tui fjords cruise

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Itinerary: Kiel, Stavanger, Nordfjordeid, Molde, Honningsvag, Longyearbyen, Trondheim, Ålesund, Kiel

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TUI Cruises

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

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TUI Cruises fleet

Mein schiff 9, mein schiff relax, mein schiff 7, mein schiff 2, mein schiff 1, mein schiff 6, mein schiff 5, mein schiff 4, mein schiff 3, tui al horeya, review of tui cruises.

TUI Cruises GmbH (tuicruises.com) is a 50-50 Joint venture company between TUI AG (Germany) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (US corporation). The Hamburg -based company was founded in 2008 and operational since 2009. On April 22, 2018, the cruise line celebrated its 10th anniversary. In 2018, TUI fleet's capacity was 14,784 berths, serving 0,5+ million passengers annually. By year 2024, TUI will have annual capacity ~800,000 passengers - compared to 2017 (500,000), 2018 (550,000) and 2019 (650,000, berths 17,500),

TUI Group fully owns three England-registered subsidiary companies (TUI UK Ltd, TUI Airways Ltd, TUI Ireland Ltd) plus one Ireland-registered (Adehy Ltd).

On February 7, 2020, TUI AG announced that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (valued ~EUR 1,2 billion) becomes part of TUI Cruises. The contract with RCCL was signed in Hamburg (Feb 7), the cash transaction from RCCL (~EUR 700 million) was closed on July 6, 2020.

The Hanover Germany-based TUI Group (British-German multinational) is currently ranked the world's largest leisure and travel company. It was founded in 1923 and until 2002 was named "Preussag AG". TUI Group's companies specialize in hospitality and tourism services worldwide, with a portfolio including passenger airlines, cruise shipping (shipowner), package vacations, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, retail shops. TUI Group's current CEO is Sebastian Ebel, who (in October 2022) succeeded Fritz Joussen (2013-2022).

TUI Cruises GmbH's current CEO is Wybcke Meier (since 2014). In March 2023 was created the "Mein Schiff Destinations Department". Other executives include Marcus Puttich (director of destinations), Dennis Tetzlaff (VP of fleet operations and newbuilds), Denis Wiechert (VP of product management and guest experiences).

For 2021-Q1, TUI Group reported 2,8 million bookings (all brands/subsidiaries), or 56% of 2019's, with 20% higher average prices and overall loss EUR 698,6 million (EUR 146,7 M loss in 2019). Cruise shipping revenue was EUR 0,6 million (EUR 238,4 M in 2019). TUI Group secured 3x financing packages (with its major shareholders, banks and Germany's Economic Stabilization Fund). The 3rd package (EUR 1,8 billion) was completed in late January.

For FY2021 (fiscal year), TUI Group reported EUR 27 million (~USD 30,6M) in cruise revenues (~EUR 445,6M less than FY2020), EBIT loss EUR 277,5M (~USD 314M), avrg ship occupancy rates ~40%. By brand, the number of passenger days was 1,227M (TUI), 0,114M (Hapag-Lloyd), 0,153M (Marella). Average daily rates by brand were EUR 132 (TUI), EUR 514 (Hapag-Lloyd), GBP 124 / EUR 145 (Marella).

In September 2023 TUI signed with VIKAND Solutions (Dania Beach Florida-based medical group specializing in maritime healthcare) to deliver fleetwide biomedical equipment and provide support (lifecycle asset management, preventative maintenance, repairs, support).

In January 2024, TUI signed a partnership with Marquard & Bahls (1947-founded, Hamburg-based company specializing in energy and chemicals) to supply with methanol Mein Schiff 7 (fleet's first methanol-powered vessel vessel). The deal was signed by Wybcke Meier (TUI's CEO) and Volker Ebeling (Mabanaft's Senior VP of New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure).

(new brand) TUI River Cruises UK

In April 2019, the shipowner TUI AG terminated the charters of its 3 riverboats and established the UK-focused brand "TUI River Cruises" (tui.co.uk/river-cruises). The new brand was scheduled to start operations in summer 2020 but due to the global health crisis, its inauguration was postponed for August 2021 (delayed ~1,5 years).

The sisterships are named TUI Isla , TUI Maya , TUI Skyla .

In 2024-2025, TUI expands the river fleet with two more boats - TUI Al Horeya (2024/Egypt's Nile River) and TUI Alma (2025/Portugal's Douro River).

TUI River Cruises is a separate company part (fully-owned subsidiary) of TUI AG (British-German travel and tourism corporation). TUI Group also owns the companies Marella Cruises UK and Hapag-Lloyd-Cruises .

River travel aficionados can choose from various itineraries and optional shipboard and land packages. Standard (basic) TUI river cruise pricing is inclusive of alcohol (beers and wines by the glass) and soft drinks with all meals, as well as of gratuities (onboard tips), service charges and bicycles (offered complimentary to all passengers in call ports of the current cruisetour itinerary). Premium drinks packages are optional (offered at extra cost). All TUI riverboats have balcony suites. Shore excursions range from sightseeing tours (guided by local experts) to bike tours.

The new river cruise company offers GBP 120 (~EUR 140 / USD 155) per person in OBC (onboard credit) towards all land tour bookings. TUI river ships are named TUI Maya , TUI Skyla and TUI Isla , each with capacity 155 passengers plus 40 crew, LOA length 135 m (445 ft), 4 decks (3 with cabins). Standard cabins are sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and with fixed double beds.

TUI riverboats' venues include:

• (Deck 2) cabins, Lobby (Reception Desk, Tour Desk, Library), wellness facilities (Spa, Gym, Hair Parlor)
• (Deck 3) cabins, Observatory Lounge, Bar Lounge, Bow Terrace, 2 restaurants (Bistro Buffet, Verdastro Dining Room). Verdastro Restaurant serves buffet-type breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner (with waiter service). Bistro Restaurant is for buffet-style dining only (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Observatory is the show lounge with live entertainment in the evenings (musical performances, stand-up comedy acts, crew show, themed dance parties).
• (Deck 4) Sundeck with games area (shuffleboard), shaded seating (Sundeck Lounge), sunbathing area with padded loungers, sunbeds, daybeds.

In December 2019, TUI signed an exclusive partnership with Live Business UK (one of Europe's largest entertainment program developers and suppliers) for the TUI River Cruises company. By this deal, Live Business UK prepared the onboard entertainment programming for the boats and is also responsible for recruiting cruise directors, hosts, ship musicians, guest performers, local tour guides and other experts.

Company history

During the company's 10 years of service (2008-2018), the six Mein Schiffs handled around 2,2 million passengers, visited over 200 seaports and covered around 2,9 million km (1,8 million ml). TUI's sister-brand is Marella Cruises (UK source market).

For FY2018 (fiscal year), TUI Group's earnings (from the 3 cruise brands - TUI, Marella, and Hapag-Lloyd) increased by 10,7% - to EUR 901,9 million. Company's turnover was EUR 324 million (26,8% increase over 2017). Group's average daily rates increased to EUR 178 euro (TUI, up from EUR 173), EUR 141 (Marella, up from EUR 131) and EUR 615 (Hapag-Lloyd, up from EUR 594).

In 2015-2016, TUI Group had a turnover of EUR 17,8 billion (company's record) and operating result of EUR 1B. Corporation's portfolio consisted of 14 vessels (TUI, Thomson-Marella, and Hapag-Lloyd brands), several large tour operators, around 1600 travel agencies (including online portals), over 300 hotels (around 214,000 beds) and 6 airlines (over 150 aircraft).

The list of TUI-owned airlines includes Corsair International (France), TUI Airways (UK), TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, TUI fly Netherlands, and TUI fly Nordic (departures from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway).

In FY2016 (the fiscal year 2016), TUI Cruises had 60% growth (over FY2015) in earnings, with EBITA of EUR 130 million (EUR 81 million in FY2015). The reported growth came from the corporation's two main markets - Germany and UK.

TUI Cruises started operations by acquiring Celebrity Galaxy (owned by Celebrity Cruises - another RCCL subsidiary). The ship left Celebrity's fleet on March 16, 2009. After buying Celebrity Galaxy, the vessel was refitted at Lloyd Werft shipyard ( Bremerhaven, Germany ) arriving on March 27 for 38-day, EUR 50 million conversions. Galaxy was re-christened on May 15 in Hamburg and renamed "Mein Schiff" (meaning "My Ship" in Deutsch). TUI planned to build two 100,000 GT, 2500-passenger ships in 2011 and 2012.

• On May 27, 2010, was revealed that Celebrity Mercury joins TUI fleet as "Mein Schiff 2"(renamed in 2018 to Mein Schiff Herz/now Marella Voyager ). Before the refit, "MS Mein Schiff" was renamed to Mein Schiff 1 (now Marella Explorer ). Schiff 2 entered service in February 2011 after an extensive drydock reconstruction .
• On September 27, 2011, TUI and STX Finland announced shipbuilding contract for a 97,000 GT vessel ( Schiff 3 ) with delivery in 2014. The vessel is 968 ft (295 m) long, with 1250 staterooms (most of which are balconied) and capacity 2500 passengers and 1000 crew. The contract included an optional second ship, that was ordered on November 5, 2012 ( Schiff 4 ). Schiff 3 entered service on April 22, 2014.
• In March 2015, RCI ( Royal Caribbean International ) announced selling Splendour of the Seas to TUI Cruises in 2016-Q2. TUI leased the vessel to Thomson UK (now Marella) replacing MS Island Escape (now Ocean Gala ).
• In May 2015 TUI Group announced that as part of fleet modernization strategy, Schiff 1 and 2 will be transferred to Thomson/Marella over the next few years to upgrade TUI's UK fleet.
• In 2018, TUI signed a partnership deal with "Merkur Casino Mare" (part of Gauselmann Group) for the onboard gambling on Schiff 1 (since 2018), Schiff 2 (since 2019) and Schiff 3 (since 2021). The ship Casino features 6x electronic roulettes plus 14x other Merkur gaming machines, and a separate gambling lounge with 4x M-Box Buzzer (multi-gaming machines) and a blackjack table for live gaming. For 2020, Gauselmann AG reported revenue EUR 2,56 billion (~USD 3B / ~GBP 2,2B). Since 2012, Gauselmann owns the British company Praesepe Ltd (now Merkur Casino UK) which owns the Cashino brand (street gambling arcade chain).
• In mid-October 2021, TUI announced that Schiff Herz will be transferred in 2023 to Marella Cruises UK . Following a drydock, the boat will be renamed "Marella Voyager", starting operations for Marella on June 3, 2023.

The Hannover travel group TUI AG (listed at London Stock Exchange) keeps an upbeat outlook of cruise shipping activities. The company owns 100% of Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten and 50% of TUI Kreuzfahrten.

In August 2015, TUI announced EBITA growth (Q3) by EUR 11 million, which reflected the full-year profit of Schiff 3 (operated since June 2014) and the launch of Schiff 4 (June 2015). In addition, Hapag-Lloyd's remarkable turnaround and EUR 4 million benefits from refinancing ms Europa 2 meant that TUI had EUR 21 million increase in underlying EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization).

