St. Petersburg - Astrakhan: 27 Sep - 18 Oct

Cruise Summary:

Ship: River Princess
Days/Nights: 22/21
Boat Deck:
$3900 - Boat deck - Cat. A
$3700 - Upper deck - Cat. B
$3500 - Main deck - Cat. C
$3100 - Lower deck (3 pax) - Cat. D
$5550 - Suite Cabin
+$990 - Single Cabin
Additional Fees:
+50% - Double cabin/sgl use
$120 - Port Taxes
$100 - Fuel Surcharge

All Cruise Dates:

Day	Location	Program	ARR	DEP
1	St. Petersburg	Arrival, embarkation, dinner and overnight.
2	St.Petersburg	City tour. Enjoy the extravagant baroque architecture of the city center, Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square and Smolny Convent. Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul with the tombs of the imperial Romanovs beneath its 122-meter spire. Lunch, dinner.
3	St.Petersburg	This morning, visit the many wonders of the elegant Winter Palace, which today houses the Hermitage Museum, one of the largest art and cultural museums in the world. This afternoon in St. Petersburg you may explore on your own. Whatever your interest, our local hosts ease your way by making all arrangements for tours to help you enjoy your stay to the fullest. This evening you leave St. Petersburg for the start of your cruise. Lunch, dinner.		18:00
4	Mandrogi	Arrival at the river village. This is a recreational stop, specially designed for you to enjoy the relaxing rustic atmosphere and famous Russian cuisine and hospitality. Lunch, dinner.	11:30	15:00
5	Kizhi	Arrive at the island of Kizhi ? an architectural gem within Lake Onega. The island is famous for its wonderful collection of 18th-century wooden buildings, restored to their original state. The highlight of Kizhi is the amazing Church of the Transfiguration, with its 22 onion domes; this magnificent structure was built entirely without a single nail. Lunch and dinner on board.	08:00	12:00
6	Goritsy	Visit Cyrilo-Belozersky Monastery, which has six centuries of glorious history, home to the most exquisite icon collection in the world. Lunch and dinner on board.	13:00	17:00
7	Uglich	Take a walking tour of this lovely 10th-century town - one of Russia's most ancient. Visit the Kremlin, with its 16th-century Church of the Transfiguration. Explore the Flea Market. Lunch and dinner on board.	11:30	14:30
8	Moscow	Arrival in Moscow. Sightseeing motor coach tour of this ancient Russian capital, including Tverskaya Street, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, Bolshoi Theater and Moscow State University for a panoramic view of the city. Visit to Novodevichiy Convent. Lunch, dinner.	15:00
9	Moscow	Morning tour of the Kremlin: Originally a fortress, it comprises beautiful cathedrals, ornate palaces and government buildings. Use free time this afternoon to explore Moscow on your own. Whatever your interest, our local hosts ease your way by making all arrangements for tours, theater, ballet or opera tickets. Lunch and dinner aboard.		17:30
10	Myshkin	City tour. Mouse museum. Arrival in Myshkin. A small provincial town with unusual name Myshkin (in Russian a Mouse's town) is situated on the Volga river 100 km from Yaroslavl. It is surrounded by a pine forest. It is a quiet town with no factories and plants, and 6 thousand people live there. Walking City Tour. Visit to Mouse's Museum Lunch and dinner aboard.	18:30	21:30
11	Yaroslavl	After breakfast today, tour of Yaroslavl, founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. The city tour includes the 16th-century Monastery of the Transfiguration and Church of Elijah the Prophet. Lunch and dinner on board.	8:00	22:00
12	Kostroma	Today explore the City of Kostroma. Located on the left bank of the Volga River, it abounds in magnificent monuments of old architecture. Its picturesque suburbs have long been a source of inspiration for many Russian artists. Lunch and dinner on board.	8:00	22:00
13	Nizhnii Novgorod	Take a city tour of Nizhniy Novgorod. Although the word Novgorod means "a new city", it is one of the oldest Russian cities. In a sense, Russian history began here. It was the first permanent settlement of the Varangian Norsemen who established the embryonic Russian State. Lunch and dinner on board.	15:00	18:00
14	Cheboksary	In the afternoon, arrive in the capital of Chuvashia Repuplic. Tcheboksary has a rich historical past. Founded in 1781, it served as fortress outpost for Moscow Principality. The city is well known for its architectural landmarks, including the 17th century Vvedensky Cathidral. Enjoy your city tour. Lunch and dinner on board.	14:00	22:00
