OREANDA-NEWS. March 24, 2008. Cruise vessels of Ukraine's Danube Shipping Company have started passenger navigation season.

Motorship Moldavia set off up the Danube from Izmail (Odessa region, South Ukraine), to be followed by other cruise vessels.

On April 3, the Moldavia and Dnieper ships with German tourists aboard will make their first in this season short trips on the Passau (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Passau route.

The change of the Dnieper's charterer (the company is now working only with German tourist operators) made it possible to increase the number of longer routes made to lower Danube and including excursions of the river's Ukrainian delta and the picturesque town of Vylkove, often called the Ukrainian Venice. Over 80 cruises like this are planned for this navigation season.

During a number of cruises, foreign tourists will come to Izmail to attend its remarkable sights. The first arrival is scheduled for April 15.