In May 2015, TUI AG Supervisory Board and RCCL-Royal Caribbean confirmed the purchase options for Schiff 7 and Schiff 8 (later renamed "Schiff 1" and "Schiff 2", delivered respectively in 2018 and 2019), as the German market reported further growth. The new liners are slightly larger (2860 lower berths each), built by Meyer Turku Finland . The deal was fully financed within TUI Cruises (joint venture) - without further contribution from TUI AG and RCCL.

Schiff 5 was launched on January 15, 2016, following the 14-month construction period. Around 1500 employees are involved in the building of each TUI vessel.

In mid-July 2018, TUI ordered two new ships (161,000 GT-ton, 4000-passenger) - this time from the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Their scheduled deliveries are in 2025-Q1 ( Schiff Relax ) and 2026-Q2 ( Schiff 9 ). TUI's "Italian" liners are LNG-powered and from the company's new InTUItion-Class (fka TUI XL-Schiff).

In October 2018, TUI announced the "Wasteless" initiative aimed to eliminate disposable plastic products fleetwide (and also in land-based operations - provision suppliers and office staff) by the year 2020. Plastics will be replaced by alternative products made from renewable resources. The eco-initiative started with the newbuilds, on which in all cabin bathrooms, shower gel and shampoo dispensers are refillable, terry slippers are bathrobe's pockets (not packed in plastic), laundry bags are from bio-based plastic, coffee-to-go cups for crew are from bio-based plastic, drink stirrers are wooden. In November 2019, TUI reported ~30 million single-use plastic items replaced with renewable/sustainable materials-made alternatives.

In 2018, the German travel market reached ~2,2 million cruisers, of whom ~26% were served by TUI.

TUI Schiff Restaurants and Bars

TUI Schiff sonnenbereiche und poolbereiche (sundeck and Lido-deck pool areas)

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, TUI River Cruises suspended passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures March 15, 2020, through August 15, 2021. TUI Cruises Germany ("Mein Schiff" fleet) suspended operations on March 23 and restarted on August 21 with Schiff 1 (7-day Norwegian Fjords roundtrip from Kiel) and Schiff 2 (7-day Norway from Hamburg). Schiff 6 started on September 13 (through November 7) with 7-day roundtrips from Heraklion (Crete) to Piraeus-Athens and Kerkyra (Corfu Island).

TUI River Cruises were planned to resume on November 26, 2020 ( Christmas and New Year itineraries ) but were eventually canceled through August 2021 (the brand was inaugurated on August 15, with TUI Maya from Frankfurt).

All affected bookings were automatically canceled and fully refunded in FCC (future cruise credit) notes for the full cost of the cruise. The FCCs can be used for paying a new voyage (with rebooking) or fully refunded (100%) in cash after 12 months.

Next are listed all TUI liners and their first departure dates/homeports/regions in 2021 - Schiff 3 (May 10/Norway from Bremerhaven), Schiff 4 (Apr 23/UK-Baltic from Hamburg), Schiff 5 (May 13/Mediterranean from Heraklion Crete), Schiff 6 (May 9/Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca), Schiff Herz (Sept 3/Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca). Schiff 1 and Schiff 2 started Canary Islands cruises in January, with 7-day and 14-day roundtrips from Gran Canaria.

The latest cancellations affected Schiff 5's Asian program (Hong Kong) and Schiff 6's Arabian Gulf program (from Dubai).

Itinerary of TUI Cruises

The next table provides a concise review of the TUI fleet's deployments (as homeports and destinations/regions). For detailed itineraries (call ports, port dates-times, and cruise prices) just follow the ship links.

TUI River Cruises

"TUI River Cruises" is a 2019-founded (operational since 2021) brand and a subsidiary of TUI AG. The new company specializes in passenger river shipping in Europe and is generally UK-focused (as source market).

TUI's riverboat fleet consists of three fully refurbished ships - TUI Maya , TUI Skyla , TUI Isla . The boats usually operate roundtrips from the homeports Passau and Frankfurt (Germany), Amsterdam Holland and Budapest Hungary .

In January 2022, TUI announced the restart dates of the riverboats after winter 2021 season was suspended due to Europe's increasing COVID Omicron cases. TUI's Rhine program was first halted before Christmas 2021 when Germany's government imposed travel restrictions on UK tourists.

TUI's river operations were planned to resume with TUI Skyla on March 28th. The "Magic of the Danube" itinerary (7-night roundtrip from Budapest ) visited ports in Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Prices started at GBP 1120 per person with double occupancy.

TUI's first 14-night voyage started on April 8 ( TUI Isla ). The "European Icons" itinerary started in Amsterdam and visited ports in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, ending in Budapest. Prices started at GBP 2010 pp.

TUI's Rhine voyages started on April 8 with the "Rhine Germs" itinerary visiting Koblenz and Speyer (Germany Rhineland-Palatinate) along with Basel Switzerland . The 7-day roundtrip is from Frankfurt am Main (Germany Hesse) , fares started at GBP 1170 pp.

Themed voyages started on April 1st ( TUI Maya ) with the "Vines and Valleys" Moselle River itinerary.

In December 2023, TUI River Cruises announced a fleet expansion with two new vessels - TUI Al Horeya (Nile River boat/inauguration in 2024) and TUI Alma (Douro River boat/inauguration in 2025).

TUI Cruises related cruise news

TUI Cruises deploys two ships (Schiff 7 and Schiff Relax) to Canary Islands in winter 2025-2026

TUI Cruises, a TUI Group-Royal Caribbean Group joint venture, has announced its planned itineraries for the winter season of 2025-2026, revealing a...

UAE renews partnership with TUI Cruises to boost Dubai's cruise tourism hub status

The UAE/Emirates has reaffirmed Dubai's position as a premier hub for cruise ship tourism by extending its collaboration with TUI Cruises for the...

Marella (TUI UK) cancels Red Sea repositioning cruises due to safety concerns

Marella Cruises has made the decision to cancel a series of repositioning sailings on Discovery 2 ship due to concerns regarding the Red Sea area...

TUI Cruises' ship Mein Schiff 7 to run on green methanol supplied by Mabanaft

Mabanaft has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TUI Cruises, outlining plans for the supply of green methanol in the future. The...

Scaffolding collapse during Mein Schiff Relax construction leads to worker injury

On Friday morning, January 19, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone (Italy), a serious accident occurred during the construction of the cruise...

TUI Cruises reveals plans for 3 new ships

TUI Cruises (a joint venture between RCG/Royal Caribbean Group and TUI AG) has unveiled plans for the construction of three new vessels in the...

TUI River Cruises starts Douro voyages in 2025 with newbuild ship TUI Alma

TUI River Cruises unveiled its first newbuild boat. The custom-built vessel will be deployed on Portugal's Douro River, marking TUI's river fleet...

Fincantieri secures $461M 'Green' Loan for construction of TUI's ship Mein Schiff Relax

Fincantieri has entered into a 'green' construction loan agreement, securing up to US$461 million from Intesa Sanpaolo (IMI Corporate &...

Hamburg Port concludes 2023 cruise season with record-breaking visits from AIDAnova

Hamburg Port is concluding its 2023 cruise season with a notable finale featuring two visits from AIDA Cruises' AIDAnova during the Christmas holiday...

TUI River Cruises unveils first newbuild ship TUI Alma

TUI River Cruises is poised to initiate the construction of its inaugural newbuild riverboat, starting revenue services (Douro River cruises) in the...

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Norwegian Fjords Cruise: 32 Tips You NEED to Know

In June 2018 I took a cruise around the Norwegian Fjords with my lovely Mum. In this post, I’ll share with you the things I wish I knew before my first cruise to Norway. Including:

When to cruise to Norway What to pack on a Norwegian Fjords cruise What to do onboard What to do in: Bergen, Olden, Stavanger and Aldalsnes.

When is the best time to cruise the Norwegian Fjords?

The Norwegian Fjords cruising season runs from May until September. The only cruise line that offers Norwegian Fjords cruises all year round is Hurtigruten. Peak time tends to be in July and August with this itinerary being particularly popular with families.

In the UK children are off school from mid-July until early September so if you can avoid travelling at this time I would, not only will it be busier but it’ll be significantly more expensive!

When is The Best Time to Cruise to Norway? – Season Price Guide

Norwegian Fjords tip #1

• I would recommend cruising at the beginning or end of the summer season. You’ll get the best deals at this time and the ships won’t be too busy. May-June or September would be be my recommendation. You still have a good chance of some sunshine but more on that later in the post…

Norwegian Fjords tip #2

Be aware that if you travel in the summer, it will be light a lot of the time. Sleeping is never a problem for me, but it is a bit confusing when you have been out for dinner, watched the show, come out and it is still daylight! – Gaynor Le Teace (my mum)

It’s true! In some parts of Norway they even have a ‘midnight sun’. Cruise ship cabins usually have pretty thick curtains so I don’t have any trouble sleeping but if you are somebody who cannot tolerate even the smallest amount of light in the room when you sleep then you might want to consider an inside cabin.

What is the weather like on a Norwegian Fjords cruise?

The weather in Norway is unpredictable and very often wet. The weather in Summer SHOULD be dry and can even be pretty warm. We cruised in June and it rained every single day… However, I have a few friends who cruised two weeks earlier had glorious sunshine every day and temperatures reached 30c! (90f). I would not base your decision on when to go around the weather. It’s extremely unpredictable!

The weather means that you need to remember to bring the following things…

What to bring

Norwegian fjords tip #3.

• Take sensible shoes, a waterproof jacket, jeans, jumpers (sweaters). As I mentioned above we had rain every single day. Annoyingly the UK was experiencing a heat wave at the time! A waterproof jacket/a coat is without a doubt the most important thing you should pack. I wore my red coat every single day.

Norwegian Fjords tip #4

• Make sure you pack some dresses/shorts! This one might seem a bit silly given what I said above but the weather can reach 30c (90f). It can also vary a lot between ports so just because you have one rainy day doesn’t mean it will rain for the entire cruise.

Norwegian Fjords tip #5

Pack some small binoculars – I forgot mine. Obviously didn’t pay enough attention to the holiday packing spreadsheet in my excitement! – Gaynor Le Teace (my mum)

The views are INCREDIBLE as you sail around the Norwegian Fjords. I don’t really use binoculars but mum likes to so if you’d like to spy on people as you go by it can be worth packing binoculars. A good camera with a zoom can also work the same way.

Norwegian Fjords tip #6

• Bring the best camera you have! (Or at least your phone). All of my photos were taken on my iPhone because quite frankly I have no idea how to use a decent DSLR camera. You’ll want to take SO many photos. Look at this!! It’s INCREDIBLE.

Norwegian Fjords tip #7

• Bring your phone and use it. I usually say you should keep your phone in airplane mode when you are at sea. However, when cruising around the Norwegian Fjords you’re often close enough to land to be able to pick up 4G from land. If you are in doubt about how your phone will work at sea I have another post about that here: How do mobile phones work at sea? (If you’re American a mobile phone = a cell phone). I know we don’t go on cruises to spend all of our time on our phone but being able to send messages/emails/photos to friends and family back home is always a bonus.Mum mostly used it to send photos of me to my dad…

 What to do onboard

These tips are general to the whole of Norway. There are more specific tips about the ports that we visited at the end of this post.

Norwegian Fjords tip #8

Book a balcony cabin!