15	Kazan	Today explore the capital of Tatar Republic. The capital of Tatar Republic was founded in the 13th century by Mongols, who had occupied Russia. In the 15th and 16th centuries Kazan became one of the principal cities of the mighty Golden Horde (Tatar) Empire. The city was conquered and almost destroyed in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible, who forced the Muslim khan to become Christian and forced Tatars to the country's borders. Later Kazan flourished as a gateway to Siberia. The city has preserved many of its ancient buildings, including the remarkable Kazan Kremlin, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and the striking Syuyumbike Tower named after a long-suffering princess who was married to three successive khans. Lunch and dinner on board. Optional: Raiffa Monastery.	14:00	21:00
16	Ulyanovsk	After breakfast enjoy the city tour of Ulyanovsk. Ulyanovsk, formerly Simbirsk, is a city on the Volga River 893 km east from Moscow. It is the administrative center of, and the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin). In 1648, the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo founded a frontier fort of "Simbirsk" or "Sinbirsk" on top of the hill on the Western bank of the Volga River, designed to protect the eastern edge of the growing Russian Empire from the nomadic Nogais and to establish a foothold in the area. In 1924, the city was renamed Ulyanovsk in honor of its recently-deceased most famous son Vladimir Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, who was born there. Ulyanovsk is a significant industrial city. It is home to UAZ, a large automobile manufacturing plant, and Aviastar-SP, an airplane plant. Lunch and dinner on board. 9:00 am	9:00	18:00
17	Samara	Today enjoy the city tour of Samara, the sixth-largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia, the administrative center of Samara Oblast. It was founded in 1586 as a defense outpost, a fortress, and later grew into a major grain-trading center for the Volga region. It was renamed after the Soviet politician Valerian Kuybyshev under Soviet rule, but returned to its historical name after the fall of Communism. Now it is a large social, economic, industrial and cultural center of European Russia. Lunch and dinner on board. Optional: Stalin's Bunker.	9:00	13:00
18	Saratov	Take the afternoon tour of Saratov City. The name Saratov may be conjectured to derive from theTurkic words Saryk Atov which means 'hawks' island'. Another version of the name origin is "Sary Tau" meaning Yellow Mountain in Tatar language as the city is surrounded by a few sandy hills. Saratov became an important shipping port in the 1800s, and developed industrially after a railroad linking it to Moscow was finished in 1870. From Soviet times until 1991, Saratov was a "closed city", strictly off limits to all foreigners. Situated on the Volga River, this was a major military aircraft manufacturing site, the home of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and a vital part of the Soviet space program. Lunch and dinner on board.	11:00	14:00
19	Volgograd	The new day brings you to the new city to explore. Volgograd originated with the foundation in 1589 of the fortress of Tsaritsyn at the confluence of the Tsaritsa and Volga Rivers. The fortress, which took its name from the local name Sary Su was established to defend the unstable southern border of Tsarist Russia and became the nucleus of a trading settlement. The city was the scene of heavy fighting during the Russian Civil War After its recapture, it was renamed Stalingrad (literally: "Stalin city") in 1925. Under Stalin, the city became heavily industrialized and was developed as a centre of heavy industry and trans-shipment by rail and river. During World war 2, the city of Stalingrad became the center of the Battle of Stalingrad as well as the pivotal turning point in the war against Germany. Visit the mamaev Kurgan, a hill that saw some of the most intense fighting during the battle. Lunch and dinner on board. Optional: Military Cemetery in Rossoshki.	9:00	15:00
20	Sailing	Breakfast aboard. Enjoy your last day of cruising. Onboard entertainment, lectures, movies, dancing. Lunch and dinner aboard.
21	Astrakhan	Arrive at your final destination-the city of Astrakhan. Astrakhan is situated in the Volga Delta, rich in sturgeons and exotic plants. It was the capital of Astrakhan Khanate. The ruins of this medieval settlement were found by archaeologists 12 km upstream from the modern-day city.In 1556, the khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible, who had a new fortress built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In1569, Astrakhan was besieged by the Ottoman army, which had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. In the 17 crntury, the city was developed as a Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armernia,Persia, and Khiva settled in the downtown, giving it a multinational and variegated character. Lunch and farewell dinner aboard.	9:00
22	Astrakhan	Time to bid farewell to your new friends after your.

