Ship MS Tolstoi: St. Petersburg - Moscow, River Cruise 11 Aug 2010 - 23 Aug 2010
Route description:
Moscow waits at the end of your journey while the culturally rich St. Petersburg kick-starts your Russian adventure. You will sail through the Onega Lake to Kizhi Island, Goritsy, Yaroslavl, Uglich, and complete your cruise in Russia’s vibrant metropolis, Moscow.
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 | St. Petersburg: City Tour and Hermitage .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. You will also visit the world-famous Hermitage Museum. 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. 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: folkshow Tip: St. Petersburg is a northern city. Travel to St. Petersburg in June and you will experience the midnight sun. |
| Day 3 | St. Petersburg: Free Day  This day is for you to explore the city on your own. In the evening you will attend a performance at the Hermitage Theater, the former private theater of the Czars. If you would like to purchase a private guided city tour, please ask your tour manager about available options. Optional tour: Catherine's Palace and parks; Yusupov Palace |
| Day 4 | 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 tour: Inside Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral |
| Day 5 | Svirstroy .jpg) Svitrstroy is 100 miles from St. Petersburg with a population of a thousand. Enjoy free time to walk through this unspoiled Russian village and browse its irresistible handmade trinkets. |
| Day 6 | 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 7 | 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 8 | Yaroslavl  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 9 | 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 10 | 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: Moscow Circus and Sergiev Possad |
| Day 11 | Moscow: Subway and Tretyakov  The Moscow Subway is located deep underground, a nuclear shelter and a museum of Soviet socialist art. It carries three million passengers daily through its palace-like terminals that will enchant you with their gorgeous frescoes and chandeliers. You will take a short ride to get a taste of life in Moscow. The Tretyakov Picture Gallery is Moscow's best collection of art and one of the most expansive collections of Russian paintings in the world. The gallery started as the private collection of the19th century merchant Ivan Tretyakov, who donated his collection to the city. |
| Day 12 | Moscow: The Kremlin  The heart of Moscow, the Kremlin, is located on the bustling Red Square. The Kremlin is the most recognizable symbol of Moscow. This ancient citadel was constructed in 1147 to defend the city from the Mongols and the Lithuanians. Moscow has since grown beyond the original walls, but the Kremlin has remained a representation of political power in Russia. Russian Emperors, Soviet rulers, and Russian contemporary leaders alike used the Kremlin for official ceremonies and added their own personal touches by constructing new buildings, museums, churches, and galleries. Optional excursion: Armory Chamber, Maidens Convent, Pushkin Museum |
| Day 13 | 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! |
