WATERWAYS OF THE CZARS
Viking Kirov/Viking Pakhomov
Russia has been blessed with numerous rivers, lakes and inland seas that served as natural highways. With the addition of man-made canals, you can now travel for great distances from the remote forests of Kareliya to Moscow, St. Petersburg and beyond. Visit modern cities and fortified monasteries and see the beautiful cathedrals that dot the countryside as you voyage through Russia's incredible history and culture. And do it all with the safety and comfort of a Viking River Cruise itinerary, where passengers' expectations are always exceeded. Be sure to plan this special vacation for 2003, a celebratory milestone in Russia's history: the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.
Outside cabin accommodations
All onboard meals; Welcome Dinner; Captain's Dinner
Daily sightseeing tours: Moscow city tour/Moscow Circus/Kremlin & Armory; Uglich; Kostroma; Yaroslavl; Kizhi; St. Petersburg city tour/Peterhof Palace/Hermitage/evening performance
Welcome Cocktail Reception
Old World Highlights: folkloric entertainment, lectures, theme dinners
Transfers for passenger flights arranged by Viking River Cruises
Priced from: $1599 per person |
|
 |
|
 
|
10 NIGHTS - WATERWAYS OF THE CZARS
St. Petersburg to Moscow
|
| Day |
Destination |
Activities |
|
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 |
St.
Petersburg
St.
Petersburg
St.
Petersburg
Svirr River
Kizhi
Volga-Baltic
Waterway
Yaroslavl
Kostroma
Uglich
Moscow
Moscow
Moscow |
Embark & free time
City tour & free time;
evening performance
Peterhof Palace excursion &
Hermitage tour
Scenic cruising
Walking tour
Scenic cruising
City tour
City tour
Walking tour
City tour & Moscow Circus
Kremlin & Armory tour;
free time
Disembark |
|
2003 Embarkation Dates
May 11, 14
Jun 1, 4, 22, 25
Jul 13
Aug 3, 6, 24, 27
Sep 14, 17
|
|
|
11 NIGHTS - WATERWAYS OF THE CZARS
Moscow to St. Petersburg
|
| Day |
Destination |
Activities |
|
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 |
Moscow
Moscow
Moscow
Uglich
Kostroma
Yaroslavl
Volga-Baltic
Waterway
Kizhi
Svirr River
St.
Petersburg
St.
Petersburg
St.
Petersburg
St.
Petersburg |
Embark & free time
City tour & free time;
Moscow Circus
Kremlin & Armory tour
Walking tour
City tour
City tour
Scenic cruising
Walking tour
Scenic cruising
City tour and free time;
evening performance
Peterhof Palace excursion
& Hermitage tour; free time
Free time
Embark |
|
2003 Embarkation Dates
May 21, 24
Jun 11, 14
Jul 2, 5, 23, 26
Aug 13, 16
Sep 3, 6, 24, 27
|
|
|
PLACES YOU'LL VISIT
Day 1
Moscow
Founded on 1147, Moscow is the capital of Russia and maintains its imperial history through its architectural splendor. Depending upon your arrival time, you may have free time to go shopping in the Arbat or experience the city's amazing Metro system.
*Embarkation & free time
Dinner
Day 2
Moscow
Centered on the Kremlin, Moscow's layout is marked by concentric rings, which chronicle the various stages of the city's growth. The city is known for Red Square, Moscow University, the Bolshoi and St. Basil's Cathedral with its brightly colored onion domes, each differing in design and color.
*City tour & free time
*Moscow Circus
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 3
Moscow
Visit the fortified enclosure of the Kremlin, with its distinctive crenelated red brick walls and tall towers, and see the man cathedrals and palaces inside. A tour of the Armory features its spectacular and priceless collection of royal treasures including jewels, crowns, thrones and royal armor of the czars.
*Kremlin & Armory tour
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 4
Uglich
Founded in 1148, Uglich's colorful churches and cathedrals blanket the horizon making it one of Russia's most adored cities. The infamous site of the mysterious death of Ivan the Terrible's son, Dmitry, the magnificent Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood was built on the site where the nine-year-old's body was found. Other architectural monuments include the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour and St. John's Church.
*Walking tour
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 5
Kostroma & Yaroslavl
Founded in 1152, Kostroma lies along the middle Volga approximately 200 miles northeast of Moscow within a tract of forests. In addition to the 14th century lpatyevsky Monastery and its museum being the pride of the city, Kostroma is also home to the open-air museum village, Begengenvka, featuring wood-construction architecture of windmills, medieval homes and various churches.
*City tour
Founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslavl the Wise, Yaroslavl is one of Russia's oldest and best-known provincial cities. Is history is evidenced in its architecture including the Church of Epiphany and Church of St. Elijah the Prophet.
*City tour
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6
Volga-Baltic Waterway
Completed in 1964 and replacing the antiquated Mariinskaya Canal, the Volga-Baltic Waterway is a system of rivers and canals that link the Volga River with the Baltic Sea. Spanning 229 miles and including seven locks, the Waterway starts in Rybinsk and follows along the Svirr and Neva Rivers, emptying into the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea in St. Petersburg.
*Scenic cruising
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 7
Kizhi
Cruise through Lake Onega, Europe's largest lake covering 3,753 square miles. Situated at the north end of the lake, Kizhi is home to the famed Open Ail Museum of Wooden Architecture featuring dozens of buildings, houses, windmills and churches. Famous buildings include the three-tiered, fairytale-like Preobranzhenskaya (Transfiguration) Church and the Church of Intercession, built in 1764 without the use of a single nail.
*Walking tour
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 8
Svirr River
Cruise from Lake Onega to Lake Ladoga along the narrow, 139-mile majestic Svir River, acalledaled the "Blue Route". Europe's largest lake, Lake Ladoga spans nearly 7,square milesiles and is home to 700 islands. Surrounded by natural beauty, high, craggy hills highlight the lake's northern shore while the southern shore is lined with low, sandy beaches.
*Scenic cruising
Breakfast
Day 9
St. Petersburg
Russia's second largest city, St. Petersburg has been called the " Venice of the North" for its many islands, canals and bridges. An industrial and cultucenterener, it is one of the most harmonious and splendid cities in Europe and one of Russia's most beautiful cities. City highlights include St. Isaac's Cathedral with its massive gilded dome and Peter & Paul Fortress, Peter the Great's city stronghold built in 1703.
*City tour & free time; evening performance
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 10
St. Petersburg
The historic area of St. Petersburg is filled with many monuments and cathedrals including the renowned Hermitage Museum, displaying more than three million exhibits from notes artists DaVinci, rembrandt, Michelangelo and others. The museum is located in the Winter Palace, home of the last six czars.
*Peterhof Palace excursion
*Hermitage excursion
*Free time
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 11
St. Petersburg
During free time, visit Nevsky Prospect, a main shopping district lined with stores, cafés, theaters and more. Or take an optional tour to Pushkin to visit the magnificent Catherine's Palace, named for Peter the Great's widow, Catherine I.
*Free time
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 12
St. Petersburg
*Disembark
Breakfast
|
|
| |
