2009 Itinerary

• Indicates day of cruising

Day 1: Your Black Sea cruise starts on the Bosphorus
Welcome to Istanbul, where Europe and Asia meet. Tauck's Black Sea cruise and tour begins at 6:00 PM in Istanbul. A transfer is included from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul in the heart of the city; you'll enjoy impressive views of the Bosphorus from your room. Your Black Sea cruise begins with a three-night stay in this age-old city, truly the juncture of east and west; meet your fellow guests at a welcome reception and dinner this evening.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul’s timeless treasures
Sightseeing today includes the Hippodrome, the famed Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 1,400 years. Take a guided tour of Topkapi Palace, residence of all Ottoman sultans for four centuries right up to the 19th century. Its collections of art, antiquities and architectural masterpieces are priceless.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

Day 3: Opulence and art
Visit Dolmabache Palace, the opulent former residence of Turkish sultans and the final home of Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. Journey along the European side of the Bosphorus Strait; you'll view Turkish art, history, and archaeology on display at the Sadberk Hanim Museum, have lunch, and return to Istanbul where the remainder of the day is free.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

• Day 4: Slice of Turkish life & your Black Sea cruise embarks
Following a lecture on life in Turkey from an American perspective, see the ancient Theodosian Walls, the Byzantine Church of St. Saviour, and Rustem Pasa Mosque, which dates from 1550. Before boarding Le Levant for your Black Sea cruise, explore Istanbul’s famed Grand Bazaar. Jewelry, carpets, gold and more are sold at the largest covered market in Turkey, with approximately 4000 shops under one “roof.” Embark Le Levant late afternoon for the start of your Black Sea cruise along the 13-mile Bosphorus Strait.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

• Day 5: Archaeology and architecture
Today, your Black Sea cruise takes to you to Nessebur on the coast of Bulgaria. The town’s ancient Greek ruins and outstanding examples of Ottoman architecture have earned it a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A walking tour reveals its 19th-century timbered houses, ancient Greek ruins, medieval churches, charming courtyards and small taverns. If the weather is right later on today, enjoy a swim off Le Levant's swimming platform – an advantage of cruising aboard Tauck's private yacht! Your Black Sea cruise continues to Constanta, the largest Romanian seaport on the Black Sea.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

• Day 6: Beaches and ruins in Romania
A presentation by a local lecturer precedes your day in the charming seaside city of Constanta, named for Constantine the Great. Steeped in Greek mythology, the city is renowned for Greek and Roman ruins and its beaches. See the Archaeological Museum, ruins of the Roman mosaics, the century-old waterfront casino and the Orthodox Cathedral on a sightseeing tour.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

• Day 7: Odessa, the St. Petersburg of the South
When she founded Odessa in 1794, Catherine the Great envisioned a city in the south of Russia that would rival St. Petersburg in the north; today Odessa is one of the largest ports you'll visit on Tauck's Black Sea cruise. A tour of the city includes the Potemkin Steps, the Opera House, the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of Partisan Glory, housed in the tunnels that sheltered resistance fighters during the 1905 workers’ revolution and Russian partisan freedom fighters during World War II.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

• Day 8: Secrets of the Cold War
Today, your Black Sea cruise calls at intriguing Sevastopol in Ukraine, once the Soviet Navy's main port. See the Panorama, a 360-degree recreation of the defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. Travel to Balaclava where you'll discover the story behind The Charge of the Light Brigade. and learn about the secrets of a submarine base concealed in a mountain during a visit to Balaclava. No Black Sea cruise would be complete without a visit to Yalta, where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met to discuss the future of Europe in 1945. A drive along the coast provides a chance to view Swallow's Nest, one of Europe's most romantic castles, en route to Livadia Palace, where the czars spent their summer vacations. Yalta was the site of the 1945 Yalta Conference, where the decision was taken to form the United Nations; the center of the Ukraine Riviera, today Yalta is a very popular seaside vacation destination.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

• Day 9: Step back in time in Safranbolu
Dock in the port of Bartin for a full day excursion to Safranbolu, which was an important caravan stop on the "Silk Road," the main East-West trade route. The town is rich in Turkish history, and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO mainly due to the successful preservation efforts of its historic and cultural heritage. A guided tour shows you excellent examples of Turkish architecture, from cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old homes to the Old Mosque, Old Bath and Süleyman Pasha Medrese.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

• Day 10: Over the bounding main
Today is a glorious day at sea. Relax and reflect upon all that you’ve seen during your Black Sea cruise as Le Levant sails back to Istanbul. The Captain invites you to join him for a farewell cocktail party and dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Levant

