May 2011
Tuesday 10 Auckland – London
Depart Auckland on an Air New Zealand flight via Los Angeles.
Wednesday 11 London
Arrive London and transfer to your centrally situated hotel for an overnight stay.
Thursday 12 London – Moscow B
Today is a free day to 6pm. Transfer to the airport for a late evening overnight British Midland flight to Moscow.
Friday 13 Moscow - Perm D
Arrive Moscow in the early morning and transfer to a Siberian Air flight to Perm.
Arrive Perm situated at the foot of the Ural Mountains on the Kama River. Transfer to the M/S Korotkov for the start of the twelve-day river cruise.
An orientation and information meeting will be followed by dinner.
Saturday 14 Perm B L D
The morning tour of this city of over one million which was closed to the outside world until 1992, as it is the production centre of the Russian MIG Jet Fighters. See the 18th century baroque Peter and Paul Cathedral, visit the Art Gallery and paintings by famous Russian artists.
Return to the ship for lunch and set sail.
This afternoon meet the crew and enjoy a champagne party before dinner.
Sunday 15 Tchaikovsky and Votkinsk BLD
Dock in the city of Tchaikovsky and enjoy an excursion to Votkinsk – the birthplace of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky. Included is a piano concert – perhaps hear Piano Concerto No.1 played in his birthplace!
Return to the ship (35 kms) for lunch then continue sailing to Kazan. The first of the onboard lectures is this afternoon.
Monday 16 Kazan B L D
This morning on board activities. After lunch dock at Kazan and depart on an included city tour. Kazan was founded in the 13th century and is the capital of the autonomous Tatar Republic.
Continue sailing to Cheboksary. After dinner the onboard folklore group perform
Tuesday 17 Cheboksary B L D
Cheboksary is the capital of Chuvashia, a sovereign republic of the Russian Federation in the Upper Volga. The Chuvash people speak their own language (of Turkish origin) as their ancestors were Hunnish Bulguars and Suars.
The city sightseeing tour will include the city centre, the monastery of the Holy Trinity, the embankment and pedestrian mall.
Continue sailing to Nizhniy Novgorod.
Tonight after dinner, enjoy a Jazz concert.
Wednesday 18 Nizhniy Novgorod B L D
This beautiful city on the confluence of the Volga and Oka Rivers was closed to foreigners until 1992. Founded in 1221, in 1932 was renamed Gorky after writer Maxim Gorky. Under the Soviet regime, it was a place of internal exile for atom physicist Andrei Sakharov and other dissidents.
The city tour will include highlights of the town.
Set sail at lunchtime.
Thursday 19 Plyos and Kostroma B L D
A walking tour of Plyos will include the historical centre and the highlight is a visit to the art gallery. Continue sailing to Kostroma, one of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring and a highlight of the cruise. Kostroma is the only Russian city retaining the classical layout of the 18 / 19th centuries with streets and boulevards facing out like spokes of a wheel from a central square.
A late evening departure for Yaroslavl.
Friday 20 Yaroslavl B L D
The ship is docked all day in this important part of the Volga River which in 2010, celebrated its 1000 years anniversary. This morning’s coach tour incudes a concert of Russian spiritual music by a choir in the cathedral.
The afternoon walk is to the Yaroslavl Museum (10 mins) located in the former Governor’s House. The visit concludes with a champagne party and a short classical concert in the former ballroom.
Free time in the city before dinner on board and sailing to Uglich.
Saturday 21 Uglich B L D
This morning’s city tour is on foot. The city was founded in 1148 and is one of the most beloved in Old Russia. Continue sailing after lunch.
Tonight is the Captain’s Farewell Gala Dinner.
Sunday 22 Moscow B L D
This morning relax on board and prepare for the arrival into Moscow after lunch. Moscow is the capital of Russia, a modern metropolis of 10 million people, filled with imperial history and architectural splendour.
This afternoon’s panoramic tour includes Red Square, St Basils Cathedral with its colourful and ornate onion domes, The Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre. Included is the Armoury Museum – the treasury of the Tsars.
After dinner an optional “Moscow by Night,” tour.
Monday 23 Moscow B L D
This morning the cruise director will escort the group on a tour of the famous Moscow Metro with free time in the city centre.
Lunch boxes provided.
This evening join an optional performance of the world famous Moscow Circus.
Tuesday 24 Moscow – St Petersburg B D
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight to St Petersburg. On arrival transfer to your first class hotel.
St Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities of the world – situated in the delta of the River Neva and the Gulf of Finland – known as the Venice of the North. It now has a population of five million.
Wednesday 25 St Petersburg B L
This morning’s panoramic city tour will include all the major sights. Lunch is at a local restaurant in the city.
The afternoon is at the Hermitage.
Thursday 26 St Petersburg B L
Today is Palace Day. The first is St Catherine’s Palace with its incomparable Amber Room.
Lunch is at a local restaurant. Continue to Peterhoff, Peter the Great’s Summer Palace renowned for its gardens and fountains.
Friday 27 St Petersburg – Tallinn (Estonia) B L
Today meet a new guide for the journey to the border with Estonia and travel onto Tallinn for a two-night stay in a hotel within walking distance of the “Old Town”.
Saturday 28 Tallinn B D
This morning’s city tour includes a coach tour of the city area and a walking tour of “Old Town”. The afternoon is free to explore independently and this evening dinner is Medieval style at Olde Hansa.
Sunday 29 Tallinn – Helsinki (Finland) B D
Today travel by ferry to Helsinki (two hours). On arrival transfer to a centrally-located hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Monday 30 Helsinki
A morning city tour of Helsinki will include the neo classic Senate Square, the cave church, Uspenski domed Cathedral and Suomenlinna. The afternoon is free to perhaps take a design walking tour, a boat tour or shopping.
Tuesday 31 Helsinki – London
Transfer to the airport for your flight on British Midland to London and change planes to Air New Zealand for the flight via Honk Kong to Auckland.
June 2011
Thursday 02 Auckland
Arrive Auckland
NOTE
If you wish to leave the tour in Moscow on 24 May or St Petersburg 27 May - please ask for the cost.