvita; Sumela Monastery Petitfrere; Varna Cathedral Maksym Gorpenyuk; Cappadocia Kobby Dagan (from Shutterstock.com): Simit Bread fpolat69; Amasya, Turkey Valery Shanin E-MAIL(s) PAYMENT O Enclosed is my check for $ ($1,000 per person), to reserve place(s) on Circumnavigating the Black Sea OR O Charge the deposit to my credit card (circle one): VISA MC AMEX Diners Club Discover NAME ON CREDIT CARD CARD # EXP. DATE SECURITY CODE SIGNATURE AS IT APPEARS ON CREDIT CARD CATEGORY PREFERENCE 1st Choice 2nd Choice Bed Preference (not guaranteed): O One bed O Two beds SINGLE TRAVELERS O I prefer to have single accommodations. OR O I plan to share accommodations with: OR O I d like to know about roommates. I am a O Non-smoker O Smoker. I understand that if a roommate cannot be found by the final payment deadline of May 28, 2016, I will pay the single rate. O I/We have read the Terms & Conditions section of this brochure and understand and agree with them as stated herein. SIGNATURE SIGNATURE DATE DATE DATE