One of the best ways to explore everything from exotic islands to historic places of interest is on a river cruise. A river cruise is a form of travel that typically takes place aboard a small vessel that navigates the inland waterways of the world. Unlike large cruise ships, river cruise ships allow the passenger to get up close and personal with the countryside, culture, and animal and marine life.
While river cruise ships tend to be much smaller than bigger ships, many have the same amenities and they are seen as just as elegant as some of the larger, high-end vessels. Some river cruise ships may resemble five-star hotels with luxurious accommodations as well as passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, casinos and other entertainment facilities. In addition, many river cruise ships offer both onboard and off board tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of other historical and exotic points of interest.
There are so many river cruises on the market today that it’s becoming more and more difficult to choose just one. There are, however, several popular river cruises that won’t disappoint. The most popular river cruises include: Nile (Exotic River), Mississippi (North American River), Yangtze (Exotic River), Mekong (Exotic River), the Danube (European River), Rhine (European River), Seine (European River) and Volga (Russia River).
Volga River Cruises or Russia River cruises are typically part of a larger itinerary and they offer passengers the opportunity to explore the natural highways of Russia and visit Russia’s two most important cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. The cruise combines the Volga River, the Moscow canal, and many other waterways as well as visits to medieval peasant homes, Uglich — one of Russia’s oldest towns, and the site of the famous WWII battle – Volograd. In addition to visiting grand monuments, passengers will also get to explore, palaces of the Czars, experience world-class theatrical performances and even travel with experts who will teach you about the history of Russia through sightseeing tours and lectures.
Russia River cruises and tours may range from a few days up to 14 days or more. While there are many cruise lines offering Russia River cruises, some of the most popular lines include: Uniworld River Cruises and Viking River Cruises. Uniworld specializes in European river cruises, featuring Russia River cruise itineraries such as: a 16-day St. Petersburg to Moscow river cruise (Imperial Russia), 17-day Rostov-on-Don to Moscow (Land of Cossacks), 14-day Moscow to St. Petersburg (Waterways of the Czars), and the 17-day Kiev to Istanbul river cruise (Ukraine, the Black Sea and Istanbul). These offerings change year to year. Viking River Cruises is a luxury line with numerous awards from Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, offering journeys along the rivers of Europe, Russia & China. Other Russia River cruise specialists include: Amadeus Waterways, Imperial River Cruises, and Trafalgar Tours.
If you are traveling abroad and you want to add a Russia River cruise to your itinerary, your travel agent will be able to help you book the perfect river cruise. If you prefer to book on your own, visit any of the river cruise lines’ websites for details about their offerings and to obtain information on how to book. You can also call 1-800-510-4002 to speak with a river cruise specialist.
Please Note: US Citizens require a visa for Russia. Fees may range from $160 to $250 per person depending on how far in advance they are requested.