Norwegian Fjords tip #9

• Make sure you book whatever tours you’d like to do as early as possible. We booked ours onboard and a lot of them were already sold out which limited our options. Ideally, you should book the tours before you travel. It’s usually possible to do this on the website of most cruise lines. If not try and book the tours on the first day to avoid disappointment!I am below looking very pleased with myself at the Briksdal glacier in Olden.

Norwegian Fjords tip #10

• Be aware that a lot of things are closed on Sundays! If you are docking on a Sunday don’t assume that shops will be open. It’s always best to do your research and check before you cruise.

Norwegian Fjords tip #11

• Look out for weird things in the souvenir shops… I managed to find a whale sausage!

Norwegian Fjords tip #12

Always get up early to see the sail in to port, the views are incredible. (Even if you have to wear the aforementioned jeans, jacket, jumper, hat etc. – Gaynor Le Teace (my mum)

Norwegian Fjords tip #13

• Bring your quilt onto the balcony! (Duvet). I’m not kidding. If you can also make yourself a cup of tea that’ll make it even better! I mostly had to do this because I hadn’t planned for such cold weather so didn’t bring the right clothes. Hopefully by reading this post you won’t make the same mistake that I did! (I thought June would be okay!)

Norwegian Fjords tip #14

Unless there is somewhere you particularly wish to visit, look at at the weather forecast before booking excursions..

It is rather a waste of money to book an expensive trip up a mountain or to see the Troll Wall when everything is shrouded in fog, and you can’t see anything anyway! When we got to the top of the funicular railway in Bergen this is the view that we were greeted with…

This is what it was meant to look like!

In the next section of this post, we talk about the ports of Bergen, Olden, Stavanger and Andalsnes.

Bergen cruise port tips

Norwegian fjords tip #15.

• Take the funicular railway! The number one attraction in Bergen appears to be the funicular railway. It is a gentle stroll to the bottom of the railway, and easy to pay by credit card – no kroner needed. Approx £9.75 for two adults one way. Once at the top it is a lovely walk back down the hill on a tarmacked road, through the wooded hillside. No need to pay for an excursion!. We found out from a fellow passenger later that there is actually a lake ten minutes from top of the hill, may be worth a look if its a sunny day.

Norwegian Fjords tip #16

• If you do take the funicular railway go later in the day. We went in the morning and couldn’t see a thing because of the fog! We could have been anywhere. If you are physically able to, make sure you walk back down. The path is a winding road and you’ll see some amazing sights along the way! It was really cool for us to be able to get below the clouds and see the ships.

Norwegian Fjords tip #17

• Look out for the trees that have their own jumpers! I’m not kidding.

Norwegian Fjords tip #18

• Be aware that you may sail away from Bergen quite early. I’m not too sure why they do this but a sail away of 3 pm can be quite standard. It’s probably just because this is the last port on the itinerary for cruise lines like P&O and Princess. The cruise line will let you know what time the ship is set to sail.

Stavanger Cruise Tips

Norwegian fjords tip #19.

• Visit the old town. It is easy to wander around is and genuinely just a lovely place! There will be a lot of tourists here. I wonder what it would be like to live in one of these houses with thousands of tourists wandering up and down your street. No wonder they all have net curtains.

Norwegian Fjords tip #20

• Visit the petroleum museum. Okay, this one is a little weird. I had no idea that there was a petroleum museum in Stavanger but SO many people have asked me if I went. They all seem to love it! It has a 4.5/5 star rating on trip advisor so must be something special…

Norwegian Fjords tip #21

• Be careful when walking around the roads. Even in the newer part of town, the roads can be a little difficult. If you are in a wheelchair it may be a good idea to stick to the main streets and not venture up and down all of the little cobbled streets that I found myself wandering around.

Norwegian Fjords tip #22

• Check out the other ships. There are usually multiple cruise ships docked in Stavanger at the same time. Make sure you get out and have a peek at the other ships! This is always one of my favourite things to do in a port. We were docked beside the MSC Orchestra and the Viking Sun. (Bit ironic since it rained every day on this cruise).

Norwegian Fjords tip #23

• Wander around the lake at Stravanger park. There is a lovely little park not too far from the cruise port. It is easy to walk there and wandering around the lake is very pleasant. Even in the rain, it was lovely. The park is right beside a cathedral.

Olden Cruise Tips

Norwegian fjords tip #24.

• Have your photo taken with a troll. Go on, you know you want too!

Norwegian Fjords tip #25

• Visit the Briksdal glacier. I would 100% recommend doing this. The glacier is SO COOL (mind the pun) and there are lots of lovely paths to walk around near it. There is even a couple of toilets here which I really appreciated. It takes around 45 minutes to get here from the cruise ship but you’ll get to see some amazing views on the way.

Norwegian Fjords tip #26

• Skip the Loen Skylift. We took the Loen Skylift and I honestly wouldn’t recommend it. The price of this is around £50 per person! (I know Norway is expensive but that is mad). The skylift only goes up and down every 30 minutes and 35 people fit in one skylift meaning you can’t really see anything on the way up or down. I really hate to be negative and tell people not to do things but I honestly just thought this was a waste of money. The views are really good but I don’t think £50 worth of good. Maybe it would have been better if it wasn’t so blooming cold!!

Norwegian Fjords tip #27

• Take as many photos of the ship as you can! There is NO better backdrop than that of the Norwegian Fjords. Even in bad weather, the ships look amazing. I honestly think the clouds and fog add a little something which makes it seem mysterious?!

Norwegian Fjords tip #28

• Do NOT miss the sail away! As we departed Olden a small cafe on the ship blasted out ‘I am sailing’ by Rod Stewart followed by ‘Time tooo…. say… goooddbyyyyyeee’ by Katherine Jenkins.  Don’t pretend you didn’t just sing that in your head. I did!

Andalsnes Cruise Tips:

Norwegian fjords tip #29.

• Take a gamble on the troll wall? I’m not TOO sure if this really counts as a tip but I would say think twice about booking a trip to the bottom of troll wall. If the weather is bad you won’t see a thing. I hadn’t ever looked up the troll wall before so I had no idea what I was meant to be seeing.

Norwegian Fjords tip #30

• Head UP the troll wall. I made some friends on this cruise and they told me that they had been UP the troll wall and had amazing views from up there. If I went again I would pick a tour that took you to the top of the wall whereas ours just took us to the bottom where we stared up at the clouds.

Other bonus tips!

Norwegian fjords tip #31.

Put a currency converter on your phone for Norwegian Kroner. Its pretty expensive, and you don’t want to get a nasty shock when you open your credit card bill! Do you really need a wooden troll or reindeer sausages? I think not… – Gaynor Le Teace (my mum)

Norwegian Fjords tip #32

• Eat as much food as you can on the ship so that you don’t have to eat in port… Norway is really expensive and I have no interest in paying for food when I have an unlimited supply on the ship! Make sure you eat a big breakfast and you’ll be fine for a while. If you have kids though it may be worth bringing some snacks.

My cruise onboard Britannia

This was my first P&O cruise and I was REALLY impressed with the food and service onboard. If you are cruising onboard Britannia make sure you check out this post. P&O Britannia: 8 free ‘must do’ activities.   Britannia is an amazing ship but she is HUGE and it can be difficult to make the most of your time onboard.

I also filmed a tour video when I was onboard and will be posting daily vlogs in each port.

Are you taking a cruise around the Norwegian Fjords? (Or would you like to?)

If you have any questions please leave a comment or join our Facebook group ( Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People ). We have 1600+ members all of whom would love to answer your questions and see your photos/hear your stories!

– – –

FURTHER READING:

A CRUISE ADDICTS GUIDE TO EXPLORING THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS. – CRUISE ADDICTS BLOG

CRUISING THE FJORDS OF NORWAY – THE CRUISE BLOGGER

Monday 3rd of September 2018

Really interesting, thank you. I have booked to go on Iona maiden voyage

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The Fjords: Oslofjord Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

Langkaia, Oslo, Oslo

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Discount with the Oslo Pass

Experience the Oslo Fjord aboard the electric vessel Legacy of The Fjords.

From the ship you get a lovely view of the city's architectural and historical landmarks. You get a panoramic view of Akershus Fortress, Oslo City Hall, Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen with the characteristic Astrup Fearnley Museum.

On board, there are screens that guide you, in addition to a free app with an audio guide. There is free wifi on board.

Last updated: 03/20/2024

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Norwegian Fjords Cruises

On our Norwegian Fjords cruises you’ll encounter one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet. Witness cascading waterfalls plunging into crystalline pools from the snow-topped mountains, climb the towering heights of Pulpit Rock, and engage with the captivating indigenous culture.

Nestled in the heart of Scandinavia, these deep, glacially-carved inlets offer a surreal landscape that beckons travellers from around the world. Norwegian Fjords are nature’s masterpiece, a geographical wonder that paints a picture of rugged cliffs, serene waters, and pristine wilderness.

As you set sail, you’ll be enveloped by a sense of tranquility that’s hard to find elsewhere. The Norwegian fjords, with their sheer cliffs and crystal-clear waters, create a breathtaking backdrop that changes with the shifting light, making every moment unique.

Some of the most popular cruise destinations in Norwegian Fjords are:

Explore the Flam Railway, hike to Stegastein viewpoint, cruise the Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord, visit the Flam Church, go kayaking, taste local cuisine, visit museums, enjoy nature walks, and admire waterfalls.

Stavanger, a coastal gem in Norway, enchants with its historic charm and modern vitality. With a picturesque Old Town, vibrant food scene, and access to the awe-inspiring Lysefjord and its iconic Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Stavanger offers a captivating blend of cultural richness and natural splendour.

Ålesund, a coastal jewel on Norway’s western shores, is celebrated for its Art Nouveau architecture, creating a captivating ambiance against a backdrop of fjords and mountains. This charming town invites exploration of its unique streets, rich maritime history, and panoramic views from Mount Aksla.

When is the best time to visit the Norwegian Fjords?

The best time to take a cruise holiday to the Norwegian Fjords depends on the region you want to explore and the specific experiences you’re seeking.

The ideal time to visit the Norwegian fjords is typically during the summer months, from late May to early September. This period offers the most favourable weather conditions for exploring these breathtaking natural wonders.

During summer, the days are long with extended daylight hours, and the fjords are framed by lush green landscapes and vibrant wildflowers. It’s an ideal time for activities such as hiking, kayaking, and cruising through the fjords to appreciate their stunning beauty. Moreover, the weather is relatively mild, making it more comfortable for outdoor excursions.

It’s also essential to consider factors like local holidays, festivals and peak tourist seasons. It’s always a good idea to consult with one of our cruise agents who will give you the best advice!

Which cruise lines sail to the Norwegian Fjords

Ambassador Cruise Line , Azamara ,   Celebrity Cruises , Cunard , Disney Cruise Line ,   Fred Olsen Cruise Lines , Holland America , Hurtigruten , MSC Cruises ,   Norwegian Cruise Line , Oceania Cruises , P&O Cruises , Princess Cruises , Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Royal Caribbean , Scenic Ocean Cruises , SeaDream Yacht Club , Seabourn , Silversea Cruises ,   Viking Ocean Cruises & Windstar Cruises .

Book Your Norwegian Fjords Cruise

Our cruise specialists at Southampton Cruise Centre are here to help! Call us from 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week on 02380 658 386 . Or search our collection of Cruises to the Norwegian Fjords below and send us an enquiry online! 

