RIVERCRUISE MOSCOW

 

 

There are two sides to Russia: great cities Moscow and St. Petersburg, and quaint Golden Ring towns like Yaroslavl and Uglich. On this river cruise, spend several days touring the cities’ important landmarks: Moscow’s Kremlin, Red Square, St. Petersburg’s Catherine Palace, Peter & Paul Fortress and the Hermitage, and also discover the history and culture of Russia’s heartland.

 

All Included

The Tour

Ship Amenities

Food and Beverage Outlets

Nearby Things to do

Miscellaneous Information

 

ALL INCLUDED

• 13-day cruise with river-view stateroom

• 11 guided tours with audio headset

• All meals: 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches & 12 dinners, featuring regional specialties and including Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner

• Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with onboard dinner and lunch service

• Visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Culture Curriculum: Enjoy onshore music and dance performances; learn a little Russian; listen to lectures about Romanov Tsars, the Soviet Union & current affairs; attend a Russian cooking workshop; participate in Russian tea time

• All port charges

• Free Wi-Fi, connection speed may vary

 

THE TOUR

DAY 1   

Moscow, Russia

Arrive in Moscow and transfer to your ship.* After boarding, you have free time to relax before dinner. 

 

DAY 2   

Moscow, Russia

Relax this morning and enjoy an early lunch before your half-day tour of Moscow. See the famed Bolshoi Theater and stop at Red Square for a view of the brightly colored St. Basil’s Cathedral and a visit to the famous GUM Department Store. You will also get the chance to experience the city’s Metro. Stay in the city center for an evening performance of traditional Russian folkloric music.

DAY 3   

Moscow, Russia

Today you have a full day to further explore Moscow’s many buildings, parks and monuments. Or you may choose an optional experience: Take a morning tour to Tretyakov Gallery, the world’s foremost museum of Russian fine art. This afternoon you may visit the Cosmonaut Museum with displays that trace the history of space exploration or take a Jewish Moscow tour, illustrating the history and spirit of the Jewish people who settled in the city. Dine aboard for dinner, then relax or take an optional Moscow by Night tour.

 

DAY 4   

Moscow, Russia

After breakfast, travel to the city’s famous red brick enclosure known as the Kremlin. You’ll go behind its walls to see historic gems like Tsar’s Canon and Tsar’s Bell, and tour inside two cathedrals. Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Moscow Canal after lunch as we depart the city.

 

DAY 5   

Uglich, Russia

We cruise through the morning. After lunch, disembark for your walking tour through the provincial village of Uglich, one of the Golden Ring cities that preserve the memory of Russia’s historical events. See the former Kremlin of Uglich and visit the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood, built on the site where Ivan the Terrible’s son Dmitry was mysteriously killed. Then a local family invites you into their home for tea and friendly conversation. Depart before dinner; cruise through the night.

 

DAY 6   

Yaroslavl, Russia

Arrive this morning in Yaroslavl, another Golden Ring city. Tour this ancient town rich in monuments and visit the covered food market where you may shop for handcrafted souvenirs. During your free time, you may visit the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet, featuring detailed frescoes and icons. Return to your ship for lunch and departure.

DAY 7   

Kuzino, Russia

We dock this morning in Kuzino, a typical Russian village. From here, you visit the renowned Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded by Saint Cyril in 1397. Take a guided walk through the monastery’s historic grounds, seeing several small wooden chapels, the Assumption Cathedral and a museum. You will also have the opportunity to visit a children’s school in Kuzino. Return to your ship for lunch and an afternoon departure. Spend the remainder of the day cruising along the Volga-Baltic Waterway. This system of rivers and canals, spanning 229 miles and seven locks, links the Volga River with the Baltic Sea. 

 

DAY 8   

Kizhi, Russia

We cruise through the morning, admiring the tranquil waters of Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake, and arrive this afternoon at the island village of Kizhi. Set out on a walking tour through the Open Air Museum of Architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, see a collection of wooden houses, windmills and churches representing ancient Russian architecture, highlighted by the famous three-tiered Preobranzhenskaya (Transfiguration) Church, a fairy-tale-like structure built in 1714 without a single nail. Depart in the evening and cruise through the night.

DAY 9   

Mandrogy, Russia

Spend a relaxing day cruising Russia’s intricate waterways. Sail the scenic Svir River, traveling the 139-mile “Blue Route” as it takes you southwest from Lake Onega. Stop in Mandrogy and take some time to explore this museum village. Visit the Vodka Museum or shop for handmade Russian craft items. For a truly immersive experience, try an optional visit to a banya; (traditional Russian bath house), or you may choose an optional tour where you will witness and participate in the art ofmatryoshka doll making (both bookable on board only). Continue along the Svir, then cross Lake Ladoga, Europe’s largest lake, on your way to the Neva River. All meals are served aboard your ship.

