Cruise - Along the Volga: Moscow - Astrakhan 14 Days (CR-32)

Our driver will meet you in arrivals at the airport with a Go Russia sign board to transfer you to the ship which will be your base while we are docked in Moscow. Tonight you'll be welcomed aboard with a cocktail reception.

You might be reluctant to leave the comfort of the ship but enthralling Moscow awaits. The Russian capital is one of the most interesting cities of the world and we'll have a guided bus tour this morning during which you'll enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the observation platform up at Sparrow Hills before returning to the centre of the city to see the famous Bolshoi theatre and the Red Square.

Today we delve into Moscow's fascinating past, heading inside the famous Kremlin. Once the residence of the Tsars and Russian Orthodox Patriarchs, we'll set foot inside one of its uniquely beautiful Orthodox cathedrals. You will also be able to view the Byzantine splendour of St. Basil's multi-coloured onion-domed cathedral, in nearby Red Square. In the afternoon we will visit the Tretyakov Gallery to admire the magnificent collection of russian paintings. We also offer an optional tour to the Kremlin Armoury Museum, where the Tsar's spectacular jewels, crowns, thrones and royal armour are on display.

The boat sails to Uglich, one of Russia's best-loved provincial towns. Don't miss the superb view as we approach along the Volga River. Founded in 1148, highlights include the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John's Church which dominate the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, the seventh wife of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin at Uglich which is a stop on today's itinerary.

Today we reach the port of Yaroslavl, strung out along both banks of the Volga. It takes its name from its founder, Prince Yaroslav the Wise who based himself here in the 11th Century. An undisputed highlight of the city is its 13th Century Spassky Monastery. Hosting several cathedrals, a rotunda and the remains of an ancient trading centre, this is a fascinating complex to explore. Our tour takes in the Church of the Prophet Elijah and many other cultural highlights, including a visit to Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy Monastery.

Historic Kostroma is located where the Kostroma River joins the Volga, part of the famous Golden Ring around Moscow. It's the site of the Ipatievskiy Monastery where we will visit today, founded in the latter part of the 18th Century. We'll also go and see its interesting open air museum featuring myriad forms of wooden architecture from windmills to bath houses, churches to watermills brought from around the region.

Colloquially known as Nizhny, the fifth largest city in Russia is today's destination. It occupies a commanding position with views of both the Volga and the Oka Rivers. We'll tour its ancient Kremlin and take a stroll along the pleasant pedestrian promenade before reboarding the ship.

The capital of the Chuvash republic in the Volga region, Cheboksary was founded in the middle of the fifteenth century. A fortress was constructed there in 1555 but the town was a backwater until the coming of the railway in 1939. As a result, there's no shortage of ancient churches and monasteries, among them Vvedensky cathedral (1657) and Saint-Trinity monastery (1566), here's also an excellent view to be had in the middle of the city of a pretty bay which has become a very popular gathering place for the local people.

Kazan has a fascinating past, founded by the Mongols, occupied by the Golden Horde and the capital of the Khanate of Kazan. It was conquered by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. This multi-faceted history has led the city to be what it is today: half Russian and half Tatar, it is a charming blend of Muslim and Christian cultures, a unique mix which sets it apart from the other cities we'll visit on this journey. Today, we'll take a guided tour of the city's Kremlin.

In the Soviet era, Samara was a closed city, shut away from the rest of the world to focus on defence during the years of the Cold War. Fortunately, it's now well and truly open for business. We'll take a city tour including a visit to Samara's art gallery and learn more about the history of this city, founded in the 14th century and, as Kuybyshev, chosen during World War Two to be the replacement capital after fears that Moscow would fall to the encroaching German troops.

Another former closed city, this time due to its manufacture of military aircraft, we visit Saratov. Its name probably originates from "Sary tau" or yellow mountain as the city is surrounded by sandy hills. It was once an autonomous republic, the area in which the Volga Germans settled until they were relocated to Siberia and Kazakhstan during the Second World War. Many never returned to the city. Saratov's other claim to fame is as the home of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and a vital part of the Soviet space programme.

Volgograd has the status of "Hero City" and honour bestowed as a consequence of the suffering it endured during World War Two. Formerly known as Tsaritsyn and later Stalingrad, Hitler ordered the bombardment of the city as he tried to advance on the Eastern Front. Two hundred days of shelling took an enormous toll, leaving an estimated 1-2 million casualties on both sides. Our guided tour takes us to Mamaev Kurgan and the statue of The Motherland Calls.

Today, we can sit back and enjoy the onboard entertainment as we cruise towards the city of Astrakhan.

Our arrival in Astrakhan means we've reached the Volga Delta. Located about 100km from the Caspian Sea, the city dates from the 13th century. Originally it was a key Golden Horde city and later the capital of the Khanate of Astrakhan. Destroyed by Ivan the Terrible's forces, this Tatar city was rebuilt by the Russians and became an important trading centre. These days the focus is on the sturgeon trade and the production of caviar. We'll pay a visit to the city's Kremlin before heading back to the ship.

Our cruise is complete, so our driver will transfer you from the ship to the airport in readiness for your flight home.