IMPERIAL WATERWAYS OF RUSSIA 12 DAYS FROM MOSCOW TO SAINT PETERSBURG MOSCOW TO SAINT PETERSBURG Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise. DAY 1: Moscow (Embark) Arrive at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, Vnukovo International Airport or Domodedovo 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. Note: For Arrival, Departure and Transfer details, please visit Uniworld.com/transfers. For Port Location details, please visit Uniworld.com/ports. DAY 2: Moscow If Russia is “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” as Winston Churchill famously said, then Moscow presents an intriguing starting point for an amazing cultural discovery. Featured Excursion: Moscow panoramic tour with Metro, Arbat Street and Red Square visit Moscow panoramic tour with Metro, Arbat Street and Red Square visit It can be difficult to get a handle on this vibrant and sprawling capital, which amazes visitors with its stunning contrasts. A panoramic tour with a knowledgeable local guide will introduce you to the most famous sights: the Kremlin, Bolshoi Theatre, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Tverskaya Street, which are all close together in the heart of the historic city. Sparrow Hill, on the right bank of the Moscow River, gives you a fabulous view of the city below, as well as of the Moscow State University. A bit farther afield, you’ll see such landmarks as the New Maiden Convent, Bow Hill and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Step off your motorcoach for a short walking tour of Red Square, the historic heart of the nation; it has, over the centuries, been the site of national celebrations, coronations, executions, hand-to- hand battles and May Day parades glorifying Communist might. These days you are more likely to find huge rock concerts or large-scale fashion shows held on the square itself, but the mystique of the space remains intact, and any visitor can sense echoes of its tumultuous history. You’ll notice many restaurants in this busy neighborhood; choose one to experience a typical Moscow lunch with the locals—your knowledgeable guide will happily recommend venues, as well as dishes you should be sure to try. A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Note: Throughout your visit to Moscow, the order of sightseeing is subject to change. Venues may be closed unexpectedly for unannounced government functions, holidays or religious observances, necessitating changes in our program. DAY 3: Moscow This morning, you’ll have the chance to explore the Kremlin and adjacent Armory Museum. The Kremlin, a fortified complex in the heart of Moscow and the government’s headquarters, offers an intriguing look at Russia’s political and cultural heritage. Take a look at a collection of Russian regalia at the Armory Museum and wander through the exquisite Cathedral Square. Plenty of adventures await this afternoon with free time in Moscow to explore on your own. Featured Excursion: Kremlin and Armory Museum visit DAY 4: Uglich While cruising through the Moscow Canal, you’ll get your first glimpse of rural Russia on your way to the quiet and historic town of Uglich. Be prepared for a panorama of magnificent architectural monuments. Choice of Uglich walking tour with Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood or “Let’s Go” Hydropower Museum walk Uglich walking tour with Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood Green, blue and silver onion domes top colorful churches along the Volga, announcing that you have arrived in Uglich. Like other Golden Ring cities, it was founded in the Middle Ages and played a major role in regional trade and politics in the 16th century, but it is chiefly known for the death of Prince Dmitry, the 10-year-old son of Ivan the Terrible whose murder was blamed on Boris Godunov. Legend, history, art and mystery come together under the blue domes of the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood, so named because it was built where the child’s body was found. Inside you’ll see magnificent frescoes dating from the 1700s and icons from the 17th and 18th centuries, painted by the finest imperial icon artists, and you’ll learn a little about Prince Dmitry, whose tale has been told in Russian fiction and opera for centuries. The ship docks within walking distance of the town, so you may browse through charming local shops and stroll along the promenade where vendors offer a great selection of souvenirs. You might want to take in Wonderful Assumption Church; with its three octagonal spires and onion domes, it is an outstanding example of 16th-century Russian Orthodox architecture. 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. Choice of Yaroslavl city tour or “Do as the Locals Do” Yaroslavl walking tour Yaroslavl city tour Stroll through Yaroslavl’s UNESCO World Heritage–designated city center, which reflects both its late- medieval roots and, with its wide, tree-lined streets and attractive parks, the urban planning ordered by Catherine the Great. Step inside the exquisite Church of Elijah the Prophet, a masterpiece of Orthodox architecture whose interior is covered in frescoes, from the floor to the top of the domes high overhead. Along with religious imagery you’ll see scenes of daily life— peasants harvesting hay, weddings, animals—that give you a sense of how ordinary people lived in this area during the 17th century, when the paintings were made. At the outdoor market, where you’ll find locals shopping for fruits and vegetables, you can taste some of the excellent local cheeses or purchase a bottle of Russian vodka. Later, 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. DAY 6: Goritsy Beyond Russia’s major cities lies a completely different world—the fabled land of Mother Russia. Explore a rural village today for an authentic and unforgettable glimpse of everyday life in a Russian province. Choice of Goritsy "Village Day" or Visit to Saint Cyril on the White Lake Monastery or “Let’s Go” village walk Visit to Saint Cyril on the White Lake Monastery Travel a short distance to the banks of Lake Siverskoye, where one of the most beautiful monasteries in the country, St. Cyril, has stood fast against the ravages of war and politics for 600 years. Sturdy fortress walls that kept out Polish and Lithuanian invaders—but not the Bolshevik revolution—enclose a complex of 11 churches. Though the monastery was disbanded in the 1920s, monks have returned, so part of the complex is now a museum and part is an active monastery. Within the monastery’s museum you will find some exceptional icons depicting the history of St. Cyril. You’ll also tour the small community nearby and gain a unique perspective on everyday life in this part of the world. Note: Goritsy and Kirillov are located in a rather remote part of Russia, and while Uniworld always endeavors to provide the finest transportation, you may find that motorcoaches in this area do not meet our usual standards. Later, relax onboard as your ship cruises through the second-largest lake in Europe. Fed by 58 rivers, Lake Onega has 1,369 islands and is bordered by the Republic of Karelia on the west, north and east, and by Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast on the south. A great inland sea that creates its own weather, just as the Great Lakes in the United States do, its shores are lined with birch forests. You may think this wild and beautiful country is uninhabitable—and indeed it has few inhabitants—but people have lived along these shores for thousands of years, as petroglyphs carved into the granite on the eastern shore attest. DAY 7: Kizhi Island To approach the towering wooden Church of Transfiguration from the water can be a transformative experience. Step ashore for an up-close view of this incredible church. Choice of Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture or "Let's Go" Kizhi Island nature hike Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture Be sure to come up on deck as the ship approaches Kizhi Island. The silhouette of the amazing Church of Transfiguration looms out of the water, its multiple onion domes impossibly intricate— and utterly unmistakable. After the ship docks at the island, a guide will take you through the famous open-air museum, which features 89 fascinating samples of traditional wooden architecture. Very simple wooden structures represent the first settlements on Kizhi, which appeared between the 10th and 12th centuries, but the jaw-dropping UNESCO- designated Church of Transfiguration is the ultimate in Russian fairytale architecture. Its 22 shimmering shingled domes were built without a single nail in 1714. Less ornate log and shingle buildings from throughout Northern Russia have been assembled here—cottages, barns and windmills, as well as churches—to create a window into the architectural heritage of the region.