Uniworld Cruise

St. Petersburg to Moscow - Imperial Russia

The opulence of Russia awaits your arrival with its imperial cities and grand treasures, spectacular art and architecture, and vast political changes. Celebrate Russia’s magnificent past and promising future. Discover Moscow with its ancient gold-domed monasteries, Red Square, the Kremlin, the Armory and St. Basil’s Cathedral. Explore glorious St. Petersburg, conceived by Peter the Great to take Russia from the “Dark Ages” into the “Enlightened Age.” Sail through history along the mighty Volga River and visit some of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring – Uglich, Yaroslavl and Goritsy. Step back in time to enjoy a traditional shashlik lunch in Mandrogi. Travel with experts and get inside tips on Russian history, culture and contemporary Russia. Experience the grand sweep of Russia of today and yesterday as you cruise the Volga.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Travelers looking to experience the grand sweep of Russia – today and yesterday – with some of the world’s finest art and distinctive architecture; the opulence of St. Petersburg and Moscow, and tucked away villages with old world charm and warm friendly people.

Included Features

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

Included Highlights

• Orientation Tour including Palace Square
• Hermitage Museum
• Catherine Palace in Pushkin
• Shashlik Picnic Ashore
• Kizhi Open Air Museum
• Daily Life in Russia Close Up
• Heart of the Golden Ring Tour
• Romanov Cradle
• Uglich Walking Tour
• Moscow City Tour with Red Square Metro and Arbat Street
• Kremlin and Armory Museum

The Ship

Itinerary

Day 3 St. Petersburg
Welcome to St. Petersburg, built on 44 islands and canals on the Neva River. Located only 500 miles south of the Arctic Circle, St. Petersburg is known for its “white nights”—distinct light, especially at night, when the sun never truly sets. Your tour of this fabled city of canals and northern lights will take you to Palace Square, the historic heart of St. Petersburg, and along Nevsky Prospect, the city’s main boulevard, lined with smart shops and restaurants.

Day 4 St. Petersburg
You’ll enjoy a guided tour through the world-famous Hermitage Museum, the crown jewel of St. Petersburg, with nearly 3 million pieces of art, and located in the Winter Palace, former home of the Czars. Founded by Catherine the Great, this is one of the premier museums in the world.

Day 5 St. Petersburg
Visit the spectacular Catherine Palace, a masterpiece of Russian Baroque in nearby Pushkin. The finest architects and artists created an incomparable collection of palaces, pavilions, gardens and bridges that surpassed everything else in Russia. The art collection of the Catherine Palace includes more than 20,000 extraordinary objects.

Day 6 St. Petersburg
Enjoy free time on your own on your last day in this glorious city. A shuttle to and from the city will be provided.

Day 7 Mandrogi and Cruising the Svir River
Mandrogi is a reconstructed village built on the shore of the Svir River to illustrate the traditions of Russia’s past. A highlight of your visit to Mandrogi is a traditional shashlik lunch.

Day 8 Kizhi Island and Cruising Lake Onega
Arrive in the morning at Kizhi Island on Lake Onega where you’ll visit the famous open-air museum, with fascinating edifices of northern wooden architecture, including the spectacular Church of Transfiguration built without a single nail. Its 22 shimmering domes are the ultimate in Russian fairytale architecture.

Day 9 Goritsy
Goritsy is a peaceful farming community where you’ll enjoy a walking tour ashore showing you a slice of everyday life in this part of the world.

Day 10 Cruising Lake Rybinsk and Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl has always been considered one of Russia’s most beautiful cities. Your tour takes you to the exquisite Church of Elijah the Prophet, a masterpiece of local architecture, richly adorned with 17th-century frescoes, and the ancient 12th-century Transfiguration Monastery.

Day 11 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 Cradle with museum.

Day 12 Uglich
As you approach the delightful and picturesque Golden Ring City of Uglich, be prepared for a lovely view and panorama of the magnificent architectural monuments. Your tour takes you to the historical Transfiguration Cathedral, where you can admire the ancient icons.

Day 13 Moscow
Arrive in Moscow during the afternoon and enjoy a tour of the grand capital of Russia. You’ll see many historical and famous landmarks from the world famous Red Square to the spectacular rainbow-colored St. Basil’s Cathedral. You’ll also visit Arbat Street, known as a shopper’s paradise.

Day 14 Moscow
Visit the 15th-century Kremlin, a self-contained city with palaces, armories, cathedral and a Medieval fortress. We’ll explore the priceless collection of imperial treasures of the Kremlin’s Armory Museum, which houses over fifty world-famous Faberge Eggs.

Day 15 Moscow
Spend your last day in Moscow exploring on your own. We have a shuttle to and from the ship to the city. Or choose from one of our optional tours.

Day 16 Depart Moscow
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Moscow for your flight home.

Cost of This Trip