Day 1 - Moscow
Arrive in Moscow and transfer to your ship. After boarding, you have free time to relax before dinner. (Dinner is included)
Day 2 - Moscow
Relax this morning and enjoy an early lunch before your half-day tour of the beautiful city of Moscow. See the famed Bolshoi Theater and stop at Red Square for a view of the brightly colored St. Basil’s Cathedral and a visit to the famous Glavny Universalny Magazin (GUM) Department Store. You'll also get the chance to experience the city’s Metro and stay in the city center for an evening performance of traditional Russian folkloric music. (Breakfast lunch and dinner included)
Day 3 - Moscow
Today you have a full day to explore Moscow’s many buildings, parks and monuments further. Or you may choose an optional experience: Take a morning tour to Tretyakov Gallery, the world’s foremost museum of Russian fine art. This afternoon you may visit the Cosmonaut Museum with displays that trace the history of space exploration or take a Jewish Moscow tour, illustrating the history and spirit of the Jewish people who settled in the city. Dine aboard for dinner, then relax or take an optional 'Moscow by Night' tour. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 4 - Moscow
After breakfast you'll travel to the city’s famous red brick enclosure known as the Kremlin. You’ll go behind its walls to see historic gems like Tsar’s Canon and Tsar’s Bell and tour inside two cathedrals. Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Moscow Canal after lunch as you depart the city. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 5 - Uglich
Cruising through the morning you'll enjoy your lunch before disembarking for your walking tour through the provincial village of Uglich; one of the Golden Ring cities that preserve the memory of Russia’s historical events. See the former Kremlin of Uglich and visit the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood; built on the site where Ivan the Terrible’s son Dmitry was mysteriously killed. This afternoon, a local family invites you into their home for tea and friendly conversation before departing before dinner and cruising through the night. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 6 - Yaroslavl
This morning you'll arrive in Yaroslavl, another Golden Ring city. Tour this ancient town rich in monuments and visit the covered food market where you may like to shop for handcrafted souvenirs. During your free time, you may visit the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet, featuring detailed frescoes and icons. Return to your ship for lunch and departure. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 7 - Kuzino
Docking this morning in Kuzino, a typical Russian village, you'll visit the renowned Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded by Saint Cyril in 1397. Take a guided walk through the monastery’s historic grounds and see its several small wooden chapels, the Assumption Cathedral and a museum. You'll also have the opportunity to visit a children’s school in Kuzino. Returning to the ship for lunch ready for an afternoon departure. Spend the remainder of the day cruising along the Volga-Baltic Waterway, a system of rivers and canals, spanning 229 miles and seven locks, links the Volga River with the Baltic Sea. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 8 - Kizhi
Today you'll cruise through the morning, admiring the tranquil waters of Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake before arriving this afternoon at the island village of Kizhi. Set out on a walking tour through the Open Air Museum of Architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, see a collection of wooden houses, windmills and churches representing ancient Russian architecture, highlighted by the famous three-tiered Preobranzhenskaya (Transfiguration) Church - a fairy-tale-like structure built in 1714 without a single nail. Depart in the evening and cruise through the night. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 9 - Mandrogy
Spend a relaxing day cruising Russia’s intricate waterways. Sail the scenic Svir River, traveling the 139-mile “Blue Route” as it takes you southwest from Lake Onega. Stop in Mandrogy and take some time to explore this museum village. Visit the Vodka Museum or shop for handmade, Russian craft items. For a truly immersive experience, try an optional visit to a banya; (traditional Russian bath house), or choose an optional tour where you'll witness and participate in the art of matryoshka doll making (both bookable on board only). Continue along the Svir, then cross Lake Ladoga, Europe’s largest lake, on your way to the Neva River. All meals are served aboard your ship. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 10 - St. Petersburg
Early this morning you'll sail on the Neva River into St. Petersburg. After a leisurely breakfast, you'll visit the Winter Palace and tour the legendary Hermitage Museum, where you marvel at the vast collection of art, antiquities, jewelery and sculpture. Return aboard for an early dinner, followed by an evening performance of traditional Russian ballet. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 11 - St. Petersburg
Today’s excursion goes to the Pushkin area where you visit Catherine Palace; the elegant rococo 18th-century summer residence of the Russian tsars. Tour its various halls, including the storied Amber and Agate Rooms, and see the ornate decor throughout. Return to your ship for lunch. After lunch embark on a city tour; see noted sights including St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt. Dine aboard, then relax or attend an optional evening folkloric performance. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 12 - St. Petersburg
Today is free to see the sights that interest you at leisure. Why not visit one of the many palaces, churches or museums, or take an optional morning tour to Peterhof Palace? With its landscaped gardens and beautiful fountains, it's sure to take your breath away. This afternoon, you may choose to join an optional kommunalka visit and get a glimpse of these communal living spaces or perhaps take an optional tour of St. Petersburg from the water. Lunch and dinner are served aboard. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 13 - St. Petersburg
After breakfast, you'll disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Or perhaps you'd like to extend your journey into another country with 3 nights in Helsinki, Finland, the “White City of the North.” (Breakfast included)
