Two Capitals

Your driver will pick you up at the airport. He will be standing with your name sign at the exit gate. He will take you to the ship for the embarkation. Dinner will be served on the ship and after it, you can relax and rest in your cabin, the ship's lounge or bar. We recommend going to bed early to overcome your jet lag as we have an eventful program planned for tomorrow.

Today, we will explore Moscow - the famous capital of Russia. We will start with the bus tour of the city visiting  Kremlin, Tverskaya and Arbat streets and Novodevichiy Convent. We will then have lunch in one of the Moscow's fine restaurants, after which we will proceed to the heart of the city, to the Red Square.

• You will have a bus city tour around most beautiful sights of Moscow such as Red Square, Kremlin, Tverskaya and Arbat street as well as Novodevichiy monastery
• You will have lunch in the city center
• Optional excursions: national folk show "Kostroma" and Moscow by night

This is a free day to explore Moscow. After busy last day we let you to explore Moscow the way you want. We have prepared several optional tour for you this day. You can choose from Tretyakov Gallery, famous Russian collection of paintings, or Sergiev Possad, one of the oldest ancient cities of Russia.

In the evening, our ship will set sail for the Volga River.

• Optional: Tretyakov Gallery
• Optional: Sergiev Possad
• Optional: transfer to city center

Uglich is a small town on the Volga River. The best-defended fortress of Moscovy Kingdom, it was frequently attacked by the Lithuanians, the Tatars, and even the grand prince of Tver city-state that rivaled the Moscovy. In 1951 a 10-year old prince Dimitry, the last heir to the throne of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty, was murdered here in Uglich by Boris Godunov. Godunov proclaimed himself as the tsar of Russia, but was soon murdered himself. These events plunged Russia into three decades of political turmoil known as "Time of Trouble" that left the lands devastated and opened up a way for the new dynasty - the Romanovs. We will visit a small, but historically significant church of St. Dmitry-on-Blood, which is standing on the spot where Dimitry had been murdered.

By today 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 largest city and its economic, political and cultural center, at least before the city was completely annihilated by the Mongols, twice. The Mongols were so obsessed with defeating Yaroslavl that they did not notice the gradual rise of Moscow.

The town of Goritsy is home to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (1397). During the Time of Trouble, Polish invaders were trying to put their puppet on the Russian throne and stormed the monastery in attempt to purge the remaining Russian nobles. They never succeeded and while they were occupied, the Russians raise their forces and to repel the invaders. 

Kizhi Island is located on the Lake Onega. The island is home to the amazing Transfiguration Church. The church and its 22 domes are build without a single nail. Interestingly, the church was not always on this island. It was closer to the people. The Bolsheviks, for all their hatred of the religion, wanted to destroy the church, but did not dare to do so. They decided to transport the church to a deserted island where no one would be able to see it. That's why today it can only be reached by river cruise.

Please note: May 04 - May 14 cruise will not be stopping in Kizhi.

Mandrogi is a small village that has no architectural wonders, gigantic castles or impressive churches. These lands and people seem to be immune to the flow of time. We will stop in the village for a traditional Russian picnic with the meal called "shashlik."

St. Petersburg is one of the top 10 destinations on our planet. Peter the Great built the city borrowing the best features of the greatest European capitals of the day, like canals from the Venice, palaces and parks from Versailles, monuments from London and churches from Romes and Moscow. No one, even the skeptics, leaves the city unimpressed. It is as much a crown jewel of Russia as it is of the whole Europe.

Today, we will take you to Peter and Paul's Fortress. The fortress was build to defend the city from Swedish attacks from the sea, but was later converted to a prison. It served as a prison during the tsars and during the Bolsheviks. In one small cathedral inside of the Fortress lay the remnants of Russia's royal family, including the last emperor and his family.

• Visit Peter and Paul Fortress with the burial place of the Russian Emperors located on the Neva River.
• Bus city tour to St. Basil Island, The Building of Exchange, Rostrum columns, Nevskiy prospect, Issac Cathedral,Cathedral of Savior
  

Today, we will head to the center of St. Petersburg. You will find yourself standing in the middle of the Palace Square. Right in front of you stands the Winter Palace. The former residence of Russian tsars is now home to the world renown Hermitage Museum. We will explore the area surrounding the Palace and then go inside of the Hermitage. They say that if you spend one minute looking at each piece of art in the Hermitage, it would take you three years to see all of it. But don't worry, you will have experienced guides to show you the best of it, the numerous halls of the palace that saw emperors and kings, the private rooms of Catherine the great and much much more.

• Optional excursion to Catherine Palace
• Optional excursion St. Petersburg by night

Today we will take you to the outskirts of the city to the Peterhof - a summer residence of the Russian tsars. Peterhof boasts a magnificent fountain parks that rival those of the Versailles and an ensemble of different palaces. Another group will processed to town Pushkin, located on the opposite side of the city, to the lavish Catherine's Palace and Park.

• You will driver to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to visit Peterhof Palace and Parks
• Optional: transfer to city center

Your voyage is coming to an end. It is time to say goodbye to this beautiful country, the crew and your fellow passengers. It is time to pack up and to go home bringing unforgettable memories with you. The airport transfer service is arranged for you.