Moscow to St Petersburg 12 Day Cruise

Moscow to St Petersburg 12 Day Cruise

Day 1: Moscow

The cruise ship will be waiting for you at the Moscow river port, equipped with everything you need for your comfort during your stay. In the evening, we'll enjoy dinner on board in the restaurant.

Day 2: Moscow

We'll wake up early to start our excursions. First of all, a panoramic tour of Moscow to discover its main attractions, the Novodevichy Convent, the KGB, Red Square, the GUM shopping centre and the Saviour's Cathedral.

After a lunch break in a local restaurant, the tour will continue to the Moscow Kremlin. We'll see the Congress Palace, the Senate Square and its buildings, the residence of the President of the Russian Federation, the Tsar Bell and cannon. We'll also see the cathedral complex, the Cathedrals of the Assumption, the Archangel and the Annunciation. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest or to do some of the optional activities offered by the cruise, such as a visit to the Armoury, a folklore show or a night tour.

Day 3: Moscow

You'll have the morning free to choose what you prefer to do, rest in your cabin, continue discovering Moscow, it's up to you! You can take one of the optional excursions: Sergiev Posad, Kolomentskoye, the Tretyakov Gallery or a Moscow River boat trip- there is plenty to choose from!

At noon we'll have lunch and leave the port in the direction of Uglich. In the evening, you're invited to the Captain's welcome cocktail.

Day 4: Uglich

Up and at 'em! The morning will be free for you to enjoy the ship's facilities, where you can watch documentaries about Russia and attend a Russian language class - an introduction to Russian culture!

After lunch, the afternoon will be spent exploring Uglich and its beautiful architectural ensembles. We'll take a walking tour of the city, which is part of the famous Golden Ring, to discover its wonders such as the Kremlin, the Transfiguration Cathedral and the colourful Church of St. Demetrius in the Blood. Then we'll return to the cruise ship, which will be ready for departure to Yaroslavl.

Day 5: Yaroslavl 

After breakfast, we'll be ready to continue sightseeing in Yaroslavl, a city that was born as a Viking settlement in the 8th century. We'll take a panoramic tour of Yaroslavl to admire its historic centre, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site We'll also see churches such as the Prophet Elijah and the interior of St. Nicholas Rúbleny, as well as a local market where you'll have some free time. To round off the visit, we'll enjoy an interactive tour of an art gallery located in the former residence of the Governor of Yaroslavl.

After the visit, we'll return to the ship for lunch and bid farewell to Yaroslavl. We'll set sail for Goritsy, enjoying the magical views from the panoramic terraces of the cruise ship.  Then we'll have the afternoon free for optional activities including a matryoshka painting workshop or a vodka and blini tasting.

Day 6: Goritsy

We'll receive an introductory talk about what we're going to see today, followed by a Russian tea ceremony. Then it's time to visit Goritsy, its monastery and its Museum of Icons - a tour of the Orthodox religion! After the tour, we'll return to the cruise ship for lunch and stay on board because the cruise ship will depart in the afternoon for Lake Onega.

Day 7: Kizhi

After a well-deserved rest, including the morning off, we'll have lunch and arrive at the island of Kizhi, located in Lake Onega. Did you know that the island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site? This is due to its splendid architectural complex, a veritable open-air museum of wooden constructions. We'll see the spectacular Church of the Transfiguration and its 22 domes, and visit the interior of the Cathedral of the Intercession, as well as admire the island's wooden houses and buildings.

After the visit, we'll return to the ship, where the crew will be waiting for us with a surprise, a pirate party!

Day 8: Mandrogui

This day we'll arrive in Mandrogui, where we'll discover the most traditional Russia. You'll be able to marvel at the tranquillity of its natural landscapes during the tour, where we'll visit a traditional village. We'll enter some of its typical wooden houses, to see samples of the region's handicrafts, as well as pancake and cake shops. If you wish, you can also visit the Vodka Museum, paying the entrance fee on the day.

Before returning to the boat, we'll stop on the river bank to enjoy a traditional barbecue, called shashlik. Then we'll say goodbye to the Russian villages and head for aristocratic Russia. In the evening we'll have a very special event, the Captain's dinner - remember to wear your best clothes for the occasion!

Day 9: St. Petersburg

Welcome to St. Petersburg! We'll start with a sightseeing tour, and pass by the Smolny Convent, the Tavrichesky Palace, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood, and much more. In addition, we'll take a guided tour around the St. Peter and Paul Fortress, visiting its main monuments and the cathedral.

We'll have lunch at a local restaurant, and head to Petehof, a city full of imperial palaces and golden fountains that will amaze you. Afterwards, we'll return to the ship for dinner, and if you wish you can complete the day with an optional evening tour of St. Petersburg.

Day 10: St. Petersburg

The next day in St. Petersburg we'll have breakfast and visit the Hermitage Museum, one of the most important museums in the world. We'll enter important rooms such as the Egyptian Hall, Peter the Great's Hall, St. George's Corridor and the Italian, Dutch and Spanish painting collections. Afterwards, we'll return to the ship for lunch, and in the afternoon you'll have free time to join one of the optional activities or relax.

Day 11: St. Petersburg

You can choose what to do for your last day in St. Petersburg. In the morning you could visit Pushkin, where Catherine's palace is located, and the Pavlovsk Imperial Palace and its gardens. After lunch, you can choose between several cultural visits, or spend the last day in St. Petersburg on your own, to continue sightseeing or shopping for souvenirs.

Day 12

On the last day, we'll drive you to the airport in time to catch your flight - Do svidaniya, Russia!

Accommodation

The cruise includes an11 night stay on board a 4* cruise ship. The prices indicated are per person staying in a double cabin. 

When booking you have the option of staying in a standard or deluxe cabin. The standard rooms are 2.2 x 4.7 metres, while the deluxe rooms are 3.3 x 4 metres. All rooms are exterior facing and have individual bathrooms with shower, air conditioning, refrigerator, hairdryer and power sockets. 

Within the deluxe option, you can choose between the main or middle deck. You can check the cabin distribution and the general characteristics of the boats.

What are the cruises like?

The cruise ship may vary depending on the departure date you choose. The ships will be those listed below, or similar:

MS N.NOVGOROD 4* 

The MS Nizhny Novgorod was refurbished in 2019. It has 4 decks, panoramic views, restaurants serving continental and Russian cuisine, 2 bars, a music room, dance floor, sauna, solarium and laundry.

• Standard stateroom (middle) with two beds: 1 2 3
• Deluxe stateroom (main) with twin beds: 1 2
• Deluxe stateroom (middle) with one king-size bed: 1 2 3
• Facilities: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Deck plan

MS CHERNYSHEVSKY 4*

The MS Nikolay Chernyshevsky was refurbished in 2017. It has 4 decks, restaurants serving traditional Russian cuisine, large lounges and spacious terraces, 2 bars, a solarium, sauna and laundry.

• Standard stateroom (middle) with twin beds: 1 2 3
• Deluxe stateroom (main) with twin beds: 1 2 
• Deluxe stateroom (middle) with one king-size bed: 1 2 3
• Facilities: 1 2 3 4 5 6 

Deck plan

MS FEDIN 4* (2022)

Throughout all of 2022, the cruise will take place on the MS Fedin 4*. Its facilities are the same as those of the MS Chernyshevsky 4* described in the previous section.

Itinerary changes

Depending on the ship, the order of the visits may vary, but we will visit all the stops mentioned in the itinerary.