MS Rossia: Moscow – St. Petersburg

Welcome to Russia! Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your cruise ship. After boarding, you will have free time to relax before dinner.

After breakfast you will have a city tour which includes the Red Square, where you can see the brightly colored St. Basil’s Cathedral from the outside, the Lenin Mausoleum and the State Historical Museum and visit the famous GUM Department Store. You will be able to enjoy the view of The Cathedral of Christ the Savior (the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world), the panoramic view to the Olympic Stadium and the entire city from the view point on Sparrow Hills and other points of interest. This day after lunch on board, you will have free time to enjoy the city on your own and relax or you can book an optional tour.

Your morning tour will take you to the red-brick Kremlin, the former seat of the Russian Government and a unique historical, architectural and artistic reserve. During a stroll around the Kremlin Grounds you will see the majestic Cathedral Square which still retains its original form. There you can find a unique complex of masterpieces of medieval architecture: the Annunciation Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral and the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. You will discover such historic gems as the Tsar’s Canon and the Tsar’s Bell. After lunch, you will have leisure time before your river cruise ship departs from Moscow. Tonight meet the Captain of the ship during a welcome cocktail with sparkling wine.

You will visit one of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring – Uglich. During the walking tour you will visit the renowned greendomed Cathedral of Transfiguration perched at the water’s edge. Next, you will be taken to the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood, built on the site where Dmitry, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, was murdered. As Dmitry was the last son of the ancient Rurik Dynasty, his death precipitated the dynastic and political crisis known as the Time of Troubles, which came to an end with the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613.

You will arrive in the fascinating ancient city of Yaroslavl, which can boast its long history dating back to 1010, which makes it older than Moscow. You will stroll through the historic part of the city, a World Heritage Site, which is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. We will step inside the Church of Elijah the Prophet, with the interior covered in frescoes from the floor to the top of the domes, and wander around the grounds of the 12th century Savior-Transfiguration Monastery.

You will dock at Goritsy, a typical Russian village set in the beautiful countryside. From there you will take a coach to the famous Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded in 1397 by the monk Cyril, who is nowadays one of the most honored saints in the Russian Orthodox Church. In the monastery you will have a guided walk through its historic grounds and discover why this monastery was so loved by Ivan the Terrible.

You will cruise admiring the tranquil waters of Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake, and arrive at the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of the lake. You will be taken on a walking tour through the Open Air Museum of Architecture, housing a collection of restored 18th century Russian wooden buildings, including the breathtaking Church of the Transfiguration, a fairytale-like structure built in 1714 without a single nail.

Today sailing takes you to the picturesque village of Mandrogi located on the River Svir. The charming landscape is dotted with colorful “izbas” – wooden houses with finely carved roofs and window frames. In the “town of masters” you can admire items of Russian handicraft – subtle paintings, “matryioshka” (painted wooden dolls), remarkable pieces of embroidery and pottery utensils, and even take part in creating souvenirs. You can also visit the elk nursery or small zoo, horseback-ride about the place, taste Russian pastry – “pirozhki” in a tavern, or go to the museum of Russian vodka. This evening is The Captain’s Farewell dinner as your river sailing ends.

You will sail on the Neva River into St. Petersburg early this morning. After breakfast you will go on a bus city tour in the great city of St. Petersburg with its many palaces, which once were homes of the Russian nobility. The bus will take you along Nevsky Prospect, the main boulevard of St. Petersburg; you will pass the Gostiny Dvor (the city’s largest department store), the National Library and the monument to Catherine the Great. You will enjoy the sight of the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood, the Kazan Cathedral, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral (the fourth largest by the volume under the cupola cathedral in the world).

This day you will visit the world-famous Hermitage Museum, formerly the Winter Palace and home of the Tsars, with its marvelous collection of art, antiques, jewelry and sculptures. The Hermitage contains three million exhibits and early collections dating back to Catherine II., and is considered the rival of the Louvre in Paris.

You have the day off to relax on your cruise ship or to see the sights that interest you: Visit one of the many palaces, churches or museums, or take one of the optional tours offered on your cruise ship.

After breakfast your cruise will come to an end. Transfer from your cruise ship to the airport.