One of the best ways to see the splendor of the Russian and Ukrainian countryside is to cruise Russia or Ukraine by river or by sea. (Click on any map below to open a larger interactive map).
1. Russian Waterways Cruise: Moscow – St. Petersburg
Cruise Russia for 10 days/10 nights from St. Petersburg to Moscow or in the opposite direction – Moscow to St. Petersburg. The route will take you along a network of canals, lakes and rivers, including the life blood of Russia, the Volga River. Follow the link for more information about the Moscow to St. Petersburg cruise or St. Petersburg to Moscow cruise.
2. Cruise: Moscow – Astrakhan – Rostov
To get a sense of another, more traditional Russia, one should try to leave the hustle of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. One great way is to cruise Russia south through scenic countryside all the way to the Caspian Sea, then Rostov-na-Donu.
- Moscow – Caspian Sea – Rostov-na-Donu
- Rostov-na-Donu – Caspian Sea – Moscow
3. Cruise: St. Petersburg to Rostov
A fascinating cruise that takes you through the very heart and soul of Russia. Cruise Russia from Saint Petersburg to Rostov-na-Donu or Rostov to Saint Petersburg. Follow the links for a detailed itinerary and prices.
4. Cruise: Moscow to Perm
Equally scenic as the cruise south to Rostov-na-Donu, you may wish to cruise Russia further east to Perm. Highlights include the historic Kremlins in both Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan, as well as the home in Votkinsk where Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky lived for part of his youth.
- Moscow – Perm (Peter Tchaikovsky Cruise)
- Perm – Moscow
5. Ukraine Waterways Cruise
Cruise Ukraine along the historic Dnieper River and along the splendid Black Sea coastline. The duration of each particular cruise ranges from 12 to 15 days and they generally follow a similar itinerary. Cruises either start or end in Kiev or Odessa.
Along the route, passengers may disembark for guided walking and bus tours in popular cities including Kaniv, Kremenchuk, Zaporozhye, Kherson and Sevastopol. Depending on the cruise, there are also stopovers in Yalta and Dnepropetrovsk. Follow the link for detailed information about several popular Ukraine Waterways Cruises.
- Kiev to Odessa
- Odessa to Kiev
6. Cruise: Kiev, Ukraine to Istanbul, Turkey
For those who want the Dnieper River Cruise experience (above) combined with 3 more countries, look at the Kiev to Istanbul Cruise or Istanbul to Kiev Cruise. They involve all the popular destinations of the Dnieper River Cruises, plus stopovers in Tulcea Romania and Nessebar Bulgaria, plus a quick bus trip to Chisinau Moldova.
- Kiev to Istanbul Turkey
- Istanbul to Kiev
7. Cruise the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East
Cruise Russia along Siberia’s Chukotka coastline, the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander islands, one of the world’s last untamed wildernesses. The myriad of environments include snow-capped active volcanoes, geothermal regions, vast forests, tundra, uninhabited islands, and wild oceans. Check out the following 4 great Russian cruises.