Ship Nizhniy Novgorod: from Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise [08/24/2010-09/04/2010]
Route description:
Starting from Moscow, one of the world's largest and most vibrant
capital cities, you will travel to St Petersburg, Russia's
beautiful capital of culture. Sailing along the River Volga into
Lake Onega and on to the Gulf of Finland you will witness over a
thousand years of Russian history from the earliest wooden villages
to the latest contemporary architecture. What's included:
- Russian visas*
- Two airport transfers (on arrival and departure)
- Port fees are also included
- Meals (B, L, D)*
- Professional English-speaking guides
- Sightseeing tours according to the itinerary with entrance fees
- Rich on-board entertainment program
- Daily aerobics, Russian language and history lessons
*Only US citizens and residents can have the full visa support, for other guests we will provide visa invitation
Itinerary| Day 1 |  | Arrival
Your personal driver will meet you at the airport (he will be
holding a sign with your name on it) and take you to your ship.
There is no evening program, as you will probably want to get some
rest. You will be served dinner in the ship's restaurant after
which you can relax in the bar or get some sleep. | | Day 2 | .jpg) | Moscow
Moscow is Russia's largest city, its political and economic
capital. The town of Moscow was the center of Moscovy - a small
principality that unified the Russian lands against the Mongols in
the late 14th century and has ruled Russia ever since. As the
Mongols burnt major cities across Russia, refugees fled to smaller
principalities like Moscow, Tver and Nizhny Novgorod. Through
bribes, diplomacy and coercion, Moscow overcame its two rivals to
become "Russia's first city." Moscow's role was briefly challenged
when Tsar Peter the Great moved Russia's capital to his new city,
St Petersburg, on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
- This day is dedicated to exploring Red Square, the most
famous square in the world located in the very heart of Moscow next
to the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral and famous streets like
Tverskaya and Arbat on your bus tour around the capital of
Russia
| | Day 3 |  | Moscow
This day is very special, as we will go inside the Kremlin - the
ancient castle built to withstand the Mongol hordes. Throughout
history, the Kremlin has been the center of political power in
Russia and it remains a symbolic political center even today, as
the official site of the inauguration ceremony of the Russian
president (they don't actually live or work here).
The Kremlin is a living museum of Russia's history. Its inside
wasn't built overnight, rather various rulers added new pieces over
time (and some, like Napoleon, plundered from it). This cultural
and historical treasure has been so well preserved that it seems
that you are traveling in time. You will see the most interesting
places in the Kremlin as you follow our professional guide in the
steps of some of the world's greatest leaders and its most terrible
dictators.
- You will have lunch in one of the local
restaurants
| | Day 4 |  | Uglich
Uglich is a small town located on the Volga River. Uglich was the
best-defended fortress of Moscovy and it was burnt on number of
occasions by Lithuanians, Tatars, and even the grand prince of
Tver, the city which rivaled Moscow.
Uglich is most famous for the tragic events that took place in 1591
when the 10-year old prince Dimitry, the last heir to the throne of
the ancient Ruyrik dynasty, was killed here (as historians now
agree, by Boris Godunov, advisor to Dimitry, who wanted the throne
for himself). Dimitry's death plunged Russia into decades of
political turmoil known as Time of Trouble.
You will discover the town on a walking tour with visit to the
Kremlin and church of St. Dmitry on the blood | | Day 5 |  | Myshkin
Myshkin is a small town located on the left bank of the Volga
River. Myshkin retains architectural features typical for the 19th
century Russia.
The cruise crew prepared a unique program during your city
tour:
- You will visit the museum of "Russian valenki" with
exposition of "Russian Linen" and "Granary mice"
- You will stop by local history museum
- And for desert we will take you to Russian Mill with
folklore.
| | Day 6 |  | Goritsy
Goritsy is famous for the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (1397). This
monastery's strong walls and bastions were used by some nobles as a
safe house during the Times of Trouble. The Polish armies stormed
it, but never succeeded in capturing it. Unfortunately, the
monastery was not so successful in repelling the attacks of other
invaders four centuries later. The Bolsheviks closed the monastery
in early 20th century and sent its monks to the prison camps.
Again unbeatable itinerary presented by
cruise ship Russ:
- Walking tour called "Acquaintance with Russian people's
everday life"
- Be invited to a home of a local family, school and
club
- Visit to Resurrection nunnery with tea drinking in the
refectory
| | Day 7 |  | Kizhi-Island
Kizhi is the name of unique island located on the Lake Onega. In
the center of the island stands the amazing Transfiguration Church.
This wooden church and its 22 domes are built without a single
nail. In fact, originally, the Transfiguration Church was located
in another place. The Bolsheviks, who had little, if no, respect
for religion, had some respect for its architectural value, so they
decided to move this unique church as far from the major cities and
people as possible, to distant Kizhi Island.
You will devote this day on the island to the open-air museum
of wooden architecture | | Day 8 |  | St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is Russia's cultural and historical treasure, one of
the world's most beautiful cities, and one of its top ten tourist
destinations according to "The Forbes Traveler." It is known as the
Venice of North thanks to its numerous canals and hundreds of
bridges. It is sometimes called Russia's Versailles thanks to
dozens of opulent palaces and royal estates. It can be rightly
called a living museum - so many of its buildings are part of
Russia's history.
Again, cruise ship Russ is full of surprises:
- We going to see this wonderful city at its best colors - at
night!
- See numerous bridges of St. Petersburg in night
lights
- Discover that Nevsky prospect (main street of St.
Petersburg) never sleeps
| | Day 9 |  | St. Petersburg
Today we will take you again for a panoramic city tour, this time
during the day.
- We will show you the key landmarks and monuments in the
city.
- You will then visit Peter and Paul Fortress with
the burial place of the Russian Emperors located on the Neva
River.
| | Day 10 |  | St. Petersburg
This day we are heading to the very heart of St. Petersburg and its
most important sight - the Winter Palace. On one side, the palace
is faced by the Palace Square with the Alexander Column in the
middle of it. The column was erected to celebrate the victory over
Napoleon (what is called in Russia, the First Patriotic War). To
its rear, the palace is washed by the Neva River in the middle of
which you will find the Peter and Paul Fortress.
The Winter Palace is home to the Hermitage Museum - the largest
collection of Russian art in the world. The Hermitage started as
the private art collection of Catherine the Great and over time
became the largest collection of Russian art in the world. These
art works are displayed in the Palace's numerous halls, many of
which are works of art in themselves.
- Optional: Russian Ballet
- Optional: rivers and canals of St.
Petersburg
| | Day 11 |  | St. Petersburg
There is no prearranged tour program for this day, but there are
many options how to explore the city. Perhaps the city's best
sights are its streets and canals that have inspired many great
artists such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Pushkin and Stravinsky,
Gogol and Mussorgsky. Besides, there is no better way to see the
historical part of the city than via canals, on a boat.
You could take an optional tour and visit the outskirts of St.
Petersburg which have many luxurious palaces. Most notable are the
Catherine's Palace in Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) and Peterhof, the
summer residence of the Russian tsars. | | Day 12 |  | Departure
Your incredible voyage in time is coming to an end. It is time to
say farewell to this unique and beautiful country. It is time to
say good-bye to your new friends. It is time to go home with a
stock of fantastic experiences and unforgettable memories.
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