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Imperial Waterways of Russia

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Imperial Waterways of Russia

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Discover the passion and grandeur of Russian history, art and culture The imperial cities, grand artistic treasures and spectacular architecture of Russia await your arrival. From the glittering metropolises of St. Petersburg and Moscow to the timeless towns along the Golden Ring, you’ll experience Russia in all its glory and splendour.

Explore the dichotomy of Moscow—rich with monuments to both 15th-century tsars and 20th-century communist leaders. Stand in awe of the massive Kremlin complex, oniondomed St. Basil’s Cathedral and the extravagant Moscow metro system.

See some of Russia’s vast and beautiful countryside as well as its delightful small towns, where locals still engage in traditional crafts. Cruise along the Golden Ring to some of Russia’s most beautiful cities, including Uglich and Yaroslavl, which are known for their white-stone churches and gorgeous monasteries. Be amazed by Kizhi Island’s UNESCO-designated Transfiguration Church, a wooden structure built entirely without the use of nails.

And uncover regal St. Petersburg, which boasts art-laden galleries and museums, fabled canals and elegant architecture from a wide variety of eras.

What’s Included:

  • An all-inclusive, boutique 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on River Victoria
  • All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
  • 32 Meals included
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
  • Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
  • Soft drinks, wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, and mineral water
  • 18 Excursions, including 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites
  • Guided “Do as the Locals Do” in Mandrogi & Kixhi Island
  • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
  • Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
  • All transfers on arrival and departure days
  • All gratuities, both onboard and onshore
  • Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture: “The Seine River in Impressionist Paintings”
  • Onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
  • All gratuities onboard and ashore
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Dinners
  • Transfers to and from the ship
  • Flights or Eurostar from the UK
Day 1 - Moscow

Arrive at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

Dinner

Day 2 - Moscow

If Russia is “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” as Churchill famously said, then Moscow presents an intriguing starting point for cultural discovery. See the city’s most iconic sights (as well as some under-the-radar secrets) with a savvy local expert, both above ground and below. Glamorous, grand, gorgeous and sometimes maddening, Moscow is Russia’s principal city. Founded in 1156, it was the capital of the medieval nation. Moscow lost its status as capital to St. Petersburg under Peter the Great, but it never lost its significance to Russia, and it has reestablished its dominance over the nation’s culture, politics and economy during the past century.

Day 2 - Moscow

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 - Moscow

Adventures await with a whole day in Moscow to explore on your own. Spend the day in Moscow exploring on your own. Return to yesterday’s favorite sites or discover new treasures in this world-class city. You could visit the Pushkin Literary Museum to learn more about Russia’s most famous poet or tour one of the houses in which Leo Tolstoy lived. Perhaps you’d like to take a stroll along Kuznetsky Most, which for centuries has hosted Moscow’s most fashionable shops. Shuttles will run from the ship to the city center for your convenience.

Day 3 - Moscow

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - Cruising the Moscow Canal and Volga River, Uglich

On today’s excursion to a beautiful Golden Ring city deep in the Russian countryside, you’ll encounter the scene of a centuries-old murder mystery that has become the stuff of legend. While cruising through the 80-mile (128-kilometer) Moscow Canal, you’ll get your first glimpse of rural Russia on your way to Uglich. The canal links the Moskva with the Volga, and its banks near Moscow are lined with bucolic recreation areas that locals enjoy in the summer months. Heading north on the Volga, you’ll come to one of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring, as the group of towns that played significant roles in Russian history are known. As you approach the delightful and picturesque town of Uglich in the afternoon, be prepared for a panorama of magnificent architectural monuments. Choice of Uglich “Do as the Locals Do” tour or Walking discovery tour with Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood

Day 4 - Cruising the Moscow Canal and Volga River, Uglich

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 -Yaroslavl, Cruising Lake Rybinsk

Credit for Yaroslavl’s well-designed, UNESCO-protected city center goes to none other than Catherine the Great, who was even more than a mighty Russian ruler—she was a forward-thinking urban planner as well. Visit an Orthodox church and a lively market, then kick back aboard a scenic lake cruise. Often called the “Russian Florence” and considered one of Russia’s most beautiful cities of the Golden Ring, Yaroslavl stretches for miles along the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosi rivers. Featured Excursion: Yaroslavl city tour

Day 5 -Yaroslavl, Cruising Lake Rybinsk

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Goritsy (Kirillov), Cruising Lake Onega

