Ship Russ: Moscow - Astrakhan, River Cruise 13 Sep 2011 - 26 Sep 2011
Route description:
Cross Russia from North to South, from its modern-day capital to the great kingdoms and cities of Uglich and Kostroma, Nizhniy Novgorod and Kazan, Saratov and Volgograd, before finally arriving in Astrakhan.
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 .jpg) 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. |
| Day 3 | 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. To top off this extraordinary day, you will have a tour of the Tretyakov Picture Gallery. |
| Day 3 | 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 4 | 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 5 | Nizhny Novgorod  Nizhny Novgorod, similar to Moscow and Tver, began as a haven for refugees from cities pillaged by the Mongols in the 13th century. Moscovy incorporated the city in 1392, shortly before the Tatars of Kazan burned it down. It took over one century to construct a daunting redbrick fortress here, a castle that would withstand two more Tatar attacks. Today Nizhny Novgorod serves as one of the main commercial centers in Russia. |
| Day 6 | Cheboksary .jpg) Cheboksary is a lively commercial hub on the Volga River with one famous export: church bells. Its chief product can be heard in most Russian cities, creating an atmosphere of worship and reverence that echoes through the country. |
| Day 7 | Kazan  Kazan was the former capital of the Tatars, an ally of the deadly Mongols. When Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan in 1552, he forced its then-Muslim ruler to convert to Christianity and built St. Basil’s Cathedral to celebrate his victory. Ivan also remodeled Kazan’s castle to suit the Russian style. |
| Day 8 | Samara  Samara has long been Russia’s link to the East. The growing bread trade in the 19th-20th centuries turned this city into an important economic center and, during World War II, many military factories moved here from western parts of the country. Soviet leaders even had a contingency plan to move Russia’s capital to Samara should Moscow fall into German hands. Today, Samara is the third largest metropolitan area in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and remains an important industrial center. |
| Day 9 | Saratov  Ivan the Terrible built what we now know as Saratov on the northernmost colony of the former Greek Empire. In the 19th century Saratov saw an influx of German immigrants who suffered relocation to Siberia and Kazakhstan when WWII erupted. It subsequently became a center of aircraft production during the Cold War and also produced one of Russia’s proudest citizens: Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. |
| Day 10 | Volgograd  Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, is most famous for the year-long Battle of Stalingrad, during which the Russian army heroically defended their city and prepared a counter attack on the surrounding enemy forces. This Ally victory proved to be a turning point in the tide of World War II. You can visit the memorial, Rodina Mat (Motherland), commemorating those who fought and died here. |
| Day 11 | Sailing  In ancient times the Volga River was used as a trade route by the Vikings on their way to Greece. It was along this route that the first Russian settlements were formed and still serve as home to more than half the population of Russia. You will spend today enjoying the beauty of the Volga onboard the ship while partaking in any of our exciting programs, including a Russian tea party, a blini tasting, concerts of folklore and classical music, Russian dancing and singing classes, or a crash course in the Russian language. |
| Day 12 | Astrakhan  Astrakhan is located where the mighty Volga meets the Caspian Sea, on the trade route from India to Persia. It was the capital of Khazaria and then of the Golden Horde (the Mongols). Moscow took Astrakhan in 1556 and has ruled it ever since. Today you will tour the city's Kremlin and cathedrals, designed in the Baroque style. The city also features a monument to Peter the Great, who constructed a shipyard for his aggressions against Persia in this city. |
| Day 13 | Departure  Your driver will take you to the airport. You will be leaving with a lifetime of memories from some of the most amazing sites in the world. We hope you return to this enigmatic area soon! |
