Uniworld Cruise

Rostov-on-Don to Moscow - Land of the Cossacks & Tartars

A cruise down “Mother Volga,” as the Volga River is known throughout Russian folklore and song, takes you to the Russia of old. Travel from Rostov-on-Don, at one time a Greek colony, later a Turkish settlement, and finally the capital of the Don Cossacks, to Moscow with its familiar onion-domed St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre. See Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, and view the site of one of the greatest battles of WWII. Discover exotic Kazan, present capital of the Tartar Republic. Visit ancient Nizhni Novgorod, the former home of political exiles. And see the splendid cities of the Golden Ring. This is a truly exceptional trip to a world of exotic history, beautiful traditions and breathtaking scenery – to the Land of the Cossacks.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those thirsting to understand this incredible world power from its very beginnings – cities and towns that were once Turkish, Mongol, Tartar encampments and strongholds. Visit Stalin’s bunker and Lenin’s house, as well as sites of military battles and testaments to the vast political changes over the centuries.

Included Features

• 14-night cruise in an outside stateroom on Litvinov
• All meals onboard the ship
• 1-night hotel accommodations in Moscow
• 12 shore excursions with English-speaking guides
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures

Included Highlights

• City Tour and Cossack Museum in Starocherkassk
• Volgograd City Tour and Panorama Museum
• Saratov City Tour
• Simbirsk City Tour and Lenin’s Home
• Kazan City Tour, and Kremlin and Mosque
• Nizhni City Tour and Gorky’s House
• Romanov Museum and Chambers
• Yaroslavl City Tour
• Uglich Walking Tour
• Moscow City Tour and Red Square
• Kremlin and Armory Museum

The Ship

Itinerary

Day 3 Moscow to Rostov-on-Don
Fly from Moscow to Rostov-on-Don and board ship.

Day 4 Rostov-on-Don
An important river port, Rostov-on-Don was founded by the Russians in the mid-18th century and was granted official city rights in 1796.We’ll start our tour by driving through Old Town, where we’ll see the Cathedral of Virgin’s Nativity. We’ll also see the Market Square before we continue on to the Cossack Museum in Starocherkassk, capital of the Don Cossacks.

Day 5 Cruising the Don River
We spend the day cruising the Don River, which is one of the major rivers of Russia. It rises near Tula, southeast of Moscow, and flows for a distance of about 1,220 miles to the Sea of Azov.

Day 6 Volgograd
This tour of Volgograd, seen from motorcoach, passes by St. John Church before making its way to the central square of the city.We will visit the Memorial Tree, Lenin’s Monument, Pavlov’s House, and the Mamayev Kurgan war memorial. Then we climb up the hill to see the Hall of Military Glory and the Eternal Flame. Finally, we’ll take in the Panorama Museum, with its eight exhibition halls, more than 3,500 exhibits and a unique portrait gallery of Soviet military leaders and commanders taking part in the Stalingrad battle.

Day 7 Saratov
A combination of a bus tour and walking tour, you’ll see Saratov’s major sights, including the 17th-century Trinity Cathedral, followed by a stroll through the historic part of the city, seeing the stunning renaissance architecture all around. Do as locals do at the end of your tour and stroll through Kirov Street before returning to the ship.

Day 8 Samara
Eight stories deep, well below the earth’s surface, we’ll start our city tour with a visit to Stalin’s WW II bunker, complete with living areas and meeting rooms. We’ll then board buses for an enlightening tour of the city, taking in Iversky Monument and stopping at the replica of the Soyuz spacecraft.

Day 9 Simbirsk
Vladimir Lenin, key to so much of Russia’s recent history, lived here in Simbirsk, and today you’ll see his documents and personal belongings in the house where he grew up. After this fascinating glimpse of the memorable leader, we will reboard buses and visit downtown Ulyanovsk and walk along Novy Venets Boulevard, with fascinating examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture.

Day 10 Kazan
The city tour begins with a visit to the Tartar settlement, where you’ll see well-preserved examples of Tartar architecture. Continue on along the embankment of Kaban Lake, with a stop at the Baroque Peter and Paul Cathedral, built in 1726, with its stunning examples of Russian iconography. Our next stop is the Kazan Kremlin, the only surviving Tartar fortress in Russia. Inside, we’ll visit the largest mosque in Russia, the Qol Sharif Mosque, and Annunciation Cathedral.We’ll cap off our tour driving by Kazan University (where Leo Tolstoy went to school and Lenin got expelled), and ending up in the pedestrian area of Bauman Street.

Day 11 Nizhni Novgorod
Our tour of the city takes you to the Kremlin, viewing the Archangel Cathedral, Annunciation Monastery and the Eternal Flame, dedicated to Russian victory in World War II. After the Kremlin, we will visit the Chkalov Monument and Stroganovskaya Church.We’ll then visit the home of the writer Maxim Gorky, the founder of socialist realism. After the tour, we’ll head over to Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, where you will have free time to explore on your own before returning to the ship.

Day 12 Kostroma
Your stop today is in Kostroma, a jewel in the circle of Golden Ring cities and home to the noble families Godunov and Romanov before young Alexei Romanov was elected czar and began the legendary Romanov dynasty. A sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Romanov Chambers with museum and exhibition.

Day 13 Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl has always been considered one of Russia’s most beautiful cities with its wide tree-lined streets and attractive parks. On your tour, you’ll visit the exquisite Church of Elijah the Prophet, a masterpiece of architecture, richly adorned with 17th-century frescoes.

Day 14 Uglich
As you approach the delightful and picturesque Golden Ring City of Uglich, be prepared for a lovely view and panorama of the colorful architectural monuments. Your walking tour includes a visit to the historical Transfiguration Cathedral, with its exhibition of valuable icons, and the blue domed Church of Prince Dimitry on the Blood. Founded in 1148 along the Volga River, Uglich is a magnificent city to behold from the river. Its many colorful churches and cathedrals blanket the horizon, making Uglich one of Russia’s most adored cities. The magnificent Church of St. Demetrius on the Blood was built on the site where the body of Ivan the Terrible’s nine-year-old son, Dimitry, was found under mysterious circumstances.

Day 15 Moscow
This afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Moscow, the grand capital of Russia and its cultural and emotional heart. You will see many historical and famous landmarks from the world famous Red Square to the spectacular rainbow-colored St. Basil’s Cathedral, impressive Tverskaya Street and more.

Day 16 Moscow
A highlight of your stay in Moscow is a visit to the 15th-century Kremlin, a self-contained city with palaces, armories, a cathedral and a Medieval fortress. We’ll explore the priceless collection of imperial treasures of the Kremlin’s Armory Museum, which once held weaponry, but now holds amazing treasures, including over fifty world-famous Faberge Eggs.

Day 17 Depart Moscow
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Moscow for your flight home.

Cost of This Trip