Imperial Russia - 16 Days
This is a spectacular voyage through
Russia along its colorful and historic waterways. Your excitement-filled days in
Moscow and St. Petersburg are combined with a leisurely cruise through
picturesque waterways, past charming Medieval towns, quaint river villages and
breathtaking scenery. Visit the enchanting Golden Ring cities of Europe and sail through the largest lakes in Europe - Onega and Ladoga.
Tour may be available in opposite
direction
Day
1: North America – St. Petersburg
Day 2: Arrive St. Petersburg
Arrive in St. Petersburg and be greeted by a cruise representative who will
escort you to the
ship. (Dinner)
Day 3: St. Petersburg
Welcome to St. Petersburg, built on 44 islands and canals on the Neva River.
Located only 500 miles south of the Arctic Circle, St. Petersburg is known for
its “white nights”—distinct light, especially at night, when the sun never
truly sets. Your tour of this fabled city of canals and northern lights will
take you to Palace Square, the historic heart of St. Petersburg, and along
Nevsky Prospect, the city’s main boulevard, lined with smart shops and
restaurants. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Orientation Tour including Palace Square
Day 4: St. Petersburg
You’ll enjoy a guided tour through the world-famous Hermitage Museum, the
crown jewel of
St. Petersburg, with nearly 3 million pieces of art, and located in the Winter
Palace, former home of the Czars. Founded by Catherine the Great, this is one of
the premier museums in the world. (Breakfast, Lunch, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Hermitage Museum
Onboard Highlight: Captain’s Welcome Dinner
Day 5: St. Petersburg
Visit the spectacular Catherine Palace, a masterpiece of Russian Baroque in
nearby Pushkin. The finest architects and artists created an incomparable
collection of palaces, pavilions, gardens and bridges that surpassed everything
else in Russia. The art collection of the Catherine Palace includes more than
20,000 extraordinary objects. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Catherine Palace in Pushkin
Day 6: St. Petersburg
Enjoy free time on your own on your last day in this glorious city. A shuttle to
and from the city will be provided. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Mandrogi and Cruising the Svir River
Mandrogi is a reconstructed village built on the shore of the Svir River to
illustrate the traditions of Russia’s past. A highlight of your visit to
Mandrogi is a traditional shashlik lunch. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Shashlik Picnic Ashore
Onboard Highlight: Insightful Lecture
Day
8: Kizhi Island and Cruising Lake Onega
Arrive in the morning at Kizhi Island on Lake Onega where you’ll visit the
famous open-air museum, with fascinating edifices of northern wooden
architecture, including the spectacular Church of Transfiguration built without
a single nail. Its 22 shimmering domes are the ultimate in Russian fairytale
architecture. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Kizhi Open Air Museum
Day 9: Goritsy
Goritsy is a peaceful farming community where you’ll enjoy a walking tour
ashore showing you a slice of everyday life in this part of the world.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Daily Life in Russia Close Up
Day 10: Cruising Lake Rybinsk and Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl has always been considered one of Russia’s most beautiful cities.
Your tour takes
you to the exquisite Church of Elijah the Prophet, a masterpiece of local
architecture, richly adorned with 17th-century frescoes, and the ancient
12th-century Transfiguration
Monastery. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Heart of the Golden Ring Tour
Day
11: Kostroma
Your stop today is in Kostroma, a jewel in the circle of Golden Ring cities and
home to the noble families Godunov and Romanov before young Alexei Romanov was
elected Czar and began the legendary Romanov dynasty. A sightseeing tour
includes a visit to the Romanov Cradle with museum. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Romanov Cradle
Day 12: Uglich
As you approach the delightful and picturesque Golden Ring City of Uglich, be
prepared for a lovely view and panorama of the magnificent architectural
monuments. Your tour takes you to the historical Transfiguration Cathedral,
where you can admire the ancient icons. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Uglich Walking Tour
Day 13: Moscow
Arrive in Moscow during the afternoon and enjoy a tour of the grand capital of
Russia. You’ll see many historical and famous landmarks from the world famous
Red Square to the spectacular rainbow-colored St. Basil’s Cathedral. You’ll
also visit Arbat Street, known as a shopper’s paradise (Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Moscow City Tour with Red Square Metro and Arbat
Street
Day 14: Moscow
Visit the 15th-century Kremlin, a self-contained city with palaces, armories,
cathedral and a Medieval fortress. We’ll explore the priceless collection of
imperial treasures of the Kremlin’s Armory Museum, which houses over fifty
world-famous Faberge Eggs. (Breakfast, Lunch, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Kremlin and Armory Museum
Onboard Highlight: Captain’s Farewell Dinner
Day 15: Moscow
Spend your last day in Moscow exploring on your own. We have a shuttle to and
from the ship to the city. Or choose from one of our optional tours. (Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner)
Day 16: Depart Moscow
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Moscow for your flight home.
Cruise Ship operating this itinerary:
Litvinov
Please
Note
The order of sightseeing and itinerary is subject to change.
Please
Note
The order of sightseeing and itinerary is subject to change.
2002