Everything about the cruise was great. The places visited, particularly St Petersburg and Moscow, were interesting. The guides who traveled all the way with us were knowledgeable and their talks on board were well worth attending as they gave a history of Russia.
The stops along the way were generally very interesting, and the 'local guides' were also generally of a high standard.
The food ...
We had been wanting to go on a river cruise. This was our first one and we chose this itinerary because the timing fit with other plans made. We enjoyed the small passenger feel. The staff worked hard to see that you were comfortable and had everything you needed. Some of the special things we enjoyed was the “Meet your Neighbors” event, where all your cabin neighbors met in the hall, drank ...
I have had an interest in Russia for over 50 years starting with history classes and have read numerous books and literature about the country through the years.
The Viking River Cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow ( although I would start in Moscow) was absolutely fabulous in every aspect from the cruise itself through Lake Ladoga, Onega and the Russian rivers to all the cities and towns ...
I had wanted to go to Russia for 30 years and knew the Viking cruise would give me what I wanted, at least for a first trip.
We were able to see the primary points of interest plus some unknown to me. And, going to a country like Russia, I wanted a prominent tour company handling the entire trip. Viking did great! We were met upon arrival, taken to the ship, and settled in before having our ...
This was our third trip with Viking and the second River cruise. Unfortunately this experience did not meet our expectations based on previous cruises.
First the Good:
The waitstaff in the Dining room was excellent. By the end of the cruise they knew who we were, more or less what we wanted and were overall attentive. One evening I lost an earring and just assumed that it was gone. When we ...
We travelled as a group from Hawaii. There were 24 people in our group. A few were not from Hawaii, but they all had Hawaii '"connections". Our group leader was Deanne Horie.
The staff of the Ingvar was outstanding. "Sasha from Russia" was so informative but also very entertaining. Also, the dining room crew took care of our group like family. They saved off a couple of tables for us so that we ...
This is not a first cruise for anyone. It's a cruise for people who've seen a lot, and want more. The "river" between St. Petersburg and Moscow is a combination of lakes, rivers, and canals. Near St. P, it's mostly uninhabited area. Near Moscow, it's more inhabited. Of the 5 stops on the "river," only two (Yaroslavl and Uglich) are real towns. Kizhi is fabulous, as a recreated ancient ...
My first Viking cruise. I'd heard so many good things about Viking and I was not disappointed.
I thought Russia would be interesting. The staff and guides made it so much more than interesting. I was impressed by the amount of education and training required for the tour guides and that they were people who actually lived in the area where we went. Everyone was so well informed and very willing ...
My husband has been wanting to see Russia for years....I always hedged......but finally agreed to go this summer. Wow! What an eye opener. What was I thinking? Russia is just beautiful! We started our cruise in St. Petersburg where we visited the famous Hermitage, Catherine's Palace, the Marlinsky Ballet (stunning performance of Swan Lake) etc., and made our way to Moscow visiting quaint ...
We received outstanding service in the dining room....personalized. friendly, caring staff.
Our cabin was comfortable and clean.
However, we had some complaints about this cruise;
*One of the included shore excursions was a ballet performance. I was excited when I found out we had box seats...but that excitement faded when my husband had to STAND FOR THE WHOLE SHOW...because he could ...