Beyond Russia’s major cities lies a completely different world—the fabled land of Mother Russia, celebrated for centuries in art, songs and great works of literature. Explore two rural villages today for an authentic and unforgettable glimpse of everyday life in a Russian provence. Two tiny villages are your destination today. Goritsy, a farming settlement on the Sheksna River, and Kirillov, which may be small but has extraordinary churches linked to the tsars. Choice of A visit to Saint Cyrill on the White Lake Monastery or Goritsy “Village Day”

Day 6 - Goritsy (Kirillov), Cruising Lake Onega

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Kizhi Island, Cruising the Svir River

To approach the wooden Church of Transfiguration from the water, with its multitude of shingled onion domes and unmistakable silhouette, can be, well, a transformative experience. Step ashore for an up-close view of this incredible church—built without a single nail—and explore the island’s famous open-air museum and its 89 traditional wooden structures. Kizhi Island, which seemingly floats between sky and water in the midst of Lake Onega, is home to one of Russia’s iconic sights, the all-wood Church of Transfiguration. Choice of “Let’s Go” village and island nature hike or Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture

Day 7 - Kizhi Island, Cruising the Svir River

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Cruising the Svir River, Mandrogi, Cruising Lake Ladoga

Travel back in time to the 19th century at a reconstructed Russian village populated by talented artisans who make handmade items using old-world materials and techniques. Other highlights today include a rustic shashlik picnic lunch onshore and a cruise on a pristine freshwater lake. A reconstructed village on the shore of the Svir River, Mandrogi illustrates the traditions and lifestyles of Russia’s past. Choice of Mandrogi “Village Day” walking tour with shashlik picnic lunch ashore or Exploring crafts stores and watching artisans at work or “Let’s Go” village hike

Day 8 - Cruising the Svir River, Mandrogi, Cruising Lake Ladoga

Breakfast< Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 - St Petersburg

With its grand Italian architectures and austere Nordic setting, St. Petersburg is a city of canals, palaces and cathedrals that presents a glorious juxtaposition of East and West. See the sights by land as well as water, then experience an art form that is quintessentially Russian—an evening at the ballet. The brainchild of Peter the Great, St. Petersburg was built on 42 islands on the Neva delta, in what was essentially a swamp. The tsar lavished on it all the might, ambition and money at his disposal, importing the finest architects from Italy, the greatest decorative artists and the most celebrated painters: The result is an extraordinarily beautiful city. Featured Excursion: Russian ballet performance Choice of Glorious Saint Petersburg: panoramic highlights tour & canal cruise or St. Petersburg “Do as the Locals Do” tour with canal cruise and Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood visit

Day 9 - St Petersburg

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 - St Petersburg

Spend your last day in St. Petersburg at what many experts consider the finest art museum in the world, the legendary Hermitage, a former residence of the tsars that’s now home to a massive and mind-boggling collection of priceless works of art. Your final day in St. Petersburg finds you with an appropriately imperial excursion: a guided tour through the world-famous Hermitage Museum. It is the crown jewel of the city and is located in the former home of the tsars, the Winter Palace. Featured Excursion: Hermitage Museum A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 11 - St Petersburg

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 - St Petersburg (Disembark)

You have sampled culinary delights, explored history and experienced the best of life along the Volga River. Now the journey comes to a close and it’s time to disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Pulkovo International Airport for your flight home. Your Uniworld adventure may be over, but we know you’ll enjoy the memories you’ve made for years to come.

Breakfast

Day 1 - St Petersburg (Embark)

Arrive at Pulkovo International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

Dinner

Day 2 - St Petersburg

With its grand Italian architectures and austere Nordic setting, St. Petersburg is a city of canals, palaces and cathedrals that presents a glorious juxtaposition of East and West. See the sights by land as well as water, then experience an art form that is quintessentially Russian—an evening at the ballet. The brainchild of Peter the Great, St. Petersburg was built on 42 islands on the Neva delta, in what was essentially a swamp. The tsar lavished on it all the might, ambition and money at his disposal, importing the finest architects from Italy, the greatest decorative artists and the most celebrated painters: The result is an extraordinarily beautiful city.

