Express to Russia » Russia River Cruises » Moscow - St. Petersburg (12 Days and 11 Nights)
Moscow - St. Petersburg (12 Days and 11 Nights)
It is impossible to visit Russia without seeing its two largest cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. Both these cities are rich in history, art, architecture and the food is pretty good too! By taking a river voyage, a ship can link these two great imperial cities of the czars easily for tourists. Moscow has a wonderful heritage of historic buildings and is known as the medieval and 20th century capital, while St. Petersburg is a dreamland of 18th century architecture and craftsmanship. Besides offering visits to sites of unique historical and architectural interest, these cruises afford a relaxing alternative to traveling by taking you along the Neva River, Lake Ladoga, the Svir River, Lake Onega, the Baltic canal, White Lake and the Volga River.
Day 1 - 3
Moscow: Your journey begins as soon as you arrive in Moscow and board the ship. During your stay in Moscow you will be able to see the sights, do some light shopping and learn a few things about this incredible city through a city tour. You will also visit to the Kremlin, one of the cathedrals on its territory, Tretyakov State Gallery, the world famous gallery that contains works of Russian art from the 10th century up until present day.
Moscow: Russia’s political capital and financial as well as cultural center. The city includes many must see attractions from the Kremlin and Red Square to the Assumption Cathedral. Moscow is the largest city in Europe complete with everything one can expect.
Moscow: Russia’s political capital and financial as well as cultural center. The city includes many must see attractions from the Kremlin and Red Square to the Assumption Cathedral. Moscow is the largest city in Europe complete with everything one can expect.
Day 4
Arrival in Uglich. You will be taken to the walking city tour with visit to Kremlin, the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood and Transfiguration cathedral.
Uglich: Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in Old Russia. The view of the town as you approach it from the Volga River is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John´s Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile at the Kremlin in Uglich. It was here in her garden that the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
Uglich: Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in Old Russia. The view of the town as you approach it from the Volga River is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John´s Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile at the Kremlin in Uglich. It was here in her garden that the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
Day 5
Arrival in Yaroslavl. You will be taken to the panoramic city tour with visit to the Church of Elijah the Prophet and the former Governor´s House (Art Gallery).
Yaroslavl: Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of Ilya the Prophet, situated in the town´s central square. The fresco on the walls and the vaulting inside the church combined constitutes a respectable collection of old Russian paintings.
Yaroslavl: Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of Ilya the Prophet, situated in the town´s central square. The fresco on the walls and the vaulting inside the church combined constitutes a respectable collection of old Russian paintings.
Day 6
Arrival in Goritsy. Tour of the Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Lake.
Goritsy: This is a tiny settlement 7 kilometers from the Kirillo-Belosersky Monastery. Here you can visit what remains of the Nunnery of the Resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River, within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stops. Goritsy is definitely a site to see for any tourist with a real interest in Russian history. The Kirillo-Belosersky men´s monastery was founded in 1397 by Kirill Belosersky on the shore of Lake Siverskoye. The monastery had wide trade in the 15th to 17th centuries.
Goritsy: This is a tiny settlement 7 kilometers from the Kirillo-Belosersky Monastery. Here you can visit what remains of the Nunnery of the Resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River, within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stops. Goritsy is definitely a site to see for any tourist with a real interest in Russian history. The Kirillo-Belosersky men´s monastery was founded in 1397 by Kirill Belosersky on the shore of Lake Siverskoye. The monastery had wide trade in the 15th to 17th centuries.
Day 7
Arrival in Kizhi. You will be able to shop at the open-air museum and see tons of wooden architecture.
Kizhi Island: Via the Volga/Baltic Canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of Lake Onega. The island is renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture, which is assembled from over 80 monuments of wooden architecture from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past. Moreover, the Church of the Transfiguration or Preobrazhenskaya (the twenty-two headed church) is a masterpiece of architecture, featuring five tiers of 22 domes, which wonderfully change colors during the day. The church was built in 1714 without the use of any metal nails, only an axe and pine trees.
Kizhi Island: Via the Volga/Baltic Canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of Lake Onega. The island is renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture, which is assembled from over 80 monuments of wooden architecture from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past. Moreover, the Church of the Transfiguration or Preobrazhenskaya (the twenty-two headed church) is a masterpiece of architecture, featuring five tiers of 22 domes, which wonderfully change colors during the day. The church was built in 1714 without the use of any metal nails, only an axe and pine trees.