Day 11: Spices and summer estates
Two more of Istanbul’s renowned sights await your exploration today. Built in the mid-1500s, the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque is considered to be the most beautiful of Istanbul’s imperial mosques. The famed Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, intrigues the senses with its scents and sights. Take a drive to the other side of the Bosphorus to view the magnificent summer homes on the Asian side. Tonight's farewell cocktail and special dinner concludes Tauck's Istanbul and Black Sea cruise and tour.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

Day 12: Homeward bound
Tauck's Black Sea cruise ends: Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. As your Black Sea cruise comes to an end, a transfer is included from Ceylan InterContinental to Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and cruise ship accommodations, motor coach travel, sightseeing, admissions, shore excursions, luggage handling, port charges, wine with dinner, and the services of local guides and drivers and of the Tauck Director are included. A representative of Tauck will greet you at Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport (formerly Yeşilköy International Airport) regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided we have accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks before the start of the your tour and provide transportation to the Ceylan InterContinental hotel. Tauck will provide you with transportation from the Ceylan InterContinental hotel to Atatürk International Airport on the day you decide to leave.

Hotel and Ship Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and ship accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Aboard Le Levant, breakfast and lunch are served in a panoramic restaurant; dinner is served in a fine-dining restaurant. French cuisine is featured and complimentary wine is offered with dinner. Both restaurants accommodate all guests in one seating.

Tauck Director – Istanbul & the Black Sea is conducted by two Tauck Directors who remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for restaurant, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included

No Options Sold - Your Tauck Directors will assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry and dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, individual airport transfers (when applicable), vaccinations, visa fees and services, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

You may settle your on-board expenses using American Express, MasterCard and VISA. U.S. traveler’s checks are accepted on a limited basis. The U.S. dollar is the currency used on board.

Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuities to the Tauck Directors ares not included. We ask that you extend such gratuities on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures - In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to the cruise line no later than 60 days prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to Tauck as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied.

Holiday and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Your tour ends when you check out of the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul on the last day of the tour. We suggest that you allow 2½ hours for flight check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Preparing to Go

Air Conditioning - All of the hotel rooms and ship cabins have air conditioning. The coaches in Ukraine are the best available – but may not be of the same quality or standards typically found in other regions on Tauck tours.

Clothing and Packing - As you prepare for travel, select a wardrobe that is adaptable. Many days are spent outside or in transit. Therefore, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Occasionally cool weather will require warmer, layered clothing.

Aboard Le Levant the dress code throughout your journey is informal, and casual clothing is the order of the day. For the welcome reception and dinner on the first evening – and the captain's farewell cocktail party and dinner on the last night of the cruise – many guests like to dress up, but certainly be comfortable.

Swimsuits and shorts are considered unsuitable for function rooms.

Valet dry-cleaning and laundry service is available at the Ceylan InterContinental Hotel in Istanbul. In addition, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards are either located in your hotel guest room or are available immediately upon request. Aboard the ship, laundry and pressing services are available for a fee; there is no dry-cleaning available. Hair curling and clothes irons are not permitted aboard the cruise ship

When visiting mosques, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Other visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would any other house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque during prayer time. Men and women should cover their shoulders, arms and knees, and should not wear shorts or sleeveless shirts. A headscarf is not required. (In certain famous mosques, complimentary robes are provided for those deemed not suitably dressed.)

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for travel to the Black Sea:

• Sport jackets for men and casually-elegant attire for women for the welcome and farewell receptions
• Shorts and pants for casual daytime wear
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• Bathing suit
• A light sweater or jacket for the cooler months or a breezy night
• Binoculars (7x50 suggested)
  
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, film and memory cards
  
• Comfortable walking shoes with firm ankle support
  
• Travel alarm
• Raincoat and umbrella
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room or stateroom while traveling

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is 985 ft (300 m) in Bakhchisarai on the Crimean Peninsula. Most of your time will be spent at sea level.

Health - To fully enjoy this active itinerary, you should have good health and be able to walk moderate distances over uneven terrain and cobblestone streets up and down ancient seacoast villages, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. In addition, many of the museums and historical sites visited necessitate climbing multiple staircases. The journey also includes various modes of transportation, including cruise ship, motorized rubber boat (Zodiac), motorized tender, and motor coach.

Le Levant has an elevator centrally located that connects all decks, except the Sun Deck.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. Le Levant does not have wheelchair-accessible cabins or staterooms. We also cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

Le Levant has a licensed and registered French physician on board for professional and emergency services, which are available at customary charges. The ships' small infirmary is designed to provide medical care for certain temporary illnesses and accidents, and is not intended or capable of providing ongoing treatment of preexisting medical conditions. If you require oxygen equipment, please notify Tauck so that special arrangements can be made.

