Ship Russ: from Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise [08/13/2009-08/24/2009]
 Route description: Sailing this route is still far and away the most popular way to
visit both great cities while enjoying the comfort of a cruising
holiday. 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. All our cruise ships sail
this route so you have a wide choice of dates and facilities at
your disposal. Cruises range from 11 to 13 days including extensive
sightseeing time. What's included: The price that you see below includes everything except for the airfares. All the meals and a welcome dinner on board are included, as well as a rich on-board entertainment program and the sightseeing tours in each port of call. The professional guides and interpreters will accompany you during your whole trip. The price also includes airport transfers, Russian travel visas, and all the port fees.What is NOT included is the airfares. We recommend you to bring some cash with you for the souvenirs and tips. You also need some cash to make purchases on-board during the first day. When you board, you can swipe your credit card, but it takes 24 hours to verify it, so some cash on-hand will not hurt. We recommend bringing about $500 per couple and we will fill you in on how much you are expected to tip (not much). Itinerary| Day 1 |  | Arrival
When you arrive at the airport, your personal driver will be
waiting for you holding a sign with your name on it. He will take
you straight to your ship where you can unpack and relax. There is
no evening program tonight and after dinner in the ship's
restaurant you can get acquainted with fellow passengers in the bar
or simply rest in your cabin. | | Day 2 |  | Moscow
To begin this very special trip where else but Moscow's iconic Red
Square? Located in the very heart of Moscow next to the Kremlin,
you will feel as if you have walked into a film set in this
magnificent setting overshadowed by the impressive St Basil's
Cathedral. In Russian today Krasnaia Ploshad means Red Square but
the older meaning of this name is Beautiful Square, the name it was
given when Ivan III decided to keep the large open space by the
Kremlin for fairs and celebrations after a fire cleared the old
wooden buildings in 1490. Just in front of the Kremlin wall is the
tomb of Lenin which, although it no longer attracts visitors like
it used to, remains a powerful symbol of former soviet times.
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
In order to better understand the history of the city where better
than Moscow's historic center? You will visit the Kremlin, the
ancient citadel built to hold off the Mongol hordes in the Middle
Ages which has long been the center of political power in Russia.
The Kremlin has been built over time and despite its cathedrals and
historic towers, remains just as important in the day-to-day life
of the state as ever. Since its foundation in 1156 successive
generations of rulers have made their mark here and you guide will
help you unravel this millennium of history.
We will visit Kremlin walls inside
You will have lunch in one of the local restaurants | | Day 4 |  | Uglich
Today Uglich is one of the most picturesque towns of what is known
as the Golden Ring, the ring of historic towns North East of Moscow
which are rightly called 'living museum' due to their fine medieval
architecture. Uglich was a principality in its own right until 1328
when its princes sold their lands to the powerful rulers of Moscow.
As a border town of Moscovy, it was well defended but it was still
razed to the ground by would be invaders like the Lithuanians and
the Tatars. It was here that young Prince Dimitry was murdered in
1591 bringing an end to the Ruyrik dynasty and heralding a period
of political turmoil, war and invasion before the establishment of
the Romanovs who would rule Russia for three centuries.
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 built in
1397. In those troubled times, it was built more like a fortress
than a house of God which saved it from destruction many times in
the subsequent 700 years. At the height of its power, it was served
by over 20,000 peasant farmers. Following the Revolution of 1917,
the Bolsheviks closed the monastery, transforming it into a folk
museum and sending the monks away to labour camps.
- 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
Kizhi is the largest of a group of islands found in Lake Onega. It
is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its amazing group of wooden
churches. The most famous of them all is the Transfiguration Church
a dreamlike structure with 22 domes built entirely of wood with not
one single iron nail being used. In the 1960's, the Soviet
authorities recognized the importance of the site and created a
museum of wooden architecture here, bringing buildings from other
monasteries in Karelia.
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
Today is your chance to visit the Winter Palace in the heart of St
Petersburg. The grandiose palace is home to the Hermitage museum
which is widely accepted as one of the greatest art collections in
the world. It was begun by Catherine the Great as a private
collection but now it is open to all. The Winter Palace which backs
onto the River Neva is itself a work of art featuring lavishly
decorated halls and receptions. Before it in the Palace Square is
the Alexander Column, erected to celebrate Russia's victory over
Napoleon in what is know as the First Patriotic War.
| | 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 also 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
The end of your voyage and time to leave your ship, the crew and
your new friends and return home. Of course all your transfers to
the airport are taken care of by our staff, leaving you to savour
the memories of this wonderful journey. |
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1-800-884-1721
