Luxury Russian River Cruise from Exeter International

The MS Volga Dream was originally built for 200 passengers, but has been completely renovated to accommodate just over 100. Cabins are spacious and luxurious, with individually-controlled air-conditioning and heating.

For more on why the Volga Dream is our favourite way to enjoy a Russian River cruise

Guest accommodation is located across four levels, including deluxe cabins and suites on the two upper decks. All cabins have outside views, flat screen televisions, minibar, direct dial telephone, plus bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer, bathroom accessories, welcome fruit basket, bottled water and champagne.

The standard of service on board the MS Volga Dream is outstanding. Vladimir Esakov, the owner, hand picks the staff personally and it shows. The Volga Dream has a very personal touch and each passenger is made to feel individual.

The quality of food is excellent with buffet breakfast and lunches and a plated A la Carte served in the evening.Unlimited complimentary wine and beer is served with dinner.

Facilities include a lounge bar, Sun Deck bar plus sauna, fitness centre, hairdresser, library and boutique. Activities onboard range from cooking classes to language lessons to Vodka tasting. Read our blog to find out more about Volga Dream activities.

Luxury Russian River Cruise-The Itinerary

The Volga River is the linchpin of a single water system linking Moscow - St Petersburg to five separate seas. For the traveller, the Volga is a key to grasping Russia’s insistent mystery- a cruise on the river revealing the jewels and the scars of centuries past. In partially visible towns flooded by the Soviets, cathedrals rise from the water eerily intact. Medieval Orthodox monasteries are still in use onthe riverbanks. Otters, herons, and bald eagle give life and motion to the passing scene. Revealing the “real Russia,” a cruise down the Volga River, the country’s lifeblood, offers a rare glimpse into Russia’s colourful past and enterprising future.

Day 1 LONDON - ST PETERSBURG

Departure from London Heathrow terminal five at 09:30 on British Airways BA878. Arrival in St Petersburg at 15:45, (+3 hour BST). Your driver will be waiting for you just outside of customs, after you pick up your luggage and will be holding an Exeter International sign for identification.

Arrival at the historic Hotel Angleterre, located in the centre of the city, where you will check into your room. Evening at leisure.

Transfer Only

Accommodation: Angleterre Hotel

Meals Included: In-flight meal

Day 2 ST PETERSBURG

This morning our guide will take us to Palace Square. Our visit to the Hermitage Museum will take us to another world; a time when Catherine the Great commissioned whole buildings to house an ever growing collection of the world’s finest art. This museum holds the largest collection of art in the world. Our guide will escort you through the entire museum, from its collection of Rubens to its da Vincis and beyond.

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Half day of Touring

Hotel: Angleterre Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 ST PETERSBURG

This morning please meet in the reception area. You may leave your baggage outside your cabin for a cabin attendant to bring down to reception. Today we will head out to Peter the Great’s summer palace, Peterhof, to see first-hand the palace’s countless fountains and gardens. Peterhof Palace (or Petrodvorets in Russian) is often called the Russian Versailles due to the prominence of the gardens and fountains. The view from the palace through the grand colonnade of fountains to the Baltic Sea is one of the true masterpieces of Russian artistry. This stately palace overlooks the gardens and smaller palaces, as well as the Baltic Sea.

This afternoon after lunch at a local restaurant we will enjoy a city tour to get us acquainted with Peter the Great’s “Venice of the North.” We will begin at the Peter Paul Fortress: the birthplace of St Petersburg. 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. On the other side of the fortress you can see the dark side of the reign of the Romanov tsars: the Imperial prison. The dark, cold halls of the prison that housed everyone from Peter the Great’s first son to many of the Bolshevik revolutionaries, contrasts starkly against the gilded church of the Romanov royal family.

You will also see the famous Bronze Horseman statue of Peter the Great, Church on Spilled Blood, the Strelka (the spit in the centre of the Neva River, overlooking the Winter Palace), the first stock exchange, and many stately palaces and of course, the grand Nevsky Prospect, the main avenue of the city.

Full Day Guide, Vehicle & Driver

Accommodation: Volga Dream

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 ST PETERSBURG Today we will drive out to the Russian countryside to see one of the city’s most elegant and beautiful palaces – Catherine Palace.

Afternoon departure for the river port to board the Volga Dream. Your cabin key will be issued to you at the reception of the boat as you board. Once onboard the ship, you will have time to settle into you cabin and explore before dinner this evening.

Day 5 MANDROGI Today after lunch, we will enjoy free time in the village of Mandrogi. The town is a recreation of a traditional Russian village complete with old wooden houses and villagers handcrafting matryoshka dolls, lace and ceramics.

Accommodation: The Volga Dream

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 KIZHI ISLAND

Our riverboat next takes us by the way of the Volga-Baltic Waterway to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of Lake Onega. We will visit the Open-Air Museum with traditional culture of Russians in Zaonejie. Next we will have a walking tour visiting Architectural ensemble; House of Schepin and Elizarov; Chapel of Michael Archangel; Church of Lasar Resurrection and the Church of Pokrov.