Astrakhan
is situated on the islands in the delta of the Volga river. The greatest part of its territory lies below the spring flood levels of the Volga, so dams were built in many places. There are more than 30 bridges in the city. In ancient times Astrakhan was called "The venice of Asia
Cheboksary
is the capital of Chuvashia. It is situated on the right bank of the Volga. It is a port has a railway, a carway and an airport. The population of the town is 444 thousand people. Cheboksary has been known since 1469. Since 1555 it has been a fortress of the Moscow state. In 1611-1612 the citizens took part in the home guard of Minin and Pozharsky. At the end of 17th and 18th centuries Cheboksary was a large trading city of Povolzhiya. Then it became a new industrial and cultural centre.
Goritsy
You will visit one of the oldest and most famous monasteries in Russia – the Monastery of St. Cyril of the White Lake. Dating back to the 14th century, it is a home to a the most exquisite icon collection in the world.
Kizhi
Enjoy the magnificent Northern Russian nature and scenery while cruising trough Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe. Arrival and an island highlights tour of Kizhi island including visit to the Museum of Wooden Architecture with a beautiful ensemble of wooden churches, chapels and houses. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia and a UNESCO. The most impressive thing about these structures is that they were erected without any nails or other metal ties. Return to the ship, departure, dinner on board entertainment.
Kostroma
Kostroma is the jewels among the Golden Ring towns. It is also the only Russian city that has retained its original 18th century street plan commissioned by the Ekaterina the Geat, with the main streets radiating from the centre like the spokes of a wheel. Your sightseeing tour highlights will include the world renown Museum of Wooden Architecture and the 14th century Ipatyevsky Monastery. Return to the ship, departure, dinner on board entertainment.
Mandrogi
This is a recreational stop, specially designed to for you to enjoy the relaxing rustic atmosphere and famous Russian cuisine and hospitality. Enjoy Russian outdoor dining specialties and entertainment by local folklore entertainers.
Moscow
The capital of Russia since the late 15th century, Moscow has always been a popular destination for more adventurous tourists. During your stay, you will have an opportunity to see city’s world renown attractions that include the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Kremlin, St. Basils Cathedral and the Church of the Ascension at Kolomenskoye, all dating from between the 14th and 17th centuries. The options for sightseeing, the local guides will offer you in Moscow, include Red Square; the Tretyakov Gallery; the National Museum of Russian Fine Art; the Moscow Metro; and a tour of the Armoury with its spectacular and priceless collection of royal jewels, crowns, thrones, and armour of the czars. For groups, an additional optional evening entertainment and tours are available, and you are welcome to take a Moscow by Night city tour, or attend a circus or theatre performance.
Nizhnii Novgorod
Founded in 1221, this city was a famous meeting place where people from the Orient, Siberia and Turkistan came to barter and trade. Formerly named Gorki, it was later home of political exiles and therefore closed to outsiders for many years. Nizhny Novgorod has only recently opened its doors for visitors, where many well preserved memorials from the 13th and 14th centuries are found. Of special interest is the ancient Kremlin cathedrals, convents and the palace of the early ruling family.
Samara
Founded in the 16th century Samara is today an important industrial and cultural center of the region. Formerly known as Kuibyshev, the city played a big role in the Peasant Uprising of 1670 under Styepan Razin and again in 1773 under Yemelian Pugachev. Recently Stalin’s bunker was discovered here and opened to the public.
Saratov
A beautiful city surrounded by outlying villages, Saratov was settled by Germans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Chernyshevsky, the famous Russian writer and democrat was born here and Yuriy Gagarin, the world’s first cosmonaut was a member of the Saratov Flying Club.
St. Petersburg
Extraordinary city of St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great in 1703, is the highlight of your Russian River adventure. Your guided tour highlights will include the Nevsky Prospekt, the Admiralty Building, the Royal Square, Peter and Paul Fortress the treasure chest of the world world-famous art – the Hermitage Museum. You are also free to explore this magnificent and romantic city on your own, or purchase optional tours to Pushkin and see beautiful and fascinating Catherine's Palace and visit to the magnificent gardens and spectacular fountains of opulent Peterhof, czars’ Summer Palace located on the coast of the Finland Gulf. Your evening schedule is free, and you are welcome to join the optional Gala Folklore show excursion, or a ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre, once the private theatre of the Czars.
Uglich
Uglich is one of the oldest Russian towns, and a place of a pilgrimage of Russian Czars. According to a local legend its origin goes back to back to 937. During the guided walking tour you’ll visit the magnificent five domed Transfiguration Cathedral and Church of Czarevich Dmitri on the Blood – build to commemorate the most famous event in the town's history – a mysterious death of the 7-year old Czarevich Dmitri, the last scion of Dimitriy Rurik dynasty. Return to the ship, departure, dinner on board entertainment.
Simbirsk
The birthplace of Vladimir Uljanov, known in the world as Lenin. The city was a Soviet shrine for almost 70 years. The Lenin Memorial Complex includes the house in which he was born and other buildings associated with his life.
Volgograd
Stretching along the Volga River for 43 miles is Volgograd. This thriving center was built as a living monument to the valor and courage of the defenders of Stalingrad during World War II, whose steadfastness created a major turning point of the war.
Yaroslavl
A sightseeing tour of a port town of Yaroslavl will include old city canter, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the beautiful Transfiguration Monastery, dating back to the 16th century. You will also stop at the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet, and have an opportunity to see its famous 13th century frescoes.

* Daily schedule includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and on board entertainment. Optional site seeing and entertainment choice are available for the duration of stay.

** Town and city tour highlights are subject to change without prior notice