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Tromsø Fjords

Price (per adult), pickup at hotel, tickets option, activity languages, our recommendations in  tromsø fjords.

Tromsø fjord and wildlife cruise

Enjoy a cruise through Tromsø fjord and spot arctic wildlife as you admire beautiful frozen sceneries and visit a local fishing village

Arctic fjord summer sail safari

Sail through the fjords on a comfortable catamaran while learning about Arctic marine life. Your skipper will prepare a fresh hot lunch aboard.

Winter Kvaløya Fjord tour

Take in the magnificent Arctic scenery of Northern Norway and head into the wilderness on Norway's fifth-largest island.

Private fjord tour from Tromsø in a TeslaX car

Get closer to nature and experience the fjords around Tromsø in a TeslaX electric car in this guided tour which will take you from mountain to shore.

Tromsø Fjords tickets and tours

Silent whale watching tour by boat

Enjoy a whale watching tour with a silent engine and expert guides

Tromso fjord photo tour with professional photographer

Experience the wild nature of Northern Norway in a guided tour led by a professional photographer

How to get there

Reviews  tromsø fjords.

Absolutely fantastic. The guys were so friendly and welcoming, clearly keen to give us an unforgettable experience. The sunset was great, the homemade ...

Petit groupe, belle ambiance, personnel très sympathique. Nous avons également eu beaucoup de chance car très beau temps.

TUI Cruises Returning to Norway

• July 22, 2021

TUI Cruises has announced that it will be sailing to Norway with Mein Schiff 1 from Kiel starting on August 22. Complying with Norwegian requirements, all adults aboard, passengers and crew, must be fully vaccinated. Testing is mandatory for children over the age of four.

In addition to scenic cruising of fjords, calls will alternate between Bergen and Oslo.

TUI Cruises said that buffet meal service will be reinstated for vaccinated passengers as will the sauna.

Passengers will also be able to go ashore participating in organized excursion or own their own.

According to the cruise line, the vaccination rate of its passengers is already above 70 percent and rising. Current measures include a rapid antigen test for all guests before embarkation and before disembarkation. Face masks are only worn when social distancing is not possible, such as in elevators. The cruises to Norway will be limited to a maximum of 2,000 people onboard, including passengers and crew.

TUI Cruises ships in service include Mein Schiff 2, Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 sailing in the Mediterranean; Mein Schiff 3 sailing in the Baltic; and Mein Schiff 6 slated to launch service from Bremerhaven at the end of July.

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Norwegian Fjords & Autumn Fruit Harvest

Full Terms & Conditions please click here 

Please click here for full Terms & Conditions 

03 Oct 2024

Your cruise at a glance

Hand-crafted highlights.

Our Journey Planners have designed this cruise to show you Norway’s awe-inspiring natural surroundings as summer turns to autumn, a time of year that’s renowned for the fruit harvest. Ulvik is ideally placed for sampling the local seasonal produce, from apple juice to cider and brandy, while a scenic cruise along Hardangerfjord will showcase orchard-covered valleys and mountains. Balmoral will also sail the picturesque Nordfjord, passing Hornelen – Europe’s highest sea cliff. There will be opportunities to admire the remarkable landscapes ashore too, during a visit to the Briksdal Glacier from Olden, accompanied by a local geologist; or on a boat tour from Haugesund.

• On Board Experiences

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Scenic Norwegian fjords

As you journey along the Norwegian Fjords aboard Balmoral , you will have a number of opportunities to witness spectacular mountains, deep fjords, and cascading waterfalls. The village of Ulvik, surrounded by tall mountains and lush landscapes, is well-known for its flourishing fruit orchards, and you are also perfectly placed to visit the awe-inspiring Vøringfossen waterfall from here, whose waters plunge over steep cliffs, providing a beautiful show of mist and spray that can be heard from far away, before it appears as you sail along Hardangerfjord. Join us on tours to experience the icy blue hues of Briksdal and Kjenndal Glaciers, as they creep down valleys nestled between contrasting green hills. You will also have the chance to experience sailing along Lysefjord, home to the extraordinary mountains of Preikstolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjeragbolten.

Your Hand-crafted Signature Experience |  Scenic Discoveries

Embracing outdoor life

The concept of friluftsliv is ingrained in daily life in Norway, and encompasses spending time outdoors, connecting with nature by participating in various activities in the countryside. From Stavanger, join us on a hike to the famous mountain, Pulpit Rock (Preikstolen) where you'll experience a variety of natural landscapes en route to the plateau, where outstanding views across Lysefjord can be witnessed. In Ulvik, enjoy kayaking on Hardangerfjord, offering a unique perspective of the fjords and it surrounding landscape. When in Olden, do take an eco-friendly journey on E-Bike to discover its spectacular scenery as you cycle past cascading waterfalls and local farms.  

Your Hand-crafted Signature Experience | Itinerary Insights

Taste the seasons

Autumn is harvest season in Norway, so we've perfectly time your cruise for you to witness the colourful red, blue, and orange delicacies from nature's larder. During October, the woodlands are filled with fresh, wild berries, while orchards are bursting with ripe pears, apples and cherries, and collecting them is a popular pastime for Norwegians. The region is known for producing some of the world's best ciders and apple juices due to the unique microclimate of the fjords, making it perfect for apple cultivation. Join us on a tour to a traditional family-run farm, where you'll meet the fifth-generation owners who will offer an insight into daily life, and will provide delicious samples of juice, cider and cured meats.

Cruise Itinerary

Life On Board

Introducing balmoral.

Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral retains a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open deck space.

Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising.  Balmoral offers a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open-deck space.

Sample Shore Tours

At each port of call on your cruise, we carefully research and hand pick Shore Tour options for you, designed for you see as many of the world's best destinations as possible.

Below, you will find some sample Shore Tours which will give you an example of what to expect on your cruise. Your Shore Tours will be available to book approximately 8-13 weeks prior to departure via your My Cruises account.

Briksdal Glacier Hike With a Local Expert

This special tour affords you the opportunity to accompany a local expert graduate in geomorphology, who has worked as a glacier guide at the site, on a visit to view this famous glacier arm.

Hiking Like a Local

Walk to Bryggen, Bergen's UNESCO-listed Heritage Site, before ascending to the summit of Mount Fløyen on the funicular train. After a hike to the top of Mount Sandviken, descend into the valley to Øvre Eide Farm for a taste of creamy fish soup.

Syse Fruit Farm

Visit Syse Gard, a traditional family-run farm situated beside the Hardangerford. Gain an insight into the daily life and history on the farm, explore the orchard and sample produce such as apple juice, cider, and dried meats.

Boat Trip to Lysefjord

Enjoy a scenic tour of the Stavanger Archipelago and Lysefjord. Cutting deep into Rogaland County, Lysefjord offers views of mountain farms, islands, waterfalls and Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock.

Your Guest Speakers

We’ve arranged for some wonderful guest speakers to join us for this cruise. They will be delivering a programme of insightful talks and activities to deepen your cultural, artistic and historical understanding of the destinations we will be exploring, well as helping you to enjoy the natural beauty of the places we visit.

Dr. Anjana Khatwa

Anjana has over 25 years experience working within the natural conservation sector and holds an international reputation for excellence in geoscience and communciation. She will be delivering a series of talks about the Norwegian Fjords.

Kjersti Farrier

Kjersti, who was born in Norway, will be joining us to share some insight into Norwegian culture and way of life.

Treats & Pastimes

In addition to our Signature Experiences, we have a selection of lovely Treats & Pastimes for you to enjoy when on board. Just check your Daily Times each day for full details.

Cabins, Prices & Offers

Cabin Options On Your Cruise

* Prices correct as of 16:00 01/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on two people sharing a twin cabin. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

* Prices correct as of 16:00 01/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on sole occupancy. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

Cabin Grades

From £1,999 pp

From £1,899 pp

From £999 pp

From £849 pp

From £1,499 pp

Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)

Balmoral's Balcony Junior Suites have a large cabin area and private balcony

Superior Suite (SS)

Located on decks 9 & 10, Superior Suites have a balcony and large cabin area

Marquee Suite (MS)

Situated on deck 10, Marquee Suites have a private balcony and large cabin area

Last few cabins remaining!

Premier Suite (PS)

Located on deck 10, Premier Suites have a private balcony and large cabin area

Owner's Suite (OW)

Exclusive Suite - please call for more details

Balcony Cabin (BA)

Located on Deck 8 & 9, Balcony Cabins have a private balcony and spacious cabin area

Ocean View (F)

Two portholes in Balmoral's F Grade Ocean View cabins offer ocean views

Ocean View (E)

The E Grade Ocean View cabin on Balmoral features a picture window

Ocean View (D)

Balmoral’s D Grade Ocean View cabins have a picture window

Superior Ocean View (C)

Balmoral's C Grade Superior Ocean View cabins feature a picture window.

Superior Ocean Fully Obstructed View (CO)

CO Grade Superior Ocean View cabins have a fully obstructed picture window.

Superior Ocean View (B)

These cabins feature a picture window offering ocean views

Superior Ocean View (A)

These cabins feature a picture window offering ocean views.

Interior Cabin (I)

I Grade Inside cabins on Balmoral offer everything you need on a cruise.

Interior Cabin (H)

Balmoral’s H Grade Interior cabins offer all the features you need on a cruise

Superior Interior Cabin (G)

G Grade Superior Inside cabins on Balmoral are perfect for a relaxing cruise

Single Interior Cabin (N)

N Grade Single Interior cabins are located on decks 3 & 6

Single Interior Cabin (M)

M Grade Single Interior cabins are perfect for a relaxing cruise

Single Ocean View (K)

K Grade Ocean View cabins on Balmoral offer scenic views from the picture window

Single Ocean View (L)

Balmoral's L Grade Single Ocean View cabins offer ocean views from the porthole

Single Balcony Cabin (J)

On Lido Deck 8, Balmoral's J Grade Balcony cabins have a picture window

Single Balcony Suite (JB)

Balmoral's Single Balcony Suites have a private balcony and airy inside area

From £3,778.10

From £3,588.10

From £1,723.25

From £1,548.25

From £1,499

Cruise Offers

Free on board spend   freedom fare, save up to £100pp   freedom fare, what's included, so much already included.

As well as our Signature Experiences, there is a host of other treats to enjoy on board our ships.

Dining & Lounges

• À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Daily buffet dining options
• Late night Supper Club
• Afternoon tea
• Self-service tea & coffee
• In-cabin dining & snacks
• Evening shows
• Live music & dancing
• Dance classes
• Lectures & talks
• Cookery demonstrations
• Traditional deck games
• Daily games & quizzes

Relaxation & Fitness

• Swimming Pools
• Fitness Centre
• Fitness Classes

Enhance your cruise

Each of our cruises has been carefully designed for you to get the very best out of your time on board; and now you can enhance your cruise to make it even more special.

Need Some Help?

Take a look at our faqs, what do i pack for a cruise.

The handy checklist below has been created to assist in making sure you remember all the important things to pack for your cruise.

Are there any visa requirements I need to be aware of?

Visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you check with a professionally qualified source and comply with such requirements. UK passport holders will need visas for certain Fred. Olsen cruise holidays and will advised at the time of booking. Your cruise booking information will also detail any requirements applicable to your holiday.

