A river cruise of Russia provides the perfect way to experience Russia’s countryside, culture and two great cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Moscow, Russia’s capital, boasts some 2,500 historical and architectural monuments, 70 museums, 50 theaters, 4,500 libraries and 540 colleges and research institutions. There is so much to see and experience there—Red Square, with the colorful onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, the tomb of Vladimir Lenin and the massive 120-year-old GUM department store, the nearby Kremlin, and of course the city’s world-famous Metro system. St. Petersburg provides gentler and more graceful pleasures with its romantic canals, baroque palaces and lovely avenues and squares designed along European lines. You will want to visit the Hermitage, both the historic Winter Palace and a world-class art museum with an extensive collection of works ranging from da Vinci and Michelangelo to Cézanne and Picasso; you will gaze in wonder upon the Peter and Paul Fortress with its baroque cathedral inside; and you will enjoy strolling and shopping along Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s main promenade, with its lively culture of street artists and performers.
Or, follow in the footsteps of the Cossacks along Ukraine’s Dnieper River from Kiev to Odessa by way of Zaporozhye, Kherson and Sevastopol. See historic cathedrals and monasteries, monuments to Vladimir Lenin, displays of legendary traditional horsemanship, colorful folkloric costumes, music and dance, and museums displaying artifacts from bygone eras. There is a special coach tour to the ancient Tatar city of Bakhchisarai to visit the 16th-century Khan palace, heavily influenced by Turkish culture.
You’ll find that the boats that sail the Volga river are typcially older, but all have been refurbished. Our customer’s favorite over the years it the ms Volga Dream pictured below.
Most popular Russian River Cruise boats:
Tolstov: Refurbished in 2003
160 guests, standard cabins 110 sq. ft. with large picture windows; deluxe cabins 220 sq. ft.; largest suite is 330 sq. ft. with 3 picture windows, a dayroom with TV, refrigerator & separate bedroom; ship includes a restaurant, bar, library, lecture hall, sun deck, indoor swimming pool with a sliding sun roof, sauna, beauty salon and souvenir shop
ms Volga Dream: Refurbished 2007
109 passengers; superior staterooms 126 sq. ft. junior suite 141 sq. ft. & superior junior suites 170 sq. ft. Owner’s suite is 260 sq. ft. Restaurant, Lounge, bar, Wi-Fi, library, tea & coffee station, boutique
Viking Kirov: Built in 1987; fully refurbished in 2009 & Viking Surkov: Built in 1984; fully refurbished in 2008
Both ships carry 210 passengers and offers a deck, bar, restaurant, onboard boutique, library, free internet service in stateroom, in-room refrigerator, laundry service, and doctor on board. Stateroom options included 2 suites, 201 deluxe cabins and 2 singles. Cabin sizes are 126 sq. ft., 161 sq. ft and 215 sq. ft. depending on the category booked.
Viking Pakhomov: Built in 1990 and renovated in 2003. 2 onboard restaurants, 2 bars, library, sauna, internet stations, laundry service, hair dresser and doctor on board. 110 cabins including 2 suites, 20 deluxe (204 sq. ft.), 80 standard (90 sq. ft.) and 8 single (75 sq. ft.).
Viking Peterhof: Most recent upgrade to the ship was 2007.: 2 onboard restaurants, 2 bars, library, sauna, internet stations, laundry service, hair dresser and doctor on board. 105 cabins including 1 suite (237 sq. ft.) 18 deluxe (204 sq. ft.), 65 standard (90 sq. ft.) and 21 single (75 sq. ft.).
Viking Lomonosov: Most recent upgrade to the ship was 2003. 2 onboard restaurants, 2 bars, library, sauna, internet stations, laundry service, hair dresser and doctor on board. 112 cabins including 21 deluxe (204 sq. ft.), 69 standard (90 sq. ft.) and 22 single (75 sq. ft.).
Visit our Russia website to view Russian River cruise itineraries.
