Ukrainian Cruise Cities:

Kiev is the capital of Ukraine and known as "the mother of all cities of Russ". Its history goes back to the last decades of the 5th century when, according to legend, three brothers Kiev, Shchek, Khoriv and their beautiful sister Lybid, leader of the Polyane Slavic tribe, builder fortified settlement and named it in honor of the oldest brother.

Dedicated in 1037, St. Sophia's Cathedral was build by the Prince Yaroslav the Wise in recognition and celebration of victorious battle against invading nomadic tribes of Pechenegs.

The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) located about 3 km (2 miles) southeast of the town centre. This spellbinding functioning monastery was founded in 1051.

Built in 1037 by the prince Yaroslav the Wise, the original Golden Gates served as the main entrance into the ancient Kiev, which was surrounded by the defense walls.

City of Dnipropetrovsk is immersed in greenery and spreads along both banks of the Dnieper River. One of the youngest Ukrainian cities, it was founded in 1776 and named Yekaterinoslavl, it was intended to be the southern gates of Russian Empire.

For many hundreds of years people were dreaming of bringing water and therefore life to arid Taurian steppes. Many failed in this endeavor, including hydro engineer John Perry, whom Peter the Great had invited from England, and Prince Potemkin who gathered hundreds of soldiers and serfs to build a canal.

Thanks to old romantic traditions, Odessa is considered to be one of the world's most fascinating cities. The inimitable coloring of the city is sustained not only by the sea, the aroma of the acacia flowers, and velvety summer nights; it is also enhanced by marvelous monuments of 19th-century architecture.

The city of Sevastopol was closed to foreigners until 1996. It is a home base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which leases bays and infrastructure from the Ukraine.

City of Yalta, the loveliest among Black Sea resorts, lies in a natural amphitheatre framed by the Crimean Mountains and the sea. It was once the retreat of the czars and Russian nobility; later it became the playground of Soviet leaders. Yalta has magical reputation for its sunshine, fine wines and relaxed living.

The city of Kherson was founded in 1778 and rapidly became the administrative, economic and cultural centre of the region. Originally it was laid out as a fortress for the defense of the Black and Azov Seas regions.

Zaporizhzhia means "the city beyond the rapids." Its history is closely connected with the Zaporozhian Cossack Warriors, who defended country's southern borders from foreign invaders. In 1770, the Alexandrovskaya Fortress was laid in the place of a Cossack settlement.

Kanev is one of the oldest towns in the Ukraine. According to the chronicles, it was founded in the 11th century during the reign of prince Yaroslav the Wise. Twelfth-century chronicles mention Kanev as a reliable stronghold on the southern borders of Kievan Russ.

The city of Kremenchug was founded in 15th century. Designed to be a fortress it has lived through many turbulent events in Ukrainian and Russian history.