Shore Excursion

Accommodation: The Volga Dream

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 GORITZY

As we continue our journey, we will enjoy the breathtaking scenery as we sail through the White Lake and through the Volga-Baltic Canal. The canal was constructed by those who were political prisoners during the Stalin regime. When we arrive in Goritzy we will visit the historic Kiril-Beloserskiy Men’s Monastery founded in 1397. Here we will discover its rich history and magnificent architecture.

Shore Excursion

Accommodation: The Volga Dream

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 YAROSLAVL

Yaroslavl is a large river port stretching along the banks of the Volga River. Yaroslav Mudry (the Wise) founded the city in 1010. It was a large centre of trade and crafts in the 17th century. It is famous all over Russia for its textiles in the old tradition.

Yaroslavl belongs to the “Golden Ring” cities of Russia and it’s one of the largest centres of Russian architecture and arts of the 13th - 17th centuries. Today we will tour this city’s historical and architectural monuments.

Shore Excursion

Accommodation: The Volga Dream

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 UGLICH

Today, upon arrival in Uglich we will enjoy a walking tour of this charming town. Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia. As we approach the town by river, the view of the town is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John’s Church looming on the horizon. This delightful town retains much of its original charm in the form of historic wooden architecture and elegant cathedrals, including the famed Tsarevitch Church that was built in memory of Ivan the Terrible’s son, who died mysteriously on this site.

Shore Excursion

Accommodation: The Volga Dream

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 MOSCOW

This morning please meet in the reception area. You may leave your baggage outside your cabin for a cabin attendant to bring down to reception.

This morning we will meet our Moscow guide for a walking tour of the Kremlin through its expansive grounds. Here we will see the largest bell in the world – as well as the largest canon. Neither were ever used due to their enormous size.

Later, our guide will take us to the Armoury Museum, including its vast collection of Imperial Russian artwork. We will have the opportunity to see the Kremlin’s unique and intimate collection of Imperial Faberge Easter Eggs. Also in the Armoury are many of the most important Imperial thrones and crowns, including the most historic, Cap of Monomachus.

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.Check in to the Royal Marriott Aurora.

Half Day Touring

Hotel: Royal Marriott Aurora

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch Box

Day 11 MOSCOW

This morning our guide will take us through the Tretyakov Gallery, which houses only Russian artists - from Andrei Rublev’s icons to famous 20th Century Russian painters. A must for the first time visitor the vast gallery houses a fine collection of Russian art - icons, mosaics, paintings and sculpture dating from medieval times to the 19th century. Founded by Pavel Tretyakov, a 19th-century industrialist and art collector, the gallery is based in his mansion on the south side of the river.

This afternoon after lunch at a local restaurant we will meet our guide for a walking tour through Red Square. Our guide will show us the stunning St. Basil’s Cathedral. This magnificent church-museum 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.

Today our guide will take us into the enormous and only recently completed Christ the Holy Redeemer Cathedral. This church was demolished under Stalin’s rule and completely rebuilt by Mayor Luzhkov of Moscow in 2001- at the budget of over $350 million. It is a beautiful cathedral and it now stands as it did at the turn of the 20th Century.

We will have a brief overview driving tour of the city before driving to the south the city to Novodevichy Cemetery housing the graves of many famous Russians, from cultural figures to political and military dignitaries.

Full Day of Touring

Accommodation: Royal Marriott Aurora

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 12 MOSCOW- LONDON

Please check out of the hotel and meet your driver in the lobby for your transfer to the airport for your BA departure to London at 17:15 arriving 18:20.

Transfer Only

Meals Included: Breakfast, In-flight meal

Cruise upgrade supplements on request

Volga Dream River Cruise - Your Itinerary Includes

Accommodation

St Petersburg

Double room for three (3) nights at the Angleterre Hotel in St Petersburg

The Waterways

Standard Cabin on Cabin Deck for six (6) nights on the Volga Dream. Port taxes and all meals on ship (breakfast, lunch and dinner daily) included, wine included with meals; water complimentary.

Moscow

Double room for two (2) nights at the Royal Marriott Aurora; Tax (18%) and Buffet Breakfast included daily.

Flights

Return flights with British Airways airlines included in Economy.Please note that at certain times of the year flight supplements may be applicable.

Services

Touring services as described in your itinerary. All touring services are operated by and arranged by the Volga Dream and touring is with other cruise guests.

Transfers

All transfers to and from the airport are included in the programme provided you are arriving and departing the same days as the cruise begins and ends. If you are arriving earlier or departing later, Exeter can arrange transfers for an additional charge. Unless otherwise noted, all transfer service is with a driver only, not a guide. In general, drivers have extremely limited English-speaking skills. Should you wish to have an English-speaking guide for your transfer, please inquire for the additional cost.

Guides

All guide services are arranged by the Volga Dream.

Tickets

All museum and entrance tickets as described in the programme.

Not Included

Visas

A visa is required for entry into Russia. We can handle all aspects of obtaining your visa.

Currently the cost of a visa is £76.40 plus a £50.00 handling fee.

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

Travel Insurance is a condition of booking.

Gratuities

Although not compulsory are always welcome.

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