The way to see Russia! We had three days in Moscow, five days on the Volga River, and three days in St. Petersburg. I thought I'd be living on beets and vodka but the food on the boat was excellent (continental) and the service was first-rate. I loved all of our local guides (made me fall in love with the Russian people) and our on-boat lecturers. Both Ludmilla and