In 2012 Silversea are offering two unique opportunities to start or end your cruise in the St Petersburg. This is a very rare opportunity as St Petersburg does not usually feature at the start or end of any Baltic Cruise.

We can tailor make an itinerary to your exact requirements, alternatively join us on our exclusive small group tours that are designed to highlight some of the best in each city.

Moscow & St Petersburg - pre or post cruise:Explore St Petersburg at the peak of the legendary White Nights (Belye Noche) before or after enjoying the elegance of Silversea on board the Silver Whisper. These pre and post cruise options feature three nights in each city. In St Petersburg enjoy two nights at the Taleon Imperial Hotel and one night on board the Silver Whisper. Highlights of the tour include visiting the The Hermitage when it is closed to the public, a tour of Catherine Palace and Peterhof – Russia’s equivalent of Versailles.

Journey between the two cities on the state of the art Sapsan high speed train where you will relax in the comfort of business class and enjoy a meal and refreshments served at your seat as you watch the countryside slide past.

In Moscow we have included three nights at the Ritz Carlton or Royal Marriott Aurora and Exeter touring that includes the expansive grounds of the Kremlin and the rare opportunity to visit the Grand Kremlin Palace, not accessible to the general public.

Day 1

24 June, 2012

St Petersburg

08:00 arrival on the Silver Whisper. At 10:00 your guide will be waiting for your morning departure into the Russian countryside to see two of the city’s most elegant and beautiful palaces- Catherine Palace (formerly Pushkin) and Pavlovsk, in the nearby village of the same name.

Your first stop will be Pavlovsk Palace, built by Paul I and his wife Maria. This is the understated summer palace of the tsars. Started by Catherine the Great’s favorite architect, Cameron (a Scot), the palace was later finished by Paul’s and his wife Maria’s preferred architect, Andrei Voronykhin- a Russian serf who later became one of the greatest architects ever to work in Russia.

You will have lunch today at the restaurant Podvorye. This charming restaurant is made of wood and features lively folk entertainment at lunch.

After lunch you will visit Catherine Palace and its fabled Amber Room. This palace was originally designed in the 1750s in the Rococo style by the famous architect Rastrelli (who also designed many of St Petersburg’s grandest buildings like the Winter Palace, parts of Peterhof, the Stroganoff Palace, and Smolny Cathedral) for the Tsarina (Princess) Elizabeth, who named it after her mother Catherine I – Peter the Great’s second wife. Later, Catherine II (the Great) commissioned the Scottish architect Charles Cameron to re-design the palace’s interiors in the then-fashionable Neo-Classical style. After Catherine the Great’s death, the palace remained largely unchanged for centuries until the Second World War when the Nazi army, retreating after the unsuccessful siege of Leningrad, destroyed the palace almost completely. After the war, the palace was painstakingly rebuilt.

Hotel: Silver Whisper

Meals: Breakfast (Silver Whisper), Lunch, Dinner (Silver Whisper)

Day 2

25 June, 2012

St Petersburg

This morning you will disembark from the Silver Whisper and meet your guide on the pier at 09:30.

Today you will be among the few ever to be allowed into the Hermitage and Winter Palace on a Monday, when it is closed to the public. You will be able to enjoy the collection without the usual summer crowds for a truly extraordinary experience.

Your visit to the Hermitage Museum will take you to another world; a time when Catherine the Great commissioned whole buildings to house an ever growing collection of the world’s finest art. The former Winter Palace now spans just about every artistic period from Greek and Roman collections to Matisse. This museum holds the largest collection of art in the world. Your guide will escort you through the entire museum, from its collection of Rubens to its da Vincis and beyond.

You will have the unique opportunity to see the Peacock clock operating. The clock arrived as a gift to Catherine the Great in 1797 from her lover, Potemkin. Previously the clock was activated once per week, and now is only activated for VIP visitors.

The Hermitage museum is closed on Mondays and special arrangements have been made to open the museum especially for you for a private tour.

This afternoon lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

Later you will visit Peter Paul Fortress: the birthplace of St Petersburg. After walking through the many gates and across the bridges and moats, you can begin to feel the late 18th century era that required such fortification. As Peter’s original outpost against the Swedes, St Petersburg was born from this fortress and its historical significance is felt to this day by the presence of every Romanov tomb from Peter the Great.