DAY 10   

St. Petersburg, Russia

Sail on the Neva River into St. Petersburg early this morning. After a leisurely breakfast, visit the Winter Palace to tour the legendary Hermitage Museum, where you marvel at the vast collection of art, antiquities, jewelry and sculpture. Return aboard for an early dinner, followed by an evening performance of traditional Russian ballet. 

 

DAY 11   

St. Petersburg, Russia

Today’s excursion goes to the Pushkin area where you visit Catherine Palace, the elegant rococo 18th-century summer residence of the Russian tsars, named for Catherine I (widow of Peter the Great). Tour its various halls, including the storied Amber and Agate Rooms, and see the ornate decor throughout. Return to your ship for lunch. After lunch embark on a city tour; see noted sights including St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt. Dine aboard, then relax or attend an optional evening folkloric performance.

 

DAY 12   

St. Petersburg, Russia

You have the day free to see the sights that interest you. Visit one of the many palaces, churches or museums, or take an optional morning tour to Peterhof Palace, with its landscaped gardens and beautiful fountains. In the afternoon, you may choose to join an optional kommunalka visit to get a glimpse of these communal living spaces or take an optional tour of St. Petersburg from the water. Lunch and dinner are served aboard.

 

DAY 13   

St. Petersburg, Russia

After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey into another country with 3 nights in Helsinki, Finland, the “White City of the North.”

 

 

SHIP AMENITIES

The Viking fleet in Russia and Eastern Europe offers exceptional ambiance with all the comforts of a fine hotel. Enjoy spacious staterooms and suites, an inviting restaurant and beautiful public spaces on elegant ships that set a new standard of river cruising excellence in the region.

 

• All staterooms are outside with river view

• Suites are 400 square feet, have 2 flat-panel TVs & panoramic windows

• Most Deluxe staterooms & Suites have hotel-style beds with optional twin-bed configuration

• All Suites & Cat AX-BX staterooms have a veranda

• All CX-DX staterooms have a large picture window that opens

• Private, modern bathrooms with separate shower & premium bath products; bathrobe & slippers upon request

• Sony 26” flat-panel TV with CNBC, CNN, BBC & more

• Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & air conditioning

• Bottled water replenished daily

• Sun deck with shaded sitting area

• A walk-around, open air promenade deck

• Restaurant with panoramic views

• Elevator

• The Lounge & two bars with panoramic windows

• Free internet service

• Doctor on board

• Laundry service

• Voltage: 220V & 110V (U.S. outlet) in stateroom

 

ROOM ACCOMODATIONS

VERANDA STATEROOM

Boasting sweeping river views, our Veranda Staterooms are comfortable and airy, with hotel-style beds, a private bathroom, roomy closets and storage space, and a flat-panel TV with English-language programming.

 

DELUXE STATEROOM

Our Deluxe Staterooms were designed with your comfort in mind, and feature hotel-style beds, a private bathroom, roomy closets and storage space, and a flat-panel TV with English-language programming.

 

• Suites are 400 square feet and have panoramic windows

• Hotel-style beds 79 inches x 63 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors open onto a large veranda along both sleeping and living quarters

• Large private bathroom with shower, bathtub and premium bath products

• Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily

• Bathrobe and slippers available upon request

• Air conditioning

• Space under bed for storing suitcases

• Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers

• Voltage: 220V and 110V in stateroom

• 26-inch Sony flat-panel TV with premium entertainment package including CNN and other English-language programming

 

 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE OUTLETS 

THE RESTAURANT

Gaze at breathtaking scenery through the Restaurant’s panoramic windows as you dine on regional specialties and contemporary cuisine. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant, with high-quality table linens, china, cutlery and glassware at every meal.

 

PANORAMA BAR

An excellent spot to enjoy a glass of wine and take in the scenery, especially during arrival at one of your historic destinations.

 

Indulge in attentive table service in the upscale Restaurant as you sail into your next port. Greet the morning with a sumptuous buffet. Enjoy a savory soup and a light salad midday. Come evening, settle in for a relaxed, multi-course fine-dining experience. Open seating allows you to dine with the same guests or meet someone new each day. If you wish, enjoy a more casual meal, from a breakfast croissant to lighter evening fare, on the Sun Deck or outdoor Aquavit Terrace, our al fresco dining area at the bow of the ship.

 

NEARBY THINGS TO DO

BOUTIQUE

Filled with interesting and unique items, our onboard boutique is the ideal place to pick up a gift for yourself or a loved one back home.

 

LIBRARY

Select from a range of informational and inspirational travel books for your browsing pleasure.

 

Regional cuisine workshops. A Bulgarian folklore presentation. A classic opera or ballet performance. These in-depth experiences are included as an essential part of discovering more about the places through which you cruise, and each activity is planned specifically to illuminate each itinerary.

Sometimes you want to dig a little deeper. We offer a series of onboard multimedia talks to shed light on the history and culture of the places you visit. Topics may include Romanian and Bulgarian history, the Orthodox Church, the Vikings in Europe, and key words and phrases in local languages. These presentations provide a context for your own observations, enhancing your travel experience.