RUSSIAN RIVER CRUISE |
Waterways
of the Czars
| July
6th 2010 |
14 days |
cruise
only from $2464 USD + $192 tax |
| July
5th - 18 |
|
air
$1675USD + $320 tax |
| July
18 - 21 |
Helsinki
add-on |
$799 |
Thinking of Russia, two great
cities immediately come to mind: Moscow and St. Petersburg.
This monumental 13-day itinerary includes multiple days
in both cities, touring such landmarks as Moscow’s
Kremlin and Red Square as well as Catherine’s Palace
in Pushkin and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. But, there
is another side of Russia—quaint riverside towns
like Yaroslavl, Uglich and Goritzy that only a river cruise
can provide. See opulent palaces, discover fortified monasteries
and visit beautiful cathedrals. It is an unforgettable
way to experience the history and culture of this unique
and mysterious country.
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DAY
1 Flight to Moscow
DAY 2 Moscow
Welcome to Moscow. We will meet you at the airport and transfer
you to your ship.* After boarding, you have free time to
relax before dinner. (D)
DAY 3 Moscow
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 colorful onion domes
of 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.
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DAY
4
Moscow
Today you have a full day to further explore Moscow’s
many buildings, parks and monuments. Or you may choose from
several optional experiences—a full-day excursion
to Sergiev Posad, a Golden Ring city named for the greatly
venerated St. Sergius of Radonezh, to see one of the four
most important Russian Orthodox monasteries in Russia; a
morning tour to Tretyakov Gallery, the world’s foremost
museum of Russian fine art; an afternoon tour of the Military
Museum; or an afternoon tour of Novodevichy Convent, Moscow’s
best-known cloister and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch
is served aboard, or included in your full-day excursion.
Dine aboard, then relax—or take an optional Moscow
Night tour. |
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DAY 5 Moscow & Moscow Canal
After breakfast, travel to the city’s famous red brick
enclosure known as the Kremlin. See its many tall towers
and elegant palaces, and tour inside one of the brightly
colored cathedrals. Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Moscow
Canal after lunch as we depart the city. (B, L, D)
DAY 6 Uglich
Cruise through the morning and, after lunch, disembark
for your walking tour through the provincial village of
Uglich, one of the Golden Ring cities—ancient towns
that preserve the memoryKremlin 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.
Depart before dinner; cruise through the night. |
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DAY
7 Yaroslavl
Arrive this morning in Yaroslavl, another Golden Ring city.
Ride along the river banks where you will see the Church
of the Epiphany. Then, visit the Church of St. Elijah the
Prophet, featuring wonderfully detailed frescoes and icons.
Here, you are treated to a traditional choir performance.
Take free time to shop for handcrafted souvenirs before
returning to your ship for lunch and departure. (B, L, D)
DAY 8 Goritzy & Volga-Baltic WaterwayArrive
this morning in Goritzy, a typical Russian village. From
here, you visit the renowned Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery,
founded by Saint Cyril in 1397. Your guided walk takes you
through the historic grounds, seeing many small wooden chapels,
the |
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wooden
chapels, the Assumption Cathedral and a museum. 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.
(B, L, D)
DAY 9 Kizhi
As you cruise through the morning, admire the tranquil waters
of Lake Onega, Europe’s second-largest lake. Arrive
late afternoon at the island village of Kizhi. Set out on
a walking tour through the Open Air Museum of Architecture,
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a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you see a collection of
wooden houses, windmills and churches representing ancient
Russian architecture, highlighted by the famous three-tiered
Preobranzhenskaya (Transfiguration) Church. This fairy-tale
structure was built in 1714 without a single nail. Depart
in the evening and cruise through the night. DAY
10 Scenic Waterways & Mandrogy
Spend a relaxing day cruising across Russia’s intricate
waterways. Sail along the scenic Svir River, sailing the
139-mile “Blue Route” as it takes you southwest
from Lake Onega. Stop in Mandrogy Visit the vodka museum
or shop for handmade Russian craft items. Continue along
the Svir, |
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then
cross Lake Ladoga, Europe’s largest lake, on your
way to the Neva River.
DAY 11 St. Petersburg
Sail on the Neva River into St. Petersburg early this morning
and embark on a city tour after breakfast; see noted sights
including St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter & Paul
Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt. After a picnic lunch, visit
the Winter Palace to tour the world-famous Hermitage Museum.
Marvel at the vast collection of art, antiquities, jewelry
and sculptures. Dine aboard, then relax or attend an optional
evening folkloric performance. |
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DAY
12 St. Petersburg
Today’s tour goes to Pushkin. Visit Catherine’s
Palace, the elegant rococo summer residence of the Russian
Czars, named for Catherine I (widow of Peter the Great).
Tour its various halls, including the storied Amber and
Agate Rooms, and see the ornate décor throughout.
Return to your ship for lunch. The rest of the day is at
leisure to further explore St. Petersburg, “The City
of 300 Bridges.” This evening, attend a ballet performance,
followed by a late supper aboard. (B, L, D)
DAY 13 St. Petersburg
You have the day free to see the sights that interest you.
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Visit
one of the many palaces, churches ormuseums. Or, you can
take an optional tour or two—a morning tour of Peterhof
Palace, with its landscaped gardens, beautiful fountains
and French Gothic interiors, and an afternoon tour of Yusupov
Palace (where Grigori Rasputin met his dramatic end) and
a relaxing canal cruise. B L D
DAY 14 St. Petersburg
After breakfast, disembark and we will take you 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.” (B) |
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ADD
3 NIGHTS IN HELSINKI FOR $799
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