Day 2 - St Petersburg

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 - St Petersburg

Spend your day in St. Petersburg at what many experts consider the finest art museum in the world, the legendary Hermitage, a former residence of the tsars that’s now home to a massive and mind-boggling collection of priceless works of art. Your final day in St. Petersburg finds you with an appropriately imperial excursion: a guided tour through the world-famous Hermitage Museum. It is the crown jewel of the city and is located in the former home of the tsars, the Winter Palace. Featured Excursion: Hermitage Museum A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 3 - St Petersburg

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - St Petersburg

Cross the threshold of the summer residence of the tsars—the lavishly decorated Catherine Palace—where you’ll see opulent staterooms and the near mythic Amber Room, meticulously restored to its former glory. Dine on traditional Russian fare at a local restaurant, then spend the rest of the day exploring on your own. On your second day in St. Petersburg, you’ll enjoy a guided tour through splendid Catherine Palace and Park. Once the summer residence of the tsars, it is a masterwork of rococo architecture. Then, spend the rest of your day on your own exploring more of this beautiful city or join a tour to Peterhof Gardens—a treat for anyone interested in landscape design. Featured Excursion: Catherine Palace and Park in Pushkin

Day 4 - St Petersburg

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Cruising Lake Ladoga, Mandrogi, Cruising the Svir River

Travel back in time to the 19th century at a reconstructed Russian village populated by talented artisans who make handmade items using old-world materials and techniques. Other highlights today include a rustic shashlik picnic lunch onshore and a cruise on a pristine freshwater lake. A reconstructed village on the shore of the Svir River, Mandrogi illustrates the traditions and lifestyles of Russia’s past. Choice of Exploring crafts stores and watching artisans at work or “Let’s Go” village hike or Mandrogi “Village Day” walking tour with shashlik picnic lunch ashore Your ship cruises along the southern shores of Lake Ladoga, a vast freshwater inland sea that was once connected to the Baltic Sea. Islands dot the water while forested nature preserves and beaches line the shores. Relax and enjoy the scenery.

Day 5 - Cruising Lake Ladoga, Mandrogi, Cruising the Svir River

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Kizhi Island

To approach the wooden Church of Transfiguration from the water, with its multitude of shingled onion domes and unmistakable silhouette, can be, well, a transformative experience. Step ashore for an up-close view of this incredible church—built without a single nail—and explore the island’s famous open-air museum and its 89 traditional wooden structures. Kizhi Island, which seemingly floats between sky and water in the midst of Lake Onega, is home to one of Russia’s iconic sights, the all-wood Church of Transfiguration. Choice of “Let’s Go” village and island nature hike or Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture

Day 6 - Kizhi Island

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Goritsy (Kirillov)

Beyond Russia’s major cities lies a completely different world—the fabled land of Mother Russia, celebrated for centuries in art, songs and great works of literature. Explore two rural villages today for an authentic and unforgettable glimpse of everyday life in a Russian provence. Two tiny villages are your destination today. Goritsy, a farming settlement on the Sheksna River, and Kirillov, which may be small but has extraordinary churches linked to the tsars. Choice of Goritsy “Village Day” or A visit to Saint Cyrill on the White Lake Monastery

Day 7 - Goritsy (Kirillov)

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Cruising Lake Rybinsk, Yaroslavl

Relax onboard the ship as you travel across Lake Rybinsk, formed in 1941 between the upper Volga River and its tributaries. At the time of its construction, it was the largest man-made body of water on earth. Arrive in Yaroslavl. Often called the “Russian Florence” and considered one of Russia’s most beautiful cities of the Golden Ring, Yaroslavl stretches for miles along the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosi rivers. Credit for Yaroslavl’s well-designed, UNESCO-protected city center goes to none other than Catherine the Great, who was even more than a mighty Russian ruler—she was a forward-thinking urban planner as well. Visit an Orthodox church and a lively market. Featured Excursion: Yaroslavl city tour

Day 8 - Cruising Lake Rybinsk, Yaroslavl

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 - Uglich

Heading south on the Volga, you’ll come to one of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring, as the group of towns that played significant roles in Russian history are known. As you approach the delightful and picturesque town of Uglich in the afternoon, be prepared for a panorama of magnificent architectural monuments. Choice of Uglich “Do as the Locals Do” tour or Walking discovery tour with Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood

Day 9 - Uglich

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 - Moscow

If Russia is “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” as Churchill famously said, then Moscow presents an intriguing starting point for cultural discovery. See the city’s most iconic sights (as well as some under-the-radar secrets) with a savvy local expert, both above ground and below. Glamorous, grand, gorgeous and sometimes maddening, Moscow is Russia’s principal city. Founded in 1156, it was the capital of the medieval nation. Moscow lost its status as capital to St. Petersburg under Peter the Great, but it never lost its significance to Russia, and it has reestablished its dominance over the nation’s culture, politics and economy during the past century.

