Getting To Sochi, Russia In 2014 Via Cruise Ship

Want to go to Sochi, Russia? It’s a little late to get there for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. However, there’s another way to visit this emerging hot spot. In 2014, several luxury cruise ships include Sochi as a port of call on Black Sea European cruises, typically out of Istanbul, Turkey.

When the Ukraine and Georgia broke away from the former Soviet Union, Russia’s beachfront property on the Black Sea was severely reduced. Sochi was suddenly thrust to the forefront as the country’s premier summer beach resort. The cruise port is conveniently located near the centre of town.

However, this is not the cruise itinerary for a good portion of North American bank accounts. First, the flight cost just to the home port of Istanbul can be pricy. Currently, the lowest priced 11 night Black Sea cruise in 2014 starts at $2,179 per person, before taxes. For the ultra luxury seekers, cabin prices can go as high as $25,499 on certain high end cruise lines. Also, with port calls in Turkey, the Ukraine, Russia, Romania and Bulgaria, there is the additional cost and hassle of getting visas for each country if you want to step off the ship.

The Black Sea cruise season runs from late April until mid October. One of the lowest priced cruises takes place in October onboard Celebrity Constellation of Celebrity Cruise Lines. One of the highest priced, and highest in quality, is onboard the Seven Seas Mariner of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Let’s take a look at these two different travel experiences.

The Cruise via Celebrity Constellation

Constellation embarks from Istanbul on October 14, 2014 for an eleven night journey around the Black Sea. The ship makes five port calls, including overnights in Sochi and Odessa, Ukraine. First up is Burgas, Bulgaria before overnighting in Sochi.

The ship arrives in Sochi on Friday, October 17 at 7am and doesn’t leave until 3pm on Saturday. Constellation then makes port calls at Sevastopol and Yalta in the Ukraine before a stop at Odessa with a similar schedule to the Sochi port call.

The Price *

Currently, an inside stateroom on Celebrity Constellation can be had from $2,179 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $195 per person in government fees and taxes, an inside cabin for two can be had for as low as $4,748.

An ocean view stateroom is not much more at from $2,419 per person while a balcony increases the price to as low as $3,159 per person and a suite will cost from $4,609 per person.

The Ship

Celebrity Constellation has been in service since 2002 and is a Millennium Class ship for Celebrity Cruises. A decent sized boat, Constellation has a gross tonnage of 91,000 and is 294 metres or 965 feet in length.

Constellation has 13 decks accessible to passengers. Capacity is for 2,038 guests, based on double occupancy. There are typically 999 crew members on board. The ship winters in the Caribbean and spends the rest of the year in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Sea.

The Cruise via the Seven Seas Mariner

Seven Seas Mariner embarks from Piraeus, Greece on Friday, August 8 for a 12 night cruise through the Black Sea. She actually doesn’t return to Piraeus. Instead, this 12 night journey ends at Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday, August 20. Along the way, Mariner makes ten port calls.

Syra is the only port call in Greece. Mariner then makes three stops in Turkey at Kusadasi, Sinop and Trabzon. She reaches Sochi, Russia on Thursday, August 14, the fifth stop on the itinerary. Unlike Celebrity Constellation, Seven Seas Mariner does not overnight in Sochi, docked from 8am until 5pm before moving on to the Ukraine.

Mariner makes two stops in the Ukraine, Sevastopol and Odessa. Next up is Constanta, Romania before the final port of call at Nessebar, Bulgaria before finishing up at Istanbul.

Pricing* for this cruise range anywhere from $8,899 per person to $25,499 per person. On this ship, there is no such thing as an inside cabin and each stateroom comes with a balcony. Pricing is primarily based on ship location and suite size.

The Ship

Seven Seas Mariner has been in service since 2001 for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This is small ship, compared to the mass market boats floating around the Caribbean and Mediterranean. However, with the small passenger capacity, you’ll still never feel crowded.

Mariner has a gross tonnage of 48,075 and is 216 metres or 709 feet in length. She has eight decks accessible to passengers. Guest capacity is just 700 with 445 crew members making for around a 1.6 to 1 ratio of crew to passengers. Seven Seas Mariner was the first all-suite, all balcony cruise ship to ever sail the high seas. She is a true pioneer in ultra luxury travel.

* Pricing is as of February 13, 2014. Pricing does not include flights to and from home port, shore excursions, visas and other additional costs. Pricing is subject to change without notice. Etc, Etc, Etc – you get the picture…