Wonderful yacht-like ship, terrific crew and the extra time we had in these fabulous ports of call was great. Kortor, Montenegro and the Dalmatian coast are spectacular! "Pear of the Adriatic" was the best trip ever!

Diana,
Hope all is good with you. I wanted to thank you for all your help with our FAM tour to China in March.   It was a really wonderful trip and our injuries were close to healed by the time we got to Beijing.   My ankle was doing well by then and Roger was able to do most things on the trip except to climb the Great Wall but since he had been to there before he thought it was best not to take a chance on falling since we hit a snowy day.   Sheila said she had never seen the wall "white" before and we had to laugh since we hit a huge snow storm on our firt trip to Beijing 11 years ago.   Wouldn't you know the day before and the day after were good.
The tour was really lovely......the Hilton in Beijing was a beautiful hotel as was our cabin on the Century Star.   Sheila was an excellent guide.   Her English was good and so were her pronunciations which often is a problem with guides from other Countries.   We had 4 beautfiul sunny days on the Yangtze which made up for the snow in Beijing.   The Chinese acrobats put on a really good show in Shanghai and the daily tours had a nice variety of sights to see. 
We will recommend Value World to our Friends and Clients.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Susan  
 

All on board the ship were most helpful especially the two young people who operated the bar and of course Dusan. (cruise director)  Dusan was most accommodating, cheerful and just plain nice to be around. Dusan went out his way to be helpful, polite & caring in every way.  I have already highly recommended your company to friends.

I was blessed to experience such beautiful scenery and historical sites

We  really enjoyed the trip, we feel we saw all to see. Our local guides were great. Our Egyptologists in Cairo (Asmaa) and on the Nile (Ahmad) were excellent.

Tour Director "Nemo" was outstanding, knowledgeable, efficient, accommodating, personable, professional and needs to be cloned. This was one of my best trips!

  (excerpts from a letter)

Les and I are glad to be back home after a wonderful Russian river cruise.  Our friends, Mary and ‘Woody’, had already planned the trip and date when we learned about it, sent our passports to D.C. for our Visas, and joined them.
  Lufthansa is non stop from here to Frankfurt so after changing planes there we arrived at the ship (the M/S Konstantin Korotkov) in St. Petersburg. The ship was our home for the next 10 days and nights.
  The passengers were divided into 4 language groups for the dining room and tours:  Russian, Finland, Norway and English speaking.  In our group were Canadian, Australian, USA and Israel residents.
  St. Petersburg is a beautiful city.  Our 2 guides gave a lot of history in touring the Hermitage, Catherine the Greats’ Palace, and Peterhof (Peter the Greats’ Russian Versailles.)  Their priceless treasures  were removed before the bombings in WW 2.   After 2 days there we sailed on the Neva River.
  Each day we stopped to tour a village, or a very old church, or city.  We were told that there are 33 letters in the Russian alphabet and I was not able to pronounce or spell the places we saw (Mandrogl, Vytegra, Goritsy, Yaroslavl, Uglich, were a few.)  The ship went through several locks and got on the Volga River into Moscow.
  The weather was beautiful every day.  Breakfast was buffet, lunch was sometimes a box lunch to take on the tour but each evening was a four course dinner served by lovely young Russian girls in native costumes.
   Each night on different decks they had a Cossack Show, folk music, live band music, and our favorite was the fourth deck Piano bar.  Les, and Woody & Mary are musicians and they thought the pianist was the best they had heard. The last city before Moscow (Uglich) was begun in 1010 and they are restoring and painting cathedrals for their 1,000 year celebration next year. 
   We had 2 busy days in Moscow before flying home.  The things I remember most were their beautiful Metro, Red Square, the Kremlin, and  McDonald’s . It is huge, there are maybe 20 or more cash registers.  When I got a coke there were at least 8 or more customers lined up at each one.  They said there are 8 million passengers that use the metro daily.  Stations are deep underground and each of the different lines is a different art gallery. 
  I would go again if we could have the same guides, the same beautiful weather and good health.             
       
 

Dear Diana,

7/12
A different group, but a few old friends
Whose love for traveling never ends.
Waiting in K.C., when down comes the rain.
A short delay, then off to Ukraine
Via New York where the day was bright.
After clouds and rain, a pleasant dry flight.

7/13
Our guide is waiting, Olesia is her name.
If things don't jell, we know who to blame.
To exchange money, it's just a short way.
Seemed like miles, but that's O.K.
Just money exchange, we don't want shoes.
Stay with Olesia and get what you choose.
On to the grocery, walking more miles.
All are satisfied - bring on smiles.

7/14
The rain comes down and our tour is a walk
But it couldn't be better - a history talk.
Attractive government buildings - Independence Square
Time now to treat their citizens fair.
A modern city - difficulties from past
Goals now, they hope will forever last.
From venacular to metro - transportation plus.
In addition to this, there's tram and bus.
Did we use the world's largest escalator?
Or could I just be a fabricator?
Attractive stores, businesses and shops all around
Complete city facilities and all underground.
To the Sky Bar for a little fun,
But remember, this trip has just begun.

7/15
If you want to see churches - this is your day
Listen to guides - they have much to say.
All are similar, but each is unique
Purpose - to serve the bold and the meek.
Beautiful domes, covered with gold
Dating bac - some centuries old.
First to St. Michael's - a pleasant surprise.
We hear harmonizing from young men 5.
Three more churches and back to the bus
Places of interest being pointed out to us.
To the monastery compound, past the bell tower
While visiting there, it might strike the hour.
Down to the catacombs, come traveled fast
Then had to wait on those who were last
I might add if it hadn't been for two,
This third one might not have made it too.

7/16
A day that's free to make selections
So travelers scatter in different directions.
A perfect day with sky of blue.
Last of Kiev - so try something new.
Later we meet for crew presentations.
We give Olesia a thunderous ovation.
A beautifule, modern city, we leave it
Not aware of how far Kiev did extend.

7/17
See engineering fete, we're at the lock
Will stop at memorial when we dock.
Some take cabs and others walk
Sherchenko's more appreciated as guides talk.
In this beautiful spot, one who was down
Is now remembered with praise and reknown.
Our leader again is in the spotlight
In native dress, so colorful and bright.
Here comes May 2, chosen from the crowd.
She looks Ukrainian and makes us proud.

7/18
In each city, long walks we repeat
Though tiring and hot, we wouldn't delete.
An evening of fun is about to begin
What great sports have entered in.
Shawls, toilet paper suits and fancy necties
All receive prizes, but one's just above
She's treated with champagne and lots of love.

7/19
We leave early to meet a local guide.
Not a walking tour - this time we ride.
Making stops to observe and learn
Do it now - doubtful we'll return
On to the Cossack show and what a treat
Crude accommodations, but very neat.
Riders on horses doing tricks fantastic,
Rope cutting and our volunteers - we're ecstatic.
A tasty dish and vodka to drink
Back on the bus - in our seats we sink
A delightful evening program - music of all kinds
Instrumental, vocal, dancing - all going through our mind

7/20
What a great day! A change in the weather
Off to small boat - you may need a sweater.
A ladies sextet in Ukrainian dress
Sinf for us and we're all impressed.
Awaiting us is attractive food
Visiting the gardens - we're in a good mood.
On return trip, different entertainment in store
Don't forget Neptune's Fest and you'll see more<

Hi Diana,

I just wanted to tell you that our trip was incredible from beginning to end! The boat was lovely and so was the staff, I really cannot say enought good things.

Many Thanks,