Many thanks to all who replied. Yes, Denise, I would love the name of the guide you mentioned for Istanbul and Kusadasi.

Wandra, we just returned from Russia and the Baltics and since we were in Moscow before the cruise, we got individual visas. What kind of Visa did you get for the Ukraine? Are you forced to stay with a guide there as we would have been if we didn't have individual visas in Russia? I'm afraid that in Sochi I will be forced to go with the ship's excursion. It doesn't make sense to get a Russian visa for just one port.


Do you think we could do anything besides Nessebur on our own? We enjoyed some days of organized sightseeing and enjoy a few on our own without a leash! We will be traveling with another couple, not totally on our own! Any other info you have on these ports would be welcome. We have been to Santorini and Athens so we are fine there.

Claudia, I do not have Negat's info. I wonder if he is one of the names that Denise is going to give me.

Best to you,
Ellen