Day 8
A green stop in Svirstroi.
Svirstroi: This is an authentic Russian village, situated on the river Svir, connecting the largest European lakes (Ladoga and Onega). The Sacred Trinity Monastery of Alexander Svirsky holds a fascinating history. Born in 1448, Svirsky became a monk at age 26 and later built this Monastery. After his death and burial at the Monastery in 1533, he was made into a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church. Later in the 1600s, lighting struck his burial spot three times and his body was found, miraculously still completely preserved. The cathedrals and ancient buildings of the monastery are a wonder, and what´s more is that Svirsky´s body has been preserved to this day and tourists are able to see it through a glass coffin - just like Snow White!
Svirstroi: This is an authentic Russian village, situated on the river Svir, connecting the largest European lakes (Ladoga and Onega). The Sacred Trinity Monastery of Alexander Svirsky holds a fascinating history. Born in 1448, Svirsky became a monk at age 26 and later built this Monastery. After his death and burial at the Monastery in 1533, he was made into a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church. Later in the 1600s, lighting struck his burial spot three times and his body was found, miraculously still completely preserved. The cathedrals and ancient buildings of the monastery are a wonder, and what´s more is that Svirsky´s body has been preserved to this day and tourists are able to see it through a glass coffin - just like Snow White!
Day 9 - 12
Arrival in St. Petersburg. A panoramic city tour will entertain you throughout the day. The tour will take you to the Peter and Paul Fortress - a symbol of St. Petersburg and also the oldest building in the city and to the Hermitage Museum, the treasurehouse that contains over 3 million pieces of art with dates ranging from high antiquity to the present day.
St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg is Russia´s second largest and second most important city - the Northern capital of the country, Russia´s cultural center, and considered the world´s "Northern Venice" due to its extensive system of canals. Today, the city has a relatively healthy economy (as far as Russia is concerned), has the country´s largest and busiest port and a very high level of cultural life.
St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg is Russia´s second largest and second most important city - the Northern capital of the country, Russia´s cultural center, and considered the world´s "Northern Venice" due to its extensive system of canals. Today, the city has a relatively healthy economy (as far as Russia is concerned), has the country´s largest and busiest port and a very high level of cultural life.
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Prices, per person
Your currency: USD | EUR
Our prices are fixed in EUR as well as your order total price and payment balance. Any amounts in other currencies used for payments and informational purposes are calculated based on the current exchange rate.
The surcharge for single occupancy in a double cabin will come up to 50% of the cruise total amount.
Season B:
May 27 - June 07
What´s included:
- Accommodations in all cabins, each with a private bathroom, individual temperature controls, and windows
- Three meals daily including dinner upon arrival and breakfast on the departure day
- Captain´s welcome cocktail reception
- Welcome “bread and salt ceremony”
- Full sightseeing programs in each of the ports
- On board entertainment including Russian language course and Russian songs lessons, live music concerts, dancing music in bars nightly, Captain’s bridge tour, etc.
- English/French/German/Spanish/Italian speaking board guides; services of guides speaking other foreign languages can be provided at additional cost
- Souvenir shop on board
- Medical center on board
- Discos and bars on board
- Special holiday meals and celebrations
- Captain´s Farewell Dinner (special menu)
- International airfare. However, we can offer you extremely inexpensive flights to Russia through our discount airfare booking engine. Please click here to learn more.
- Additional drinks and water in ship restaurant and drinks on-board bars
- Option tours
- Tips for the crew and ship staff
- Forwarding of baggage/souvenirs
- Accident, baggage and trip cancellation insurance (we recommend you purchase insurance).
- Visas (for an additional cost we can help obtain one, see Full Visa Service).
- Private transfers if arriving or departing on other than embarkation/disembarkation days. Passengers must also pay for their own transportation to and from the pier (we can provide these transfers at an additional cost).
- Items of a personal nature (laundry services, bar charges, beauty salon services, telephone and cable charges and medical services).
- Room service offered at an additional price.
Conditions of payment:To book the cruise a 10% deposit is required to make in advance. The trip must be fully paid 79 days before departure. In any case, the deposit is unrefundable.
Cancellation terms for river cruises:
More then 79 days before departure – 10% of the entire package.
79 – 70 days before departure – a 25% fee of the entire package.
69 – 60 days before departure – a 50% fee of the entire package.
59 – 41 days before departure – a 75% fee of the entire package.
Less then 41 days before departure or no show – a fee equal to 100% of the package.