Yalta Dopobachennya! (Goodbye)

Leaving Yalta

09:45 Nikita Botanical Gardens Tour was yesterday and this morning’s optional shore excursion is a visit to the  Massandra Winery.  A bit too early for wine for us.

12:30 We bid farewell to Yalta and set sail for Kherson.  Crimean champagne is served on the Sun Deck with Vlad playing.

This is a good opportunity to view Yalta and the Swallow’s Nest from the water.  Don’t forget your cameras.  Yalta is an enjoyable river cruise stop so it is a bit sad leaving it.

13:30 Lunch

15:30 On board activity includes a visit to the boat’s galley.  The Galley is really quite small so we visit in small groups.  It’s an eye-opener seeing the confined space and resources that the chef and his team has to prepare all those meals.

The chef explains that all the supplies for the cruise are brought from Kiev to Odessa at the start of the cruise and refrigerated.  Along the way, he may pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables.

Whilst we thought that the food quality on this cruise is pretty average compared to a Rhine River cruise, after seeing the kitchen constraints, you have to feel sympathy for the chef.

17:15 This afternoon there is opportunity to learn some Russian or Ukrainian from the guides.

Dinner at 19:30 is followed by a photo presentation of the Dnieper Locks.