What's the difference between Freedom and Saver fares?

On certain sailings we offer two types of cruise fares; Freedom and Saver Fares.

I'm travelling alone, how will I get to meet people?

Our single guests feel right at home on board our ships; Fred. Olsen have the reputation of sailing the friendliest fleet afloat. 

How do I get off the ship if we're at anchor?

Disembarking when your ship's at anchor is a very different experience to when it's docked portside. Getting ashore in this instance often involves the use of the ship's tender, which is accessed via the steps of a secure gangway.

• Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

Thinking of going to Moscow?

By scubacruiserx2 , October 11, 2013 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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scubacruiserx2

We thought about it and did it September 21, 2013. We would like to share how we did it and explore options on how to visit this great city.

Because we were staying in St. Petersburg, we chose a "Day Trip".

We found a guide on the internet and contacted her. We asked her the best way and day to visit Moscow. We agreed Saturday would be good and the Sapsan train is the preferred way to travel. We booked our e-tickets for the train on the internet.

The day began early with an accuweather check. It showed brilliant sun all day - in St. Petersburg (1 of only 35 days a year) and rain all day in Moscow. Walking to the Metro station we began the long ride down to the underground train.

The early morning Metro

This is the Moscow train station in St. Petersburg

And here is the Sapsan at rest

After scanning our tickets and a walk through a metal detector ( which we set off) we walked to wagon #3. Showing our passports to the attendant , we were seated by 0630 and ready to ride !

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After we were seated we received this overhead greeting

Russian Railways welcomes you aboard ! We soon found out that every thing would be in Russian first and then in English. Our launch time was reached - and we were off.

Here is some information about the Sapsan

http://www.russiantrains.com/en/page/sapsan-train

As the sun began to rise we saw some fog , but a clear sky just outside of St. Petersburg @ 125 mph.

We settled in for the 4 hour train ride to Moscow.

Appreciate your posting of these visuals in connection with your rail trip to Moscow and back. As noted below, we did this "adventure" in 2008 via the air routes. Keep sharing your nice and interesting visuals. Below are a few of mine showing the "prizes" to be enjoyed in Moscow. Fortunately, we had three days on our cruise stop in St. Petersburg, making this one-day trip work better.

The high-speed train connection does make a big, big difference currently. We did the one-day Moscow trip in 2008 by the air connections. I'll offer up some added background, along with various pro/con factors for your consideration. My wife thought it was lots of money, but she viewed it as very much worth it after completing the trip as a "once in a lifetime" experience.

CON FACTORS : It's a long day! Leave the ship early (greeted by a small welcoming band dockside); get back to the St. Petersburg airport around midnight and back to the ship a little before 1 am. Moscow is a super large city of over ten million people. There has been huge growth in the suburbs of this city during the past decades or so. Traffic and time from the airport to the main downtown takes about an hour, but the train takes your directly into the heart of this large city. Since we had to drive in from the airport, we had a good feel as we traveled into town through the coach windows about the “new Moscow” with its suburban growth, commerce, advertising, capitalism, big box stores, etc.

PRO FACTORS : Moscow has its unique history, sights and sites, from Ivan the Terrible up through Lenin, Stalin and the new Russian leaders of today. After a long ride in from the airport on the outer edge of this large metro areas of 17.3 million (with 10.5 million in the city), we stopped at a new hotel for coffee/tea/break. Then, we rode the Moscow subway and saw a couple of their very unique and artistic stations. Stalin at the time called these stations “People’s Palaces”. This Moscow Metro was first opened in 1935 and now has 182 stations, 12 different lines,187 miles of routes and carries seven million passengers each weekday. It’s the world second busiest subway system. This subway ride offered a good sampling of real life for people who live and work in Moscow. We then saw more key places enroute, including the home of the Bolshoi Ballet, KGB Headquarters, various Stalin-era buildings, etc. Then we went to the Kremlin with its 19 historic towers. WOW, we were really there!

Inside the Kremlin are three key “super stars”. First, was the State Armoury with its spectacular Faberge Eggs, plus so many carriages, crowns, gowns, jewels, etc. Second are the various historic Cathedrals within the Kremlin Walls, plus the Tower Bells, Icon art, etc. This includes the Cathedral of the Annunciation built in the 1480’s and having such spectacular wall murals and icons. Third, was the Great Kremlin Palace with its spectacular reception halls, inlaid wood floors, gold and more gold, fancy ceilings, etc. The Czars were crowned here, plus the current heads of the Russian government, etc. The size and scale of these areas are hard to describe in words, let alone reflect and capture the history that has happened in some of these rooms dating back to the late 1400’s. We have seen lots of great palaces all over Europe, but this is something above and beyond for the eyes, heart and brain.

Then, we saw more building inside the walls of the Kremlin. We went outside of the Kremlin Walls and walked next door to adjoining Red Square, seeing St. Basil’s and the re-done Gum Department Store. Red Square is so historic, especially having grown up seeing the military May Day parades there, visuals of Lenin’s Tomb, etc. Have the words “spectacular” and historic been used too much? Maybe, but it fits for many of these unique places. St. Basil’s was built 1555–1561 on the order of Ivan IV (the Terrible). It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (266 feet tall) in 1600 inside the Kremlin Walls. To be able to “CONTRAST” and compare Moscow and St. Petersburg during these three short days adds to the benefits of seeing both of these great Russian capital cities. Each is a very different and special city.

We finished with dinner in the Central Writers’ Club, a one hundred years old mansion made into a restaurant with crystal chandeliers, rich wood panelling, fireplaces, and antique balustrades.

Is one day too short and limited? YES! You can, however, do and see lots in only that one short day. You get a small sampling above. How often do you get to Russia? The Cold War might not come back in full force, but there are going to be increasing and revisited tensions in future years involving Russia and getting access there. They have done this tour many times and have its details down well and timing perfected. Let us know any questions, thoughts or reactions.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 120,278 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Walking on the famed Red Square of Moscow. This square separates the Kremlin, as the former royal citadel and the current official residence for Russia's President, from a historic merchant quarter. Red Square is often considered the central square of Moscow and all of Russia, because Moscow's major streets originate from here. The name Red Square comes neither from the color of the bricks nor from the link between the color red and communism. The name came about because of a Russian word that can mean either "red" or "beautiful". This word, per Wikipedia, has the meaning "beautiful", was originally applied to Saint Basil's Cathedral. Then, later, the meaning was transferred to the nearby square. It is believed that the square acquired its current name in the 17th century. Red Square was the leading stage and trade center for Moscow. Ivan the Great decreed that trade should only be conducted from person to person, but later these rules were relaxed and permanent market buildings began appearing on the square. After a fire in 1547, Ivan the Terrible reorganized the lines of wooden shops on the Eastern side into market lines and part of that transitioned into what is now GUM department store that adjoins this famed square.:

St. Basil's sits on Red Square and dates back to its 1555-61 construction on the orders of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV). It commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan and marks the geometric center of the city. This location has been the hub of its growth for Moscow since the 14th century. It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. This church was near destroyed in the 1930’s when Stalin was in control.:

The domes of the historic church inside the walls of the Kremlin:

This is the interior for Moscow's most historic church, Assumption Cathedral or the Cathedral of the Dormition, inside the Kremlin walls. It is the mother church of Muscovite Russia. The church stands on Cathedral Square and was built in 1475–1479 by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti. It was erected on the spot of an older 14th century cathedral of the same name:

The famed KGB (Secret Police) Headquarters in Moscow where many entered and did not exit (alive) during the 1950’s and 1960’s:

Here is a small sampling of the Kremlin Royal Treasures of the Czars: Eggs & Jewels inside the famed State Armoury in Moscow. One of the oldest museums in Moscow, it was established in 1808 and located within the Kremlin Walls. It originated as the royal arsenal in 1508 during when it was in charge of producing, purchasing and storing weapons, jewelry and various household articles of the Tsars. There are ten Fabergé eggs in the Armoury collection (all Imperial eggs). This is the most Imperial eggs, and the second-most overall Fabergé eggs, owned by a single owner. The Trans-Siberian Railway Egg is a jeweled Easter egg made under the supervision of the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé in 1900 for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. It was presented by Nicolas II as an Easter gift to his wife. The exterior of the 1900 Trans-Siberian Railway egg is made of onyx, silver, gold, and quartz, and is decorated with colored vitreous enamel. The lid of the egg is hinged, has an overlay of green enamel, and is decorated with inlaid leaves of acanthus. On top of the lid is a golden three-headed eagle in gold with the Imperial Crown. The interior is lined with velvet. A route map of the Trans-Siberian Railway is engraved in silver across the face, with major stations marked by a precious stone, forming a belt around the egg. The egg is supported by three griffins made of gold-plated silver on a stepped triangular base of white onyx.:

Scuba and Terry, thanks for sharing the information and beautiful pictures.

One question... I assume the one day tour is similar to the St Petersburg tours, in that you don't need to obtain a Russian Visa if you are booked through a Russian tour agency?

Scuba and Terry, thanks for sharing the information and beautiful pictures. One question... I assume the one day tour is similar to the St Petersburg tours, in that you don't need to obtain a Russian Visa if you are booked through a Russian tour agency?

Appreciate the nice comments and good question from our friend in Las Vegas. YES , if your cruise is there three days or less . . . A ND . . . you are with a licensed travel/tour firm , then there is no need to do a Russian Visa. You cannot take that one- or two-day train to Moscow and back unless you either have a visa or are with an appropriate such firm traveling with you.

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 144,153 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

The announcements on the train requested turning off phones. We quietly greeted and introduced ourselves (In Russian) to our table mates . It seems that we were the token foreign passengers and we quickly realized that on the train (Like most public transport), people don't usually speak unless they have a question or know one another. Even when they do it's respectful of others privacy with no loud talking or phone calls." I could get used to this" I thought to myself. Reading was the norm and listening to music was socially acceptable. Out came the Eyewitness Travel Moscow and cued Al Stewart's Road to Moscow on the mp3. After a quick nap and a snack we noticed that the movie Moscow does not believe in tears was playing on the TV and people were seemed surprised that we knew the movie.

The next thing we knew, the train was arriving in Moscow !

Exiting the train , we headed for the station.

Irina was waiting for us at the end of the platform and it was starting to rain. " Welcome to Moscow and it's weather" she said. " Nine months of expectations and three months of disappointment" she remarked. We headed to the Metro for a tour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Metro

As you can see , at 11 in the morning and we still had an empty Metro. Saturday or Sunday is the way to tour Moscow with a minimum of crowds

The first station that we visited was Komsomolskaya which is named for the Communist Youth League

Here is a mosaic from the ceiling

And at the end of the station was comrade Lenin

The Kievskaya Station is dedicated to the friendship between Russia and the Ukraine and is named after it's Capital - Kiev

It features idealized mosaics in the Soviet realism style

The Ukraine was the bread basket of the Soviet Union so agriculture and handicraft is displayed prominently in it's mosaics.

Because it is on the ring line #5 , it connects with #3 and #4 line and can get very busy.

Desertbelle

Thank you for these wonderful reviews. We are going to St. Petersburg for two days on the Brilliance next May. We have decided we want to go to Moscow for one of the days....your great photos make me want to go even more now! :D

The train ride of 8 hours (4 hours one way) and only 8 hours in Moscow doesn't sound perfect. Should we look for a tour guide who will take us by plane? Any recommendations? We would not want to undertake this on our own.

