Dear guests!

After departure from the first port of call all those who want to keep fit can begin the day with morning exercises inside or outside (if weather permits,) The physical exercise will fill you with energy and help you to take an active part in all those activities offered to the tourists on board a ship in addition to the included excursions in the ports of call.

It is always interesting to get acquainted with the history of the country you visit. Lectures on the history of the Romanovs' dynasty and the contemporary economic and political situation in Russia will help you to understand the enigmatic Russian soul and to learn something new about the history of the country. These lectures are specially prepared for our tourists and are delivered by our professional guest lecturer.

Are you fond of dancing? On board the ship we have a perfect dance lounge. Every night our musicians will be happy to see you there. And during the daytime you are welcome to the Russian dance lessons.

Vodka tasting and wine tasting parties are also very popular among our guests. Although through the centuries, Russians have been singled out for their heavy drinking it's not always true. So if you join us for these parties you may get acquainted to the Russian drinking traditions and party ceremonies, which are (by the way) reflected in many jokes and funny stories and look at its honourable place in our literary heritage.

Moscow Spend three unforgettable days in the capital of Russia and admire numerous treasures of its history and present days and enjoy its beauty!

City tour (Briefly):
Stop at St. Sofia Embankment of the Moskva-river; The Bolshoy Stone Bridge; stops at Cathedral of Christ the Savior and Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts; the new monument to Peter the Great; Gorky Park; stop at New Maiden Convent; observation platform of Sparrow (Lenin) Hills; Viktory Park and Poklonnaya Hill with World War II Memorial; Kutuzov Avenue; White House.

Kremlin
The former residence of Russian czars, an architectural ensemble of unique beauty, which took shape between the 15-th and 20-th centuries. Cathedral Square - the center of the Kremlin with the 15-th century Assumption Cathedral, the main church of Russia, the 15-th century Annunciation Cathedral, the private church of Russian czars and the 16-th century Cathedral of the Archangel, the burial place of the czars. On the ground of the Kremlin there are famous Czar Cannon of the 16-th century and Czar Bell of the 18-th century.

Optional tours

The Armoury Chamber
The treasury of Russian Czars with unique collections of gold and silver items of the 12-19th centuries, Russian arms and armour of the 12-16th centuries, the state regalia, thrones, carriages and coronation dressers of the 16-19th centuries, as well as ambassadorial gifts of the 16-19th centuries

STATE TRETYAKOV ART GALLERY
It is a national museum of Russian founded in 1856 by Peotr Tretyakov. The collection with its 100 thousand exhibits includes 5,000 works of ancient Russian art and world famous paintings by Russian and Soviet artists as well as sculptures and examples of graphic art.

Moscow by night & Metro
Briefly:
Photo stops at St. Sofia Embankment of the Moskva-river, the Bolshoy Stone Bridge; driving along the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the new monument to Peter the Great; Gorky Park; photo stop at the New Maiden Convent; observation platform of Sparrow (Lenin) Hills; short stop at Poklonnaya (Bow) Hill with World War II Memorial; driving along Kutuzov Avenue; White House and the Kremlin; stop at the Red Square.

During the Moscow by night excursion you will be taken to Moscow underground stations, make two or three rides and see four or five stations (the most beautiful ones). Each station was to be different from the others and designed in an original manner.

The early lines opened in 1935 were the most successful in this respect. In the early fifties the luxuriously appointed and excessively decorated Circle line was built. The Komsomolskaya Station, serving the three railway station, is the most extreme, with its heavy gilt and ceiling mosaics depicting leaders on the mausoleum in Red Square.

Uglich Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia. The view of the town as it is approached from the Volga River is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St.John’s Church looming on the horizon.
At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin at Uglich. It was here in her garden that the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St.Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.

Yaroslavl Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past.
Of special interest is the magnificent 13th-century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of Elijah the Prophet, situated in the town’s central square. The frescoes on the walls and vaulting inside the church constitute a veritable museum of old Russian paintings.

Goritsy is a tiny settlement seven kilometers from the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. Visit what remains of the Nunnery of the resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River in Goritsy, within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stop, will be interesting for any tourist with a real interest in Russian history

Kizhi Via the Volga/Baltic canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of lake Onega. Renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture assembled from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past.

Mandrogi. Green Stop.. In the village there are some structures built according to the Russian fine traditions of wooden architecture. Village dwellers meet the quests and organize something special for them. There is a museum of Russian Vodka where tourists can get acquainted with the history of Russian vodka industry ( payment on the spot). Remeslennays Sloboda, walking in the picturesque woods.

St.Petersburg created by Peter the Great to rival Venice, its 101 islands, 66 canals, and hundreds of bridges have secured its reputation as the most beautiful city in the country. While your ship is docked in port, you’ll enjoy daily sightseeing tours. You will see the Nevsky prospect’s shops, cafes and theatres, and you will tour the impressive St.Isaac’s, the city’s large cathedral, now a museum of elaborate icons and artworks. We will spend time in the world famous hermitage Museum, formerly the Winter Palace, home of the last six czars. A treasure trove of three million exhibits, its 320 halls display DaVincis, Rembrandts, Titians, Micheleangelos, French impressionists and North American artists.

CITY TOUR
Brief description of what you will see during city tour *( outside view):
Nevsky Prospect,Palace Square and Winter Palace+, Spit of the
Vassilievsky Island, University Embankmant, Main Building of the State
St.Petersburg University, Admiralty, Senat Square, Monument to Peter the
Great (Bronze Horseman), St.Isaak's Cathedral and St.Isaak's Square, Field of Mars+ and Summer Gardens+, Cruiser Aurora, Smolny Cathedral.

HERMITAGE MUSEUM
One of biggest museums of the world, founded 1764; its collection includes over 2.7 million items, including masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Roden, Rembrandt, Rubens, French impressionists, etc. Gala room of the Winter Palace, a former royal residence.

Optional tours

PETRODVORETZ (PETRHOFF)
The imperial summer residence on the Gulf of Finland, 29 km from the city.
At the beginning of the 18th century palaces were built and parks with fountains laid under the order of Peter the Greate to commemorate the victory of the Russian army over the Sweden near Poltava. The highest fountain of Petrodvorets depicting Samaon (21 m) was built as a symbol of the victory 25 years after the battle.

The tour of the BIG PALACE includes gala halls, residential rooms and suites. Here art pieces of the 18th and 19th centuries such as paintings, clocks, chandelles, dinners sets and decorative lacquer panels are displayed.

PUSHKIN (TSARSKOE SELO)
Located 29 km south of St.-Petersburg. the construction of the Catherine the Great started in 1717. A park in the French style was laid out around it. In the middle of the 18th century Tsarskoye selo became the official royal residence.
Not far from the Catherine’s palace there is the Lycem where the great poet Alexander Pushkin studied. The Lyceum is open for visitors.

USUPOV PALACE Built for the Yussupov family, which was considered the richest noble family in Russia, the palace is a fine example of Russian architecture of the 2nd half of the 19th century. Its facade is executed in the classical style. Its interiors, including state rooms, palace theatre, private rooms of the Yussupov family are decorated with the works by Rembrandt and Rubens, French tapestries and porcelain, Venetian mirrors and wood carvings. The palace is also interesting from the historical point of view. It was in the palace basement that Grigory Rasputin was assassinated in 1916. Today there is an exposition recreating atmosphere of the assassination in the basement