Day 1Moscow
Arrive in Moscow and transfer to your centrally located hotel.* After checking in, you have free time to relax or begin exploring the city on your own.
Day 2Moscow
Today you have a half-day tour of Moscow. See the famed Bolshoi Theater and stop at Red Square for a view of the colorful onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral and a visit to the famous GUM Department Store. You will also get the chance to experience the city’s Metro. Later enjoy an evening performance of traditional Russian folkloric music. (B, D)
Day 3Moscow
After breakfast check out of your hotel. Today you have a full day to further explore Moscow’s many buildings, parks and monuments. Or you may choose an optional experience—take a full-day excursion to Sergiev Posad, a Golden Ring city named for the greatly venerated St. Sergius of Radonezh, to see one of the four most important Russian Orthodox monasteries in Russia; or an afternoon tour to Tretyakov Gallery, the world’s foremost museum of Russian fine art; or visit the Cosmonaut Museum with displays that trace the history of space and exploration. Embark on your cruise ship this afternoon. Dine aboard, then relax—or take an optional Moscow by Night tour. (B, L, D)
Day 4Moscow & Moscow Canal
After breakfast, travel to the city’s famous red brick enclosure known as the Kremlin. See its many tall towers and elegant palaces, and tour inside one of the brightly colored cathedrals. Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Moscow Canal after lunch as we depart the city. (B, L, D)
Day 5Uglich
Cruise through the morning and, after lunch, disembark for your walking tour through the provincial village of Uglich, one of the Golden Ring cities—ancient towns 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. Then a local family invites you into their home for tea and friendly conversation. Depart before dinner; cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 6Yaroslavl
Arrive this morning in Yaroslavl, another Golden Ring city. Tour this ancient city rich in monuments and visit the covered food market where you may 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. (B, L, D)
Day 7Kuzino & Volga-Baltic Waterway
Dock this morning in Kuzino, a typical Russian village; from here, you visit the renowned Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded by Saint Cyril in 1397. Take a guided walk through the Monastery’s historic grounds, seeing several small wooden chapels, the Assumption Cathedral and a museum. You will also have the opportunity to visit a children’s school in Kuzino. Return to your ship for lunch and an afternoon departure. Spend the remainder of the day cruising along the Volga-Baltic Waterway. This system of rivers and canals, spanning 229 miles and seven locks, links the Volga River with the Baltic Sea. (B, L, D)
Day 8Kizhi
Cruise through the morning, admiring the tranquil waters of Lake Onega, Europe’s second-largest lake. Arrive 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 fairytale-like structure built in 1714 without a single nail. Depart in the evening and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 9Scenic Waterways & Mandrogy
Spend a relaxing day cruising across Russia’s intricate waterways. Sail along 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 you may choose an optional tour where you will witness and participate in the art of Matryoshka doll making. Continue along the Svir, then cross Lake Ladoga, Europe’s largest lake, on your way to the Neva River. All meals served aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 10St. Petersburg
Sail on the Neva River into St. Petersburg early this morning and disembark your ship. Visit the Winter Palace to tour the legendary Hermitage Museum, where you marvel at the vast collection of art, antiquities, jewelry and sculptures. Check into your hotel before this evening’s performance of traditional Russian ballet. (B)
Day 11St. Petersburg
Today’s excursion goes to the Pushkin area where you visit Catherine’s Palace, the elegant rococo 18th-century summer residence of the Russian Czars named for Catherine I (widow of Peter the Great). Tour its various halls, including the storied Amber and Agate Rooms, and see the ornate décor throughout. This afternoon embark on a city tour; see noted sights including St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt. (B)
Day 12St. Petersburg
You have the day free to see the sights that interest you. Visit one of the many palaces, churches or museums, OR take an optional morning tour to Peterhof Palace, with its landscaped gardens, beautiful fountains and French Gothic interiors. In the afternoon, you may choose to join an optional Kommunalka visit to get a glimpse of how life is in these communal Russian living spaces or take an optional canal cruise. (B, D)
Day 13St. Petersburg
After breakfast, check out and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey into another country with 3 nights in Helsinki, Finland, the “White City of the North.” (B)