Thank you for these wonderful reviews. We are going to St. Petersburg for two days on the Brilliance next May. We have decided we want to go to Moscow for one of the days....your great photos make me want to go even more now! :D   The train ride of 8 hours (4 hours one way) and only 8 hours in Moscow doesn't sound perfect. Should we look for a tour guide who will take us by plane? Any recommendations? We would not want to undertake this on our own.

Congratulations on your upcoming TA and Baltic cruise and thank you for your kind comments. We did a TA in April of 2009 , followed by a 10 day stay in St. Petersburg. It's really a great time for the weather. Going to Moscow from St. Petersburg on a 2 day stay is going to be an either/ or proposition. Unless you can do a post cruise stay , it will be either Moscow or St. Petersburg . If its your first visit to Russia , we would recommend that you stay in St. Petersburg. It will save you travel time and money and there is more than enough to do in 2 days. If you decide on Moscow , many of the cruise ship offer this trip. We don't normally use or recommend the ship's tours but Moscow would be an exception. Few if any private tours offer this option for 2 days. If you chose to DIY with a Visa you could fly and meet the guide in Moscow and stay overnight. The problem with a 2 day stay is that Sapsan leaves before your ship arrives in port on the first day and arrives after your ship leaves on the second day. A more radical plan that we considered was to jump ship (With the Captain's permission) with a Russian Visa and stay longer in St. Petersburg / Moscow. Because we wanted more time in Russia , we cancelled our post TA Baltic cruise and just stayed in St. Petersburg.

Our last Metro stop before entering Red Square was Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Square of the Revolution). The hall contains life size sculptures of 'everyday people' who made The Revolution and the Metro possible.

Rubbing the nose of this border guards dog is said to bring good luck. I was amazed to see how many people touched this dogs nose after we stepped away.

This last 'every day person' is Lyudmila Pavlichenko who was credited with 309 kills as a sniper during WWII.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyudmila_Pavlichenko

Upon leaving the Metro station we were greeted by a steady rain and it was time to pop the umbrellas. After entering through The Resurrection Gate we stopped to take a picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Gate_and_Chapel

And turning around , there is was - Red Square ! I felt like like Dorothy opening the door in OZ. All of my childhood fears of ICBM rockets , goose stepping troops , 1 PM air raid sirens on Saturday , bomb shelters and duck and cover drills at school flooded my memory! Focusing on the task at hand , I had to learn to shoot pictures with one hand while holding an umbrella with the other. The first picture is Marshal Zhukov , a war hero

mounted on a horse , in front of The Historical Museum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgy_Zhukov

Kazan Cathedral was consecrated in 1636 by Prince Pozharsky and stood for 300 years until Joseph Stalin destroyed it in 1936. This faithful reconstruction was completed and consecrated in 1993.

There was a sea of umbrellas watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I could only get a picture by holding the camera overhead. If you look carefully, you can see his rifle beneath his raincoat.

The crowd thinned as they quickly marched away

But I sprinted ahead to capture a video clip

It was raining harder so we headed for GUM in hopes that the rain would abate.

GUM (pronounced goom) was the name given to this building after the Revolution in 1921. It was built in 1893 and currently has over 1000 shops. A banner proclaims 120 years.

This was one of my favorite photos of our trip. Watching a game of Bridal tug of war.

Maybe they were here shopping for this Mother In Law Cake. It features poisonous mushrooms on top ( I think they are sugar but didn't try them ).

We moved on to Yeliseev's Gastronom. The original store is in St. Petersburg.

http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/business/grigory-yeliseev/

This is their souvenir shop

With no sign of the rain stopping it was time to pop the umbrellas and head out to Red Square. The square is about 500 yards long.

The small platform in front of St. Basil's is called The Lobnoe Mesto. It is where the Tsar and patriarch would address the people at various times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobnoye_Mesto

Even in the rain and overcast skies the cathedral is striking !

To the right of the photo is The Savior's Tower. It was the main entrance to the Kremlin and stands 230 feet tall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spasskaya_Tower

We thought we would go inside of St. Basils to dodge rain and see what the interior looked like. Here's the porch.

Fancy doors

Iconostasis

And here is a view of Red Square with everything labeled

Wow! What else can be said. The photos and your trip are amazing! We have booked a Baltic cruise for June, 2014. We had not considered going to Moscow and after reading your blog, we are still not. BUT if we ever are lucky enough to come back sometime, it will definitely be on our TO DO list! Thank you for sharing the pics, vids and memories!

Jim and Pam

Hi: I am new to CC and we are going on our first cruise in June 2014 with Crystal Cruises. Scuba - I would like to find out more about your Moscow trip - not sure how one goes about emailing here, but could you please email me at [email protected] ?

Welcome to Cruise Critic ! We are honored to be your first post. Don't be afraid to ask questions and browse the threads on CC. They are many experienced people willing to help and share with your upcoming trip. We are emailing now.

Wow! What else can be said. The photos and your trip are amazing! We have booked a Baltic cruise for June, 2014. We had not considered going to Moscow and after reading your blog, we are still not. BUT if we ever are lucky enough to come back sometime, it will definitely be on our TO DO list! Thank you for sharing the pics, vids and memories!   Jim and Pam

Hi Jim and Pam, how was the Fall in Michigan this year ? DW is a Michigander and we met in Michigan. We love spending the fall there. Congratulations on your Baltic cruise. We fell in love with St. Petersburg when we visited there on our 2006 cruise. You will have 2 full and enjoyable days there. Is it possible to do a post cruise stay in Moscow or St. Pete. ? We wished that we did when we first went because there a lot that we missed and wanted to see things at our own pace. It would be much quicker and cheaper to fly from Copenhagen than another transatlantic flight from Michigan. If you have not seen our thread on St. Petersburg - you may want to check it out.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1775172

In front of St. Basil's Cathedral is a statue of a butcher Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitniy Pozharskiy. When Moscow was occupied in 1612 by the Polish Army , they raised a volunteer group to repel the invaders.

To me, the most amazing church in Moscow is The Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

After Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 , the strategy of retreat and destroy (scorched earth) was employed by Russia to allow Napoleon to enter Moscow. He found it in ruins - burned by the residents. When winter arrived on October 19, Napoleon began the long retreat to France. Along the way with no food , the winter and the Russian people attacking , the French troops were decimated. 600,000 troops had entered Russia and less than 60,000 left alive. To celebrate the victory Tsar Alexander ordered the Cathedral built to thank Christ for the victory.

In 1931 Joseph Stalin blew up the cathedral to build a skyscraper - The Palace of the Soviets , that would be taller than The Empire State Building. It would feature a giant statue of Lenin on top. The plans were abandoned when Germany invaded in 1941. After the war , it became a giant pool when construction was needed for housing. It was rebuilt beginning in 1995 , and was completed in 2000.

There was a crowd at the door and we waited in the rain and cold. It was beautiful inside (no pictures allowed). We stayed about an hour and the crowd had left and we took the second picture in the rain. A quick Metro ride to the train station and we said goodbye to our guide Irina.

http://www.newbyzantines.net/byzcathculture/christsavior.html

We returned to St. Petersburg on the Sapsan 1st Class. It included dinner , a drink and internet connections. The internet only works with a Russian phone service - so it did not work for us. The chairs reclined , so we got a nice nap after a long day.

Hi Jim and Pam, how was the Fall in Michigan this year ? DW is a Michigander and we met in Michigan. We love spending the fall there. Congratulations on your Baltic cruise. We fell in love with St. Petersburg when we visited there on our 2006 cruise. You will have 2 full and enjoyable days there. Is it possible to do a post cruise stay in Moscow or St. Pete. ? We wished that we did when we first went because there a lot that we missed and wanted to see things at our own pace. It would be much quicker and cheaper to fly from Copenhagen than another transatlantic flight from Michigan. If you have not seen our thread on St. Petersburg - you may want to check it out.   http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1775172

Ok, so now that I spent hours looking at and reading your posts, I see why you suggest a post tour. There is no way to see everything in only 2 days. But thank you so much for your information on SPB. We are really looking forward to our visit and want to get the most out of it.

We had snow flurries today in Michigan. Our fall was pretty short which means winter will be pretty long. We will survive though because we have 2 cruises to look forward to... Caribbean in February and the Baltic in June!

Thanks again for the great photo review and tips! I'll keep reading...

Ok, so now that I spent hours looking at and reading your posts, I see why you suggest a post tour. There is no way to see everything in only 2 days. But thank you so much for your information on SPB. We are really looking forward to our visit and want to get the most out of it.   We had snow flurries today in Michigan. Our fall was pretty short which means winter will be pretty long. We will survive though because we have 2 cruises to look forward to... Caribbean in February and the Baltic in June!   Thanks again for the great photo review and tips! I'll keep reading...   Jim

It sounds like a couple of great cruises coming your way. The Western Carib. is our most common trip cause we dive in all 4 ports. It's a great way for you to beat that long winter ! My wife's sister (from Bay City) does a girl cruise every winter to beat the cold and avoid the Spring breakers. We would encourage you to prioritize in St. Petersburg - you won't get to see it all in 2 days so pick the best for you. Please know your camera well before you visit ! The sites will come fast and furious so you want to catch them all. I had some new lenses and made some rookie mistakes and muffed some good shots ! If we can answer any questions - give us a holler. Joe

Thank you for your great report and photos! We will be in St. Petersburg for 3 days next June on Legend of the Seas. I arranged private tours in St. Petersburg on days 1 and 3, and to Moscow on day 2 - all with Alla Tours. I previously visited St. Petersburg in 2005, and am especially looking forward to visiting Moscow this trip.

Good to know that Nancy has these great Russian locations on her future, upcoming list. That assumes she survives her earlier “down under” visit, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Celebrity Solstice sailing, departing Sydney, going from Australia to Auckland/NZ doing 14 days on this ship we loved in the Med in June 2011. Nancy will be "riding" with us on this Aust-NZ cruise. Will share more on Russia with Nancy while we are sailing on this early 2014 adventure.

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 123,372 views.

Sounds like the perfect plan NancyIL ! Maybe something old and something new in St. Petersburg and something Red in Moscow! Did anyone watch Miss Universe in Moscow ? We enjoyed seeing the locale shots at night - something that we missed on our day trip. It also confirmed what we observed when we were there. Moscow like St. Petersburg has the majority of it's main sites located in a very small area. Catherine's Palace , Peterhof and Moscow require an amount of travel time equal or greater than the time spent there. There is the additional cost to Moscow as well. But it's great that you have 3 days and have seen some of St. Petersburg before so it made your decision easy. If you look at the map of Moscow you will see that most of the sites are very close together

and can be seen in a day, but Petersburg requires several days or more for maximum enjoyment.

Red Square and The Kremlin are next to each other and , in the lower left corner, is The Cathedral of Christ the Savior - all within walking distance.

We will be taking the Sapsan from Moscow to St. Petersburg next summer. Is there much of a difference between first class and coach? We're booked in coach as the TA says there's not all that much difference for the money. Also, do you have any opinion on whether to ride on the left or right, facing forward, headed to St. Petersburg? I want to get the best views.

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• Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

Moscow day trip? Advice, please!