Finally today, your guide will take you into St. Isaac’s Cathedral. St. Isaac’s was built between 1818 and 1858 by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand to be one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. During World War II, the golden dome was painted grey to avoid its being targeted by Nazi fire. For those who do not suffer from vertigo, you can climb to the top of the Cathedral’s cupola for great views of St Petersburg.

Check in at the Taleon Imperial Hotel, located on the Nevsky Prospect and within short walking distance to Palace Square and the Hermitage.

Dinner this evening will be at a leading local restaurant.

Hotel: Taleon Imperial

Meals: Breakfast (Silver Whisper), Lunch & Dinner

Day 3

26 June, 2012

St Petersburg

This morning your guide will meet you at 09:00 to take you on another special excursion- to Peter the Great’s summer palace, Peterhof, on a day that it is closed to the general public.

Peterhof Palace (or Petrodvorets in Russian) is often called the Russian Versailles due to the prominence of the gardens and fountains. There are many parts to the palace complex and to view them all, you will need to devote most of the day.

Lunch today is in the historic Orangery of Peterhof Palace opposite the famous Triton fountain. The grandfather of the modern greenhouse, this Orangery served as the palace’s main garden centre and was used as a freeze shelter for the garden’s many orange, apple, and other fruit trees during the harsh Russian winter. Although the café located inside the historic building is not a fine dining restaurant, the buffet style restaurant offers hot soups, rolls, salads and other light cuisine.

If the weather is fine you will transfer back to the city centre by hydrofoil.

Evening is at your own leisure in St Petersburg. Please contact Exeter International if you are interested in attending a performance at the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre (not included in this programme).

Hotel: Taleon Imperial

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4

27 June, 2012

Moscow

Morning, transfer to the rail station for embarkation on the Sapsan high-speed train service to St. Petersburg, Russia’s new bullet train offering the most luxurious and convenient way to travel between the cities (3 hours and 40 minutes). Business class seats have been reserved for you and lunch will be served on board.

Arrival into Moscow and transfer to the Ritz Carlton Hotel Moscow just steps from Red Square.

This afternoon, your guide will take you on an introductory walk of the hotel’s surrounding areas and Red Square. Be sure not to miss the newly rebuilt church and Imperial Gates at the south end of Red Square. They were both destroyed under Stalin and only recently have been rebuilt in their original splendour.

Your guide will also show the stunning St. Basil’s Cathedral. This magnificent cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and was completed in 1561. Rumour has it that Ivan had the architect blinded so he would never be able to design anything as exquisite again! The cathedral is at its most magnificent when viewed from outside and your guide will be happy to explain its history and the significance of its domes, each of which contains a separate chapel.

You may also wish to visit Lenin’s Tomb, which is an experience. Behind his mausoleum, are the tombs of other famous Soviet leaders including Brezhnev, and Andropov, plus writers such as Maxim Gorky and of course the Soviet Union’s most famous cosmonaut – Yuri Gagarin.

Hotel: Ritz Carlton

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch (onboard Sapsan)

Day 5

28 June, 2012

Moscow

This morning your guide will take you to see the famous Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov is located in one of Moscow’s most interesting neighborhoods, Zamoskvoreche (“beyond the Moscow River”), which was originally settled in the 13th century. The small winding streets give this area an almost old-fashioned atmosphere, with historic churches and the mansions of 19th century wealthy merchants.

The Tretyakov Gallery is situated in the former home of Pavel Tretyakov. Your guide will take you through the museum, which houses only Russian artists - from Andrei Rublev’s icons to famous Russian painters of the 20th century.

After your tour of the gallery, your guide has arranged for a visit to the adjoining private chapel of the Tretyakov family, the Church of St. Nicholas. This small, intimate chapel is where the entire family of the wealthy Russian merchant and art collector would attend private services. Here, you will have the chance to see Russia’s most venerated icon, The Theotokos of Vladimir. This icon was a gift of the patriarch of Constantinople to the Grand Prince of Russia in 1132.

To the south of the city lie a number of fortified monasteries, built to defend the city against the Mongols. The most spectacular of them is Novodevichy Convent, constructed in the 16th century. This serene sanctuary houses the convent’s fascinating cemetery with the graves of many famous Russians, from cultural figures to political and military dignitaries.

