Our Plan:
NEW YORK/ACROSS THE ATLANTIC FRIDAY, SEP 12
Begin your journey as you depart today on board your transatlantic flight to Moscow. En route enjoy dinner followed by a full length movie.
ARRIVE MOSCOW SATURDAY, SEP 13
Arrive Moscow this morning, Russia’s largest city. Founded by Prince Dolgoruky in 1147, Moscow occupied an area equal to about one-third of today’s Kremlin. In the 15th century, it was the capital of Russia until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the balance of the day is at leisure.
MOSCOW/ST. PETERSBURG SUNDAY, SEP 14
After breakfast, fly to St. Petersburg, a city built by Peter the Great in the 18th century as a rival to Venice. St. Petersburg stands on 101 islands linked by more than 300 bridges. At every turn the grand, neo-classic architecture is mirrored in a network of rivers and canals. Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your cruiseship.
ST. PETERSBURGMONDAY, SEP 15
St. Petersburg’s many palaces, once home to the Russian nobility, are now used as offices and multi-family residences. Your tour today takes you along Nevsky Prospect, the main boulevard of St. Petersburg lined with shops and baroque buildings. The balance of the day is free to relax on your cruiseship, explore on your own or join one of the optional excursions offered by the cruise company.
DEPART ST. PETERSBURG TUESDAY, SEP 16
The morning takes you to Palace Square with its Winter Palace now housing the Hermitage Museum. Worthy rival of the Louvre in Paris, the Hermitage contains three million exhibits and early collections dating back to Catherine II. In addition to the Western European masters, it has Russian and Oriental art and one of the largest collections of impressionist paintings. On your visit of the Hermitage, you will find the rooms containing the works of art to be masterpieces of art in themselves. Leisure time before your river cruise departs St. Petersburg this evening.
MANDROGI WEDNESDAY, SEP 17
Today takes you to the picturesque village of Mandrogi located on the River Svir. Enjoy a relaxing stop on the Verdant River Bank to enjoy the pleasant scenery, a picnic lunch and folklore.
KIZHI THURSDAY, SEP 18
This morning sail through the Volga Baltic Canal to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of Lake Onega. Your visit of the island will include the open-air Museum of Architecture, housing a collection of restored 18th century Russian wooden buildings that provide a delightful glimpse of Russia’s past. See the breathtaking Church of the Transfiguration with its 22 onion domes. The church was built without using a single nail!
GORITSY FRIDAY, SEP 19
Cruise on the impressive Rybinsk Reservoir to Goritsy, set in the beautiful countryside. Visit the well-preserved 14th century Cyril-Belozero Monastery, named in honor of its founder, the monk Cyril and one of the most honored saints in the Russian Orthodox Church. Enjoy many picture taking opportunities before returning to your ship.
CO YAROSLAVL SATURDAY, SEP 20
Yaroslavl, an important Volga port with a population of 600,000 will be today’s port of call. Founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslavl the wise, the city today stretches for 18 miles on both banks of the river. On your city tour, visit the 17th century Church of St. Elijah the Prophet, an incredible structure filled with frescoes and classic Russian architecture and the 12th century Savior-Transfiguration Monastery, one of the Volga’s oldest.
KOSTROMA SUNDAY, SEP 21
Continue along the Volga and call on Kostroma, viewed as the loveliest of Russia’s Golden Ring towns. Kostroma is the only city in Russia to retain its 18th century layout representing the period of Russian classicism. Enjoy your city tour and visit the 14th century Ipatievsky Monastery, founded by the Zernov family and the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture. Set sail for Uglich.
UGLICH MONDAY, SEP 22
Stop today at picturesque Uglich situated on the right bank of the Volga River. Visit the renowned ancient kremlin and the green-domed Cathedral of Transfiguration perched at the water’s edge. Next, visit the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood, built on the site where Dmitry, the son of Ivan the Terrible, was murdered.
CRUISING/ARRIVE MOSCOW TUESDAY, SEP 23
Spend the morning relaxing on your cruiseship as you continue your voyage en route to Moscow. Upon arrival enjoy your city tour including Red Square, where floodlighting illuminates the Kremlin and the famous brightly colored onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Bolshoi Theatre, the GUM Department Store on Red Square, and Moscow University. Enjoy a view of the city from Lenin Hills with its 100,000 seat Lenin Stadium.
MOSCOW WEDNESDAY, SEP 24
Your morning takes you to the Kremlin, the former seat of the Russian Government and a unique historical, architectural and artistic reserve. Visit the Cathedral of the Annunciation situated on the grounds of the Kremlin at Cathedral Square. See the outstanding monuments of Russian architecture of the 15 to 17th centuries and the Cathedrals of the Assumption and the Archangel, the Great Bell Tower of Ivan the Great with the Czar Bell and the Spasskaya Tower. The afternoon is at leisure for exploring on your own or you may join in one of the optional excursions offered by your cruiseship.
MOSCOW/NEW YORK THURSDAY, SEP 25
Say goodbye to Russia today as you transfer to the airport in time for your flight back home, arriving the same day.
Participants
Rev. George Torok, Ms. Joyce Castro, Ms. Jo De Marco, Ms. Carmela Franceschini, Ms. Alice Kayser, Ms. Katharina Lockhart, Ms. Maria Allgor, Mrs. Barbara Ruggiere, Mrs. Elizabeth Barry, Ms. Roberta Herring, Ms. Elizabeth Dubec, Ms. Anna Karak, Mr. Robert Gregory, Mrs. Lucille Gregory, Mrs. Lubica Markovich, Mrs. Ema Stasko, Ms. Rose Ann Moschella, Mrs. Elda Zamparo, Mr. Donald O’Brien, Mrs. Eleanor O’Brien, Mr. Frederick Targos, Mrs. Maryann Targos
Photogallery