Me again!
Last year we went on the "Crimean war" ship excursion. It took us first to the panorama museum (this is unmissable!) then to the "Valley of Death", then to Balaklava. We don't really like organised excursions and had planned to do our own thing, but we were 4 hours late getting to Sebastopol owing to bad weather, and would not have had time. We were lucky to get a space on the trip at the last minute, and I have to say it was great. Good value for money as well, though not expensive. The Ukraine is not easy for independent trips, rather officious about what you can/ cannot do, and the guide gave us a really good insight into life pre/ post communism.
kate

Alsacienne, the trip that Kate mentioned is wonderful. In 2006 when I did this excursion the guide recited the entire Charge of the Light Brigade poem and the hairs just stood up on the back of my head. Its only a half day trip and after returning to the ship and a quick freshen up and lunch I then went to the Black Sea Fleet Naval Officers performance - music and dance - which was brilliant - only 2 hours and very inexpensive. Last year I did the Khan's Palace and Cave Monastery which was good in that it gave me an opportunity to see some of the countryside but it was not something I could rave about. The city of Sevastopol is gorgeous with many many monuments - I think more than any other city in the Ukraine - and is well work a walk through. The ship docks a couple of minutes walk of the town and just where it docks there is a set of steps leading up to a square where all the brides come to have their wedding photos taken. In 2006 there were at least a dozen there and there was also a fairly important political meeting taking place in the square which was interesting to watch.

Thanks mtek - you and Kate have helped me greatly.

This year's excursions for Sebastopol are:-

Khan's tent and Cave Monastery - £28
Black Sea naval performance - £27
Sebastopol in the Crimean War £30 - 4 hours
Highlights of Sebastopol - £29 - 3.5 hours

Can I assume that you and Kate chose the 4 hours' one - Sebastopol in the Crimean War ......... because that interests me a lot. I'm of the generation who had to learn several lines from 'that poem' and recite it aloud in class en masse!!!

Alsacienne, I did the Crimean War trip the first time followed by the Black Sea Naval Fleet Officers' performance in the afternoon. Last year I did the Khan's Palace and Cave Monastery and again the Black Sea Naval Fleet Officers' performance in the afternoon. Its a bit of a rush after a morning tour to freshen up and have a bite to eat but well worth it. Last year, because I had been to the city previously and felt certain that I could find my way back to the ship, I opted not to return on the bus from the afternoon trip but instead just walk around (there was still about two hours before everyone had to be back on board). On the Calypso this month I was told that the week before I was on there were not enough people for the Naval Fleet Officers show and it was cancelled. I hope this does not continue and go the way of excursions to Albania from Corfu or to the Danube Delta from Constanta but my sense over the last few years is that more and more people are DIYing trips and the variety offered by ships is less than it was in the past.