By EllieR , January 7, 2017 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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Here's the question, and it's posed to mainly to those of you who have visited Moscow: do you think a one-day excursion to Moscow is worth $760?

I will be visiting St. Petersburg for a second time, a Saturday and Sunday this May. Last time, I did a tour that did all the main stops (SPB's deluxe tour, if that helps), so I'm looking for something different.

My ship is offering a one-day excursion to Moscow. Stops include the Kremlin, Cathedral Square, Armory, and some free time in Red Square. I would love to do this tour, especially considering I don't know when/if I'll get another opportunity to see Moscow.

Here's the catch: other than the really long day, it will be roughly $760 CAD. :eek:

I looked into other tour companies, but they only offer it as part of a three-day shore excursion or as a private tour (and it would cost more for me than the ship would).

The price is very discouraging, and there are other things I can do in St. Petersburg that interest me, but I would hate to miss this opportunity. For those of you who have been, what would you advise?

Thanks in advance,

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I haven't been yet, but I can tell you that I chose our August cruise specifically because it allows us to do a day in Moscow. I have always wanted to see Red Square & St Basil's Cathedral. My law partner has been, and he said it was just a WOW moment - like it really is the amazing to look at. I say, if you will never get back, it's worth it!

I was in Moscow for 3 days/nights many years ago. Seeing Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral was cool, but Moscow can't compare to St. Petersburg, which I visited last year. There is SO much more to see and do in St. Petersburg.

If it were me, even if I had already been to St. Petersburg, I would choose to see it again for a day rather than take a long and very costly excursion to Moscow.

My daughter lives in Moscow, so I am a bit biased but i have loved my visits there and think it's doable to get a flavor of the city in one day. If you have been to SPB and may not come back to Russia, I would do it. If you were to come back and enter Moscow (or Russia) on your own - without cruise or tour, the Visa & invitation letter will cost you like $400. It is a distance from SPB but if you have always wanted to see it, I would go for it.

Hello!   Here's the question, and it's posed to mainly to those of you who have visited Moscow: do you think a one-day excursion to Moscow is worth $760?   I will be visiting St. Petersburg for a second time, a Saturday and Sunday this May. Last time, I did a tour that did all the main stops (SPB's deluxe tour, if that helps), so I'm looking for something different.   My ship is offering a one-day excursion to Moscow. Stops include the Kremlin, Cathedral Square, Armory, and some free time in Red Square. I would love to do this tour, especially considering I don't know when/if I'll get another opportunity to see Moscow.   Here's the catch: other than the really long day, it will be roughly $760 CAD. :eek:   I looked into other tour companies, but they only offer it as part of a three-day shore excursion or as a private tour (and it would cost more for me than the ship would).   The price is very discouraging, and there are other things I can do in St. Petersburg that interest me, but I would hate to miss this opportunity. For those of you who have been, what would you advise?   Thanks in advance, Ellie.

There is enough to see in St. Petersburg to keep you busy for more than a month. I keep returning (having spent well over 2 months during previous visits) and always find awesome new areas to explore.

I have visited Moscow several times (but never from a cruise) and greatly enjoyed myself each time. Moscow is obviously on your bucket list & you have already visited St. Petersburg on a previous trip, touring the "must see" sights offered on most cruise excursions (I would not recommend visiting Moscow in your limited port time had you not previously visited St. Petersburg). So with that in mind, regardless of the price or length of touring day, if the choice were mine, I would "go for it". Moscow is very interesting (although, IMHO, not nearly as lovely as St. Petersburg) and the Kremlin is the highlight of any trip to Moscow. If you decide on Moscow, do try to visit inside St. Basil's Cathedral (most tours only show you the exterior which, I feel, is a shame). The Armoury is absolutely spectacular (among tons of amazing items, it is also home to the largest collection of imperial Faberge eggs - you could spend a few days in there - I did:)). Also, don't know if this is offered on your tour, but the Diamond Fund (crown jewels) was an absolute "must see" for me.

Also, check-out some of the subway stations - they are even more elaborate than those in St. Petersburg.

Kingsbridge

I have been to both cities several times and I think it would be worth it to go to Moscow even at that high price. You'll see the highlights and when you have your free time in Red Square, you can go into St. Basil's as the previous poster suggested. Much more exciting than just spending another day in St. Petersburg, lovely though it is.

And when you visit Red Square do go see Lennin's tomb, bizarre and such a glimpse into that culture!

Yes, Lenin's Mausoleum, although quite unusual, is definitely worth a visit. It takes just a few minutes to view the tomb (Lenin's body has been chemically preserved and no photos are allowed - there are guards in each corner). Also worth a look is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Red Square, Kremlin Wall, in the Alexander Garden - changing of the guard occurs every hour).

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lenins-mausoleum

At the opposite end of Red Square (northeast corner) is Kazan Cathedral - it is also pretty cool. It has a long and fascinating history - the original church was demolished during the Stalin era but the church was rebuilt & the one you see today was completely restored in 1993. The Kazan Virgin icon located inside is a copy - the original is in Moscow's Yelokhovo Cathedral.

Gum Department Store (also located on Red Square) is also worth a look.

Appreciate this discussion/debate, but agree with the above post. Below are some of my notes and pictures from visiting Moscow.

MOSCOW?? : YES, the high-speed train connection does make a big difference for your logistics. I'll offer the various pro/con factors for your consideration on the question of doing Moscow . . . or not. My wife thought it was lots of money, but she viewed it as very much worth it after completing the trip as a "once in a lifetime" experience. If you have good private tours in St. Petersburg, you can see most of the great and excellent stuff there in just two days.

CON FACTORS : It's a long day! Leave the ship early (greeted by a small welcoming band dockside); get back to the St. Petersburg late. Moscow is a super large city of over ten million people. There has been huge growth in the suburbs of this city during the past decades or so. Traffic and time from the airport to the main downtown takes about an hour, but the train takes your directly into the heart of this large city. Since we had to drive in from the airport, we had a good feel as we traveled into town through the coach windows about the “new Moscow” with its suburban growth, commerce, advertising, capitalism, big box stores, etc.

PRO FACTORS : Moscow has its unique history, sights and sites, from Ivan the Terrible up through Lenin, Stalin and the new Russian leaders of today. After a long ride in from the airport on the outer edge of this large metro areas of 17.3 million (with 10.5 million in the city), we stopped at a new hotel for coffee/tea/break. Then, we rode the Moscow subway and saw a couple of their very unique and artistic stations. Stalin at the time called these stations “People’s Palaces”. This Moscow Metro was first opened in 1935 and now has 182 stations, 12 different lines,187 miles of routes and carries seven million passengers each weekday. It’s the world second busiest subway system. This subway ride offered a good sampling of real life for people who live and work in Moscow. We then saw more key places enroute, including the home of the Bolshoi Ballet, KGB Headquarters, various Stalin-era buildings, etc. Then we went to the Kremlin with its 19 historic towers. WOW, we were really there!

Inside the Kremlin are three key “super stars”. First, was the State Armoury with its spectacular Faberge Eggs, plus so many carriages, crowns, gowns, jewels, etc. Second are the various historic Cathedrals within the Kremlin Walls, plus the Tower Bells, Icon art, etc. This includes the Cathedral of the Annunciation built in the 1480’s and having such spectacular wall murals and icons. Third, was the Great Kremlin Palace with its spectacular reception halls, inlaid wood floors, gold and more gold, fancy ceilings, etc. The Czars were crowned here, plus the current heads of the Russian government, etc. The size and scale of these areas are hard to describe in words, let alone reflect and capture the history that has happened in some of these rooms dating back to the late 1400’s. We have seen lots of great palaces all over Europe, but this is something above and beyond for the eyes, heart and brain.

Then, we saw more building inside the walls of the Kremlin. We went outside of the Kremlin Walls and walked next door to adjoining Red Square, seeing St. Basil’s and the re-done Gum Department Store. Red Square is so historic, especially having grown up seeing the military May Day parades there, visuals of Lenin’s Tomb, etc. Have the words “spectacular” and historic been used too much? Maybe, but it fits for many of these unique places. St. Basil’s was built 1555–1561 on the order of Ivan IV (the Terrible). It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (266 feet tall) in 1600 inside the Kremlin Walls. To be able to “CONTRAST” and compare Moscow and St. Petersburg during these three short days adds to the benefits of seeing both of these great Russian capital cities. Each is a very different and special city.

We finished with dinner in the Central Writers’ Club, a one hundred years old mansion made into a restaurant with crystal chandeliers, rich wood panelling, fireplaces, and antique balustrades.

Is one day in Moscow too short and limited? YES! You can, however, do and see lots in only that one short day. How often do you get to Russia? The Cold War might not exactly come back in full force, but there are going to be increasing and revisited tensions in future years involving Russia and getting access there. The key cruise lines have done this tour many times and have its details down well and timing perfected. Let us know any questions, thoughts or reactions.

Below are a few of my visuals for what is to see and do in Moscow. Hope that I am not giving you information over-load. Much depends on your personal interests for history, architecture, culture, etc.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 207,205 views .

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Here is one of the Kremlin Wall Towers in Moscow. It is a defensive wall that surrounds the Kremlin with its recognizable notches and the famed Kremlin towers. The original walls were likely a simple wooden fence with guard towers built in 1156. Between 1485 and 1495 a brigade of Italian architects designed a new defense perimeter. With an outer perimeter of over 7300 feet, the Kremlin appears as a loose triangle. Twenty towers survived to highlight the walls. Built at a different time, the oldest one dates to 1485 while the newest one was built in 1680. Three of the towers, located in the corners, have circular designs.:

Walking on the famed Red Square of Moscow can be thrilling!! This square separates the Kremlin, as the former royal citadel and the current official residence for Russia's President, from a historic merchant quarter. Red Square is often considered the central square of Moscow and all of Russia, because Moscow's major streets originate from here. The name Red Square comes neither from the color of the bricks nor from the link between the color red and communism. The name came about because of a Russian word that can mean either "red" or "beautiful". This word, per Wikipedia, has the meaning "beautiful", was originally applied to Saint Basil's Cathedral. Then, later, the meaning was transferred to the nearby square. It is believed that the square acquired its current name in the 17th century. Red Square was the leading stage and trade center for Moscow. Ivan the Great decreed that trade should only be conducted from person to person, but later these rules were relaxed and permanent market buildings began appearing on the square. After a fire in 1547, Ivan the Terrible reorganized the lines of wooden shops on the Eastern side into market lines and part of that transitioned into what is now GUM department store that adjoins this famed square.:

This is the interior for Moscow's most historic church, Assumption Cathedral or the Cathedral of the Dormition, inside the Kremlin walls. It is the mother church of Muscovite Russia. The church stands on Cathedral Square and was built in 1475–1479 by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti. It was erected on the spot of an older 14th century cathedral of the same name:

Here is a small sampling of the Kremlin Royal Treasures of the Czars: Eggs & Jewels inside the famed State Armoury in Moscow. One of the oldest museums in Moscow, it was established in 1808 and located within the Kremlin Walls. It originated as the royal arsenal in 1508 during when it was in charge of producing, purchasing and storing weapons, jewelry and various household articles of the Tsars. There are ten Fabergé eggs in the Armoury collection (all Imperial eggs). This is the most Imperial eggs, and the second-most overall Fabergé eggs, owned by a single owner. The Trans-Siberian Railway Egg is a jeweled Easter egg made under the supervision of the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé in 1900 for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. It was presented by Nicolas II as an Easter gift to his wife. The exterior of the 1900 Trans-Siberian Railway egg is made of onyx, silver, gold, and quartz, and is decorated with colored vitreous enamel. The lid of the egg is hinged, has an overlay of green enamel, and is decorated with inlaid leaves of acanthus. On top of the lid is a golden three-headed eagle in gold with the Imperial Crown. The interior is lined with velvet. A route map of the Trans-Siberian Railway is engraved in silver across the face, with major stations marked by a precious stone, forming a belt around the egg. The egg is supported by three griffins made of gold-plated silver on a stepped triangular base of white onyx.:

The Russian subways are called the “People’s Palaces” with their marble coverings and unique designs for each of the different and many stations. This visual is from Moscow, but you can see similar stations in St. Petersburg. Very interesting!! The Moscow Metro was opened in 1935 with one line and 13 stations. It was the first underground rail system in the Soviet Union. As of 2016, the Moscow Metro excluding the Moscow Central Circle, has 203 stations and its route length is 210+ miles. This makes it the fifth longest in the world. The system is mostly underground, with the deepest section being 276 feet deep at the Park Pobedy station.:

Here is the somewhat more modern Lenin Tomb that sits directly on Red Square. This mausoleum serves as the final resting place of Vladimir Lenin. His preserved body has been on public display there since shortly after his death in 1924. This granite structure incorporates some elements from ancient mausoleums.:

Just a note - you said your trip was on a weekend, but for others considering this note that many cruises that are in St Petersburg for 3 days (which allows you to go to Moscow on the middle day) have the middle day on Thursday and the Kremlin is closed on Thursdays. It's one of the main attractions so good to know.

Never too much information from you Terry - I could look at your pictures and commentary over and over again!

Appreciate this added info and the very kind comments from [email protected] . Glad your tastes and standards are so high and classy!!

From the London/UK Daily Mail travel section yesterday, they have this overall headline: "ten hottest travel spots for 2017 " with this highlight subhead: "Soak up Russia’s rich history" .

Here are some of the highlights cited: "In 2017, Russia will mark 100 years since the Bolshevik Revolution, which overthrew the Tsars and ushered in a new world order. Unrest began in March 1917 in St Petersburg, and Moscow was reinstated as the capital city just a year later. Take in both cities to compare imperial opulence and canals of the former, with the stark Soviet buildings and the preserved leader of the latter. When to go : June and July see long days of warm, sunny weather and plenty of cultural events. August is warm, but slightly quieter."

Here some of my additional pictures from Moscow. Yes, we loved comparing and contrasting these two mega-stars!!

Full story at:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-4097066/From-Patagonia-Persia-ten-hottest-travel-spots-2017-revealed.html

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure , getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 166,050 views for this posting.

Kazan Cathedral sits on the northeast corner of Red Square in Moscow. The current building is a reconstruction of the original church which was destroyed at the direction of Joseph Stalin in 1936. The original church was erected as a shrine in the early 1630s to mark the city's liberation from the Polish aggressors. After the Soviet Union’s fall, this was the first church to be completely rebuilt. The cathedral's restoration (1990–1993) was based on the detailed measurements and photographs of the original church:

Double-Eagle on Top of Kremlin State Palace built in 1961 for Communist Party congresses in Moscow.:

Inside the Kremlin’s State Armoury, here are more treasures from the historic period of the Czars:

The famed KGB (Secret Police) Headquarters in Moscow where many entered and did not exit (alive) during the 1950’s and 1960’s:

Young Military Officers on the streets of Moscow with Soviet "High Hat".:

One of the 1930’s style building built by Stalin in Moscow:

Thank you all so much for your advice! I booked the excursion to Moscow this morning. :)

Question for Terry: I am impressed with all you were able to see in Moscow, but am unclear over how much time you spent there. You mentioned a three-day excursion - was all of this from three days in Moscow, or was this the middle day of a three day package?

Thanks again,

Thank you all so much for your advice! I booked the excursion to Moscow this morning. :) Question for Terry : I am impressed with all you were able to see in Moscow, but am unclear over how much time you spent there. You mentioned a three-day excursion - was all of this from three days in Moscow, or was this the middle day of a three day package? Thanks again, Ellie.

Appreciate this excellent follow-up question from EllieR. We only had the one day in Moscow!! Did we do and see lots? YES!! Part of it is good organizational skills by the most of the tour organizers who do this excursion. Partly it is the greatness of Moscow with so many great options that are reasonably close together in the main part of their city. As noted, it was a long day in doing Moscow, but we got a great "ENERGY" is being able to experience so much greatness, unique history and amazing sights, etc.

Another important "secret" was having a very good tour firm in St. Petersburg and having planned our time in that historic city in order to be able to maximize the efficiency for this port where our ship was docked.

Added questions and sharing? Good luck with your "adventures" in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 219,956 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Thank you all so much for your advice! I booked the excursion to Moscow this morning. :)   Thanks again, Ellie.

Great - enjoy!

Hope you will come back and post after your cruise - we would love to hear your impression(s) of Moscow.

TLCOhio, will you share your "secret" company with me? We will be on the Serenade of the Seas in July of 2017 and will be in St. Petersburg three days. Our problem is the boat docs at 7am on Wednesday and leaves at 6pm on Friday so I need a tour group that can get me to Moscow on Wednesday because I really want to experience inside of the Kremlin not just the walls.

Thank you in advance and forgive me if something is posted weird I am new to cruise critic.

Pwizzy - That is the reason I booked the Oceania cruise because I don't think you ca get there on Wednesday after docking at 7am. At least you can't take the train because it leaves before you can get to it. Possibly you can find a company that can take you on a flight to Moscow? And maybe return by train? The advantage of the train is it gets you right into the city. I think Terry flew when he went if I remember right. I have booked with the same company he used and we are on the train, but maybe a flight is a possibility. It is Anastasia tours, and Katherine there has been lovely to work with via email.

Thank you for your help. I will look into Anastasia tours.

It is Anastasia tours, and Katherine there has been lovely to work with via email .

dogs4fun : Hope you will come back and post after your cruise - we would love to hear your impression(s) of Moscow .

Appreciate these various follow-ups and agree strongly with dogs4fun that folks need to do a post-trip posting here as to their impressions and experiences from doing the Moscow day-trip.

On e-mailing with the potential Russian tour guides ' date=' that is very, very important to learn more and make things "FIT" your personal needs and interests. Ask them key questions and learn more. There are so many good options in going there, that you need to research and carefully make the best, smart choices. AND, get your trip flow and "logistics" in a good and efficient manner. All of my e-mails with Anastasia, back-and-forth, were vital to making our trip work so well. Doing Russian is much more than a typical Caribbean island where there is just an old fort, a beach and tee-shirt shops. You need to carefully consider your priorities and trip flow/order, etc

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio[/font']

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 207,431 views .

• 1 month later...

Poodiepurple

We too are arriving in May, Saturday and Sunday, we might be on the same cruise - Koningsdam departing Amsterdam 21st May.

We would dearly like to do the Moscow day trip and we have investigated this.

Our ship price is $599USD each for the day by train both ways.

Guide Guru would be our preferred choice for Moscow. It has a sliding scale of prices and we are hopeful that there will be at least six persons plus on this tour which for us would be affordable. They fly to Moscow and train it back. We are looking at their two day package - Moscow / St Petersburg which ranges from $640usd (6 persons) down to $573 (16 persons)

The one day St Petersburg /Moscow ranges from $490usd 6 persons to $420usd (16 persons).

Hope this might help your with your decision making. Guess if it is something you want to do and won't be back this way again, do it.

EllieR : Here's the question' date=' and it's posed to mainly to those of you who have visited Moscow: do you think a one-day excursion to Moscow is [b']worth $760?[/b]

Glad that folks continue to be researching and planning their options for Moscow, enjoying St. Petersburg, etc. Lots of great options in these areas. Don't be shy with asking any more questions. Happy to share more!!

As to whether it is "worth $760" , that is a highly personal decision based on your finances, travel priorities, etc. Doing this Moscow one-day trip is not cheap, but we were very, very glad that we did this excursion. For our interests, it was "amazing" and a never-to-forget experience. You summarized well as to the key question as to how often does one get to Russia? Or, to be able to sample/contrast both of these historic capital of this unique, large and important country.

Below are a few more of my "eye-candy" samples from Moscow. Keep up the great questions and comments.

AFRICA?!!? : Lots of interesting and dramatic pictures can be seen from my latest live/blog at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now at 29,902 views for this reporting and visual sharing that includes Cape Town, all along the South Africa coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta area.

St. Basil's sits on Red Square and dates back to its 1555-61 construction on the orders of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV). It commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan and marks the geometric center of the city. This location has been the hub of its growth for Moscow since the 14th century. It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. This church was nearly destroyed in the 1930’s when Stalin was in control.:

The domes of the historic church inside the walls of the Kremlin:

Inside the newly, more westernized GUM Department Store:

World’s largest cannon sits inside of the Kremlin walls:

Here is another view of the subways in Moscow. It is easy to see whey they were called the “People’s Palaces” with their marble coverings and unique designs for each of the different and many stations.:

These are the series of smaller domes on the top of the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in the Kremlin Cathedral Square area.:

Would you please tell me which tour company you used for the Moscow day trip.

Hello, Poodiepurple! Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, we will not be on the same cruise. I will be sailing in on the Regal Princess, first weekend in May.

The trip I booked was through the ship. It is priced $580 USD (the $760 Terry quoted from me above is the excursion in CAD).

Anyone interested in Moscow day 1 and St Petersburg day 2? Guide Guru has two day tours. The prices are on a sliding scale. We are holding places on this tour, and waiting to see if another 4 people at least will do the tour prior to committing. The cost is around $600usd for the two days - expensive I know but we really want to see and experience a taste of Moscow. Fly to Moscow and train it back. The max people for the St Petersburg tour is eight. Guide-Guru Tours have glowing reports on Trip Advisor. Check them out if you are interested. We would dearly like to do this tour but with only two of us the cost is way too much for us.

• 3 months later...

Well, we came and went. I'm sorry to say, I felt a little underwhelmed. My expectations might have been too high and I think the timing was bad (I wasn`t aware that the Saturday we were there was two days before Russia`s V-Day celebrations).

First of all, we were unable to go to the Red Square. When I signed up for the trip, I was advised that the area could be closed at any time without notice, so I knew the risk was there. That ended up occurring the day we were there (because of the V-Day celebrations). We then went inside a church in the Kremlin and into the Armoury. The church has nothing on those we saw in Saint Petersburg. As for the Armoury, if you've been to armouries or other royal collections in Copenhagen, Stockholm, or elsewhere, then a lot of what you'll see in Moscow will look similar. We also ended up being rushed through a bit, being shuffled to every third or fourth exhibit, battling through other tour groups to get to some of the nicer items.

This is not to say that I regret going. If I hadn't gone, I would've been wondering 'what if'. However, I certainly don`t feel a need to go back, and I would advise others considering this trip to look into whether any major holidays or celebrations are scheduled to take place around that time, as that will affect the number of people around and what you will be able to see.

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