Ship Chernishevskiy: Moscow - St. Petersburg, River Cruise 17 Aug 2010 - 28 Aug 2010
Route description:
Your journey starts in Moscow, the heart of Russia’s politics and economy, before you sail north via the Moskva River and the Volga-Don. Along the way you will dock in the ancient villages of Uglich, Yaroslavl, and Goritsy. The majestic Onega Lake will sweep you along to Kizhi Island before guiding you to Russia’s most beautiful city, St. Petersburg, nestled on the banks of the Neva River.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Arrival  Welcome to Russia! Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport arrivals gate with your name on a sign. After he takes you to the port to board your ship, you have the evening free to relax, enjoy dinner onboard, and meet your fellow travelers on this extraordinary adventure across Russia. |
| Day 2 | Moscow: Red Square  Welcome to Moscow, Russia's political and economic capital! Moscow was originally the center of Moscovy, a small principality that unified Russia against the Mongols in the late 14th century. Today you will go on a comprehensive Moscow city tour that will take you to the Red Square, Central Tverskaya Street, the Novodevichiy Convent (exterior only), the KGB headquarters (exterior only), and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. You will have lunch in the city center. Optional excursions: national folk show "Kostroma" and Moscow by night. |
| Day 3 | Moscow: Free Day .jpg) This is a free day to explore Moscow on your own. We have prepared several optional tours for your vacationing pleasure. You can choose from the Tretyakov Gallery, a collection of Russian paintings, or Sergiev Possad, one of the oldest ancient cities in Russia. In the evening, your ship will set sail on the Volga River. |
| Day 4 | Uglich  The first stop on your river tour is the village of Uglich. Located on the banks of the Volga River, Uglich presented itself as a perfect fortress of defense for the ancient Moscovy Kingdom. In 1591 the 10-year-old prince Dmitry of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty was murdered here by Boris Godunov before Godunov claimed the throne of Russia and was murdered himself. These events plunged Russia into three decades of political turmoil known as the Time of Trouble, leaving the lands devastated and open for a new dynasty: the Romanovs. We will visit the small but historically significant church of St. Dmitry-on-Blood, which stands on the location of the young prince’s murder. Tip: You can be a witness to these events by seeing the opera "Boris Godunov" in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. This classic opera reveals the extraordinary events and perseverance of this distant but ever-present epoch in Russian history. |
| Day 5 | Yaroslavl .jpg) By today's standards Yaroslavl is small, but its place in Russia's history and culture cannot be underestimated. Before it was annihilated by the Mongols it was Russia's economic, political, and cultural center. The Mongols were so obsessed with defeating Yaroslavl that they did not notice the gradual rise of Moscow. Absorb the remaining richness of this city and let its lingering power enthuse you. |
| Day 6 | Goritsy .jpg) The town of Goritsy is home to the historic Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, built in 1397. During the Time of Trouble, Polish invaders stormed the monastery in attempt to purge Russia of its remaining nobles. Unsuccessful, they were forced out by the renewed Russian forces. You will visit the monastery of St. Cyril-on-the-White-Lake and a museum of icons. |
| Day 7 | Kizhi Island  Kizhi Island on Lake Onega is home to the massive Transfiguration Church. With 22 domes that extend over this small yet picturesque island, there are two interesting facts that surround it. Despite all of its architectural wonders, not a single nail was used to build it. Also, its original location was on the mainland, closer to the people. The Bolsheviks, for all their hatred of religion, wanted to destroy the church, but did not dare to do so. They decided to transport the church to a deserted island where no one would be able to see it. That's why today it can only be reached by river cruise. You will spend this day exploring Kizhi Island and its amazing ensemble of wooden churches. Tip: bring a sweater or a light jacket. It gets a bit chilly in the evening, especially if you sail in May or September. |
| Day 8 | Mandrogi  Mandrogi is a small village that has no architectural wonders, castles, or impressive churches. This land seems to be immune to the flow of time, frozen in a relaxing period of carelessness and calm. Surrounded by the serenity of Mandrogi, you will have a traditional Russian picnic called Shashlik. This succulent meal has Middle Eastern roots, but has been slightly modified - beef is replaced with pork that is marinated for one night. Tip: bring a little bit of cash when you step ashore so you can buy a few hand-made souvenirs like authentic Russian matreshka dolls. |
| Day 9 | St. Petersburg: City Tour .jpg) Welcome to St. Petersburg, Russia’s most beautiful city! St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia until the Revolution of 1917, but remains Russia's most dynamic and amazing city. With the canals of Venice, the palaces of Paris, and the churches of Rome, you will not be disappointed by its beauty and culture. You will have a tour by bus to make the most of your visit to one of the top ten travel destinations in the world. It will take you on a panoramic tour of the city with stops at the Nevsky Prospect, Peter and Paul Fortress, the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The tour will last four hours, leaving the rest of the afternoon free for you to rest or explore the city on your own. Peter and Paul Fortress was designed to defend the city from naval attacks, but was used as a political prison for dissidents of the tsarist regime and as a museum during the soviet era. The fortress now stands as the tomb for the Russian imperial family. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was built to commemorate one of Russia's greatest emperors. Alexander II is most famous for liberating the Russian serfs two years before the abolition of slavery in the U.S. After he was assassinated, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood was erected in his honor. St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. Because of its rich decorations, gigantic golden cupolas, and sprawling observation deck, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in St. Petersburg. Optional for this evening: opera or ballet at Mariisnky, Mikhailovsky, or the Hermitage Theater. Tip: St. Petersburg is a northern city. Travel to St. Petersburg in June and you will experience the midnight sun. |
| Day 10 | St. Petersburg: Hermitage  Today you will visit the world-famous Hermitage Museum inside the illustrious Winter Palace. The Hermitage Museum is to St. Petersburg what the Kremlin is to Moscow. Located in the gorgeous Winter Palace, it sits in the very heart of the city, a palace so beautiful that not even the Bolsheviks could destroy it during their takeover in 1917. They say that if you were to spend three minutes by each exhibit in the Hermitage it would take you three years to see everything. Optional for this evening: Catherine Palace; St. Petersburg by night |
| Day 11 | St. Petersburg: Peterhof  Located on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, Peterhof is a lavish royal residence on the outskirts of the city. It is most famous for its fountain park that rivals that of Versailles. Peterhof was the official summer residence of Russian tsars. Optional: transfer to city center |
| Day 12 | Departure  Your driver will take you to the airport. You will be leaving with a lifetime of memories. We hope you return to this enigmatic area of the world soon! |
