Cruise in Russia
In August ’03, my husband and I took a wonderful 12-day trip to Russia with Lexcorp Cruise & Tour Marketing (3401 Investment Blvd., Ste. 3, Hayward, CA 94545-3819; phone 800/578-3401). They have over 20 years’ experience in travel.
We have traveled for years, and this was truly my all-time favorite trip. It was a cultural cruise, with wonderful Russian entertainment, good food, interesting lectures and the best tour guides we have ever had. Anna and Galva really made the trip for us. We cruised on the Volga and Onega rivers.
There were 260 passengers plus a crew of 100 to 110. The passengers were from Germany, Greece, Sweden, Norway, France, England, Scotland and the USA.
Our cabin had a large window. All the cabins had private toilet/shower facilities, refrigerators, forced-air controls, radios and ample closet space.
We stayed in the lovely Hotel Pulkovskaya in St. Petersburg the night before our cruise. The next day we were transferred to our ship, the M.S. Mayakovski, for dinner and overnight on board.
Our city tour took us to many sights, including the Hermitage Museum. There was an optional ballet performance by leading dancers from the Kirov that night.
We sailed to Mondraga (Green Station Stop), where we enjoyed a riverside picnic barbecue with shashlik, red wine and entertainment. Don’t forget to visit the unique Vodka Museum featuring over 250 varieties of Russia’s national drink.
The next morning we arrived at the tiny, fairy-tale island of Kizhi on the northern end of Lake Onega, the second-largest lake in Europe and one of the world’s purest. Our walking tour included the Church of the Transfiguration, erected without a single nail or piece of iron. That evening we enjoyed a folklore performance and jazz concert.
Goritsy is a typical Russian village. We took a walking tour there, stopping at the home of a farmer.
In Yaroslavl, an important Volga port, we enjoyed a wonderful church choir concert at the Monastery of Spasko-Preobrazhensk.
In Uglich, one of the most beloved towns in old Russia, we took a walking tour, visiting churches and the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry. That evening, on board, we heard a classical music concert by violinist Boris Gamus.
In Moscow we took a tour which included the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral (absolutely breathtaking), Moscow University and Red Square. We took an optional tour to a performance of the Moscow Circus. Don’t miss this.
On our last day in Moscow we took a guided tour of the famous Moscow Metro. Seeing this is a “must.”
Cruise-only prices ranged from $1,198 to $1,598 per person, twin. All port excursions were included in the price.
My favorite memento of the trip is a VHS tape ($25) taken by the ship’s photographer. The video of our 12-day trip was set to beautiful classical music. We have watched it twice and enjoy it each time.
DIANE GREEN
Walnut Creek, CA