Smoking is very common in Turkey. As a result, few restaurants and hotels have non-smoking sections. A “non-smoking” room often means the establishment has removed the ashtray. Where possible we have requested non-smoking rooms and non-smoking sections of restaurants. On board the ship, certain outer decks have been designated as non-smoking areas. There is no smoking permitted in the interior of the ship.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a citizen of the U.S., no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Turkey; however, Turkey does require you to provide an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever if you arrive within 5 days of leaving an infected area. For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 .(toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking here.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries on the itinerary to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for you to visit.

Luggage Restrictions:

Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home

Carry-on Luggage - General:
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many intra-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – If you area a U.S. citizen, Turkey requires that you present a valid passport with an expiration date of at least six months beyond the completion of the tour. You are also required to obtain a visa. We suggest you obtain your Turkish visa upon arrival at the Istanbul airport. The process is very brief, requires no forms to be filled out and costs $20 USD for your passport to be stamped. You will need pay for your visa in U.S. dollars or Euros as they do not accept credit cards or Turkish Lira. The countries of Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine require you to have a valid passport but do not require you to obtain a visa for tourist travel of up to 30 days.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Turkey to determine what travel documentation is required

Visas for Ports of Call – You enjoy the right to go ashore without a visa during the period of the cruise ship's stay at any port of call. You must return aboard the vessel prior to its departure according to the schedule. If you are a U.S. citizen, you typically do not need to obtain a visa if you are not staying in the country of the port of call for more than 90 days. If you are a citizen of another country, you must check with a consulate or embassy of the countries visited to determine what documentation you may require to embark or disembark at the various ports of call.

We strongly recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. For the optional visit to the Catacombs of St. Peter’s Basilica, only those who are 15 years of age or older are permitted entry. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Destination Information

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel or group functions. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your cell phone service extends to the Black Sea.

On board Le Levant, the ship’s INMARSAT telecommunications system can be used from your stateroom 24-hours a day to any location around the world. Calls are expensive and we recommend that you use this service only in emergencies. Charges will be billed to your shipboard account.

Currency and Exchange Rates – The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish New Lira; in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Lev; in Romania, the Romanian New Lei; and in Ukraine, the Ukraine Hryvnia.

The exchange rate for local currency tends to fluctuate. Local merchants do not always accept U.S. travelers' checks, although banks, host hotels and exchange counters will accept them as well as cash. Expect to pay fees for using travelers' checks. ATM machines are accessible in most areas visited. Credit cards may be used for purchases in many stores and restaurants, although a fee may be charged. Local currencies are generally the most acceptable and can usually be obtained upon arrival in each country.

You may settle your shipboard account with U.S. currency, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and U.S. travelers’ checks. There is no foreign exchange counter on board Le Levant.

To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website, “Oanda.com”, by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. . Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled “Know Before You Go”, by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Currently, each country visited on this tour levies a Value Added Tax (VAT) of approximately 18-20% on consumer purchases. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) If you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – The electrical systems in all the countries visited and aboard Le Levant operate at 220 V, 50 Hz. If you bring electrical devices that are not compatible with these systems, you may want to bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Internet Access - Access is available at all the hotels as indicated below:

Ceylan InterContinental – High-speed access in rooms; access in public areas for a fee
Le Levant – Satellite email may be sent or received for a fee

Time Zones – All locations visited on this tour share the same time zone. They are 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are then 3 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, Timeanddate.com, by clicking here.

Weather – Daytime temperatures on the Black Sea coast range in January from 30/40 ºF (1/4 ºC), and in July from 70/80 ºF (21/27 ºC). While the city of Istanbul has moderate and seasonal rainfall, Odessa has a dry climate with average precipitation of only 18 in (460 mm) spread evenly over all months.

	Average Temperature
	Istanbul, Turkey
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	47 / 37	8 / 3
February	48 / 37	9 / 3
March	52 / 39	11 / 4
April	62 / 46	17 / 8
May	70 / 53	21 / 12
June	79 /61	26 / 16
July	82 / 65	28 / 18
August	82 / 65	28 / 18
September	77 / 59	25 / 15
October	67 / 53	19 / 12
November	59 / 47	15 / 8
December	52 / 41	11 / 5
	Average Rainfall
	Istanbul, Turkey		Odessa, Ukraine
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	3.9	99	1.7	43
February	2.6	66	1.6	41
March	2.4	61	1.2	30
April	1.9	48	1.3	33
May	1.2	30	1.5	38
June	0.8	20	1.7	43
July	0.8	20	1.9	48
August	1.0	25	1.3	33
September	1.6	41	1.4	36
October	2.8	71	1.0	25
November	3.5	89	1.7	43
December	4.8	122	1.9	48

To obtain the most current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, Weather.com, by clicking here.

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Travel Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Travel Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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