Day 10 - Moscow

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 - Moscow

Adventures await with a whole day in Moscow to explore on your own. Spend the day in Moscow exploring on your own. Return to yesterday’s favorite sites or discover new treasures in this world-class city. You could visit the Pushkin Literary Museum to learn more about Russia’s most famous poet or tour one of the houses in which Leo Tolstoy lived. Perhaps you’d like to take a stroll along Kuznetsky Most, which for centuries has hosted Moscow’s most fashionable shops. Shuttles will run from the ship to the city center for your convenience. A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 11 - Moscow

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 - Moscow (Disembark)

You have sampled culinary delights, explored history and experienced the best of life along the Volga River. Now the journey comes to a close and it’s time to disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport for your flight home. Your Uniworld adventure may be over, but we know you’ll enjoy the memories you’ve made for years to come.

Breakfast

River Victoria’s elegant décor was thoughtfully designed to provide our guests with all the comforts of home during a grand tour of Russia’s imperial cities and timeless landscapes. From Moscow to St. Petersburg, travel in style and comfort as you follow in the footsteps of Peter the Great down the Volga, Neva, and Svir rivers, Russia’s most legendary and scenic waterways. Note: Cruising in Russia is a wonderful experience, and while the River Victoria is a lovely and comfortable ship, its amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship. Butler service is not available on this ship.

Onboard Features & Facilities

  • 91 lavishly decorated outside staterooms most with French balconies
  • 10 Suites
  • Sun deck with panoramic views
  • Lounge with full-service bar
  • Fitness center
  • Free Internet
  • Library
  • Serenity River Spa
  • 24 hour coffee and Tea Station
  • Elevator
  • Boutique*

Suites & Staterooms

As you sip your morning coffee, admire the sun rising from your picture window or balcony. And look forward to getting ready for your day in a luxurious marble bathroom stocked with Luxury products, plush towels, and soft robes.

  • Private Bathrooms, L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, soft bathrobes, and slippers
  • Hotel Bed with fine linen
  • Pillow Choice
  • Individual climate control
  • Telephone, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
  • Flat-screen TV infotainment centre and satellite
  • Bottled water daily

Royal Suite

409 ft² – Volga (Upper) Deck

  • Full balcony
  • Spacious living room with sofas, table and chair
  • large bathroom with bath, shower & WC
  • Private Bathrooms, L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, soft bathrobes, and slippers
  • Hotel Bed with fine linen
  • Pillow Choice
  • Individual climate control
  • Telephone, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
  • Flat-screen TV infotainment centre and satellite
  • Bottled water daily

Grand Suite

334ft² -Volga (Upper) Deck

  • Full balcony
  • Spacious living room with sofas, table and chair
  • Bathroom with, shower & WC
  • Private Bathrooms, L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, soft bathrobes, and slippers
  • Hotel Bed with fine linen
  • Pillow Choice
  • Individual climate control
  • Telephone, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
  • Flat-screen TV infotainment centre and satellite
  • Bottled water daily

Deluxe Suite

269 ft² – Volga & Neva (Upper, Middle) Deck

  • Full balcony
  • Spacious living room with sofas, table and chair
  • Bathroom with shower & WC
  • Private Bathrooms, L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, soft bathrobes, and slippers
  • Hotel Bed with fine linen
  • Pillow Choice
  • Individual climate control
  • Telephone, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
  • Flat-screen TV infotainment centre and satellite
  • Bottled water daily

Deluxe Balcony

210 ft² – Volga & Neva (Upper & Middle) Deck

  • Full balcony
  • Table and chair
  • large bathroom with shower & WC
  • Private Bathrooms, L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, soft bathrobes, and slippers
  • Hotel Bed with fine linen
  • Pillow Choice
  • Individual climate control
  • Telephone, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
  • Flat-screen TV infotainment centre and satellite
  • Bottled water daily

Classic

135 ft² – Neva & Moskva (Middle & Lower) Deck

  • Riverview Windovw
  • Bathroom with shower & WC
  • Private Bathrooms, L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, soft bathrobes, and slippers
  • Hotel Bed with fine linen
  • Pillow Choice
  • Individual climate control
  • Telephone, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
  • Flat-screen TV infotainment centre and satellite
  • Bottled water daily

For our latest prices & availability please call 0800 471 4754



IMPORTANT INFORMATION VISA REQUIRED A Russian Visa must be arranged in advance, for an approximate cost of £240 per person. Please note that current Russian visa regulations require a personal visit to the Russian Embassy in either London, Edinburgh or Manchester to complete the application process, which is at your own cost*. *The cost and process to obtain a Russian tourist visa can change at any time, please contact the Russian Embassy to confirm the full details.


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