Your next stop today will be Moscow’s Museum of Cosmonautics, a museum that brings to life the history of Soviet and Russian space exploration. The museum is located at the base of the impressive Monument to the Conquerors of Space, which is some 350 feet high and covered with titanium.

Hotel: Ritz Carlton

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 6

29 June, 2012

Moscow

Today, your guide will take you into the Kremlin and through its expansive grounds.

This morning your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and will take you to see the Kremlin, (meaning citadel) including the armoury, diamond vaults and the expansive grounds. Here you will see the largest bell in the world – as well as the largest canon. Neither was ever used due to their enormous size.

The Armoury Museum - including its vast collection of Imperial Russian artwork. You will have the opportunity to see the greatest collection of Faberge Imperial Easter Eggs and many of the most important Imperial thrones and crowns, including the most historic, Cap of Monomachus.

Diamond Vaults - you will see Catherine the Great’s sceptre with its famous Orlov Diamond and one of the largest collections of diamonds and gem stones in the world.

Lunch will be included today near the Kremlin.

Exeter International Extraordinary Experience

Home to the Tsars for 200 years, the Faceted Palace and Terem is now used by the Russian President to entertain foreign dignitaries at the highest level. No palace in Russia s more opulent and following a $300million renovation, the glorious rooms of the Faceted Palace and Terem have never looked more beautiful. The Faceted Palace and Terem are strictly closed to the general public. Please note that special permission and security clearance is required for this visit. Your passport details will need to be sent to Kremlin authorities at least one month prior to your visit. This excursion cannot be moved to another time once it is confirmed.

Special note: All touring today is on foot. Please wear comfortable shoes.

Hotel: Ritz Carlton

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7

30 June, 2012

Moscow

Your driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

---

Your Itinerary Includes:

Ritz Carlton Moscow & Taleon Imperial St Petersburg

£2,900.00 per person, double occupancy. Single Supplement: £870.00

Marriott Royal Aurora Moscow & Taleon Imperial St Petersburg

£2,580.00 per person, double occupancy. Single Supplement: £645.00

Moscow

One Superior Double for three (3) nights at the Ritz Carlton Moscow or Marriott Aurora Moscow; Tax (18%) and buffet breakfast included daily.

St Petersburg

One (1) Superior Room for Two (2) nights at the Taleon Imperial; tax (18%) and buffet breakfast daily included.

Meals

Meals are included only where noted. Breakfast is included every day at your hotel or onboard the Silver Whisper and includes the buffet breakfast in the main restaurant. Room service items will be charged separately. All meals other than breakfast will feature a set menu and will offer coffee, tea and mineral water as beverages. No alcoholic beverages, soft drinks or speciality coffees are included in the cost, unless noted, and they must be paid locally.

Services

Vehicle, Driver and Guide services as described in the programme. Please note that any extra services that you might wish to add will be charged additionally.

Sightseeing

Every effort has been made to confirm that scheduled sightseeing venues will be open at the time we plan to visit them. However, individual estates, museums, gardens and other points of interest can change their hours of operation at short notice. In the event that a particular attraction is closed on the day or time of your visit, our guide will offer alternative arrangements or rearrange our sightseeing to accommodate these unexpected events. All tours will be in a maximum group size of 20.

Transfers

All transfers to and from airports and rail stations are included in the programme.

Guides

Hand chosen for their knowledge on local history, art & architecture.

Tickets

All museum tickets as described.

Not Included:

Theatre

We will advise the programme nearer the time, once performances are announced. Please let us know if you wish to book tickets.

Flights

No flights are included. Please let us know if you wish to include.

Visas

Individual visas are required of ALL guests on this programme, as well as passengers who are just taking the Silversea cruise to or from St Petersburg. No blanket visa will cover arrivals or departures from the airports of Russia, so an individual visa will be needed for all guests on this Silversea cruise. We can advise on all aspects of obtaining your Russian visa.

Please note that your passport will have to be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of travel and you will need to have two blank pages available.

Insurance

It is a booking condition that every passenger holds adequate travel insurance cover for a holiday booked with us.

For more information please call us on 020 8956 2756 or email us at enquiries@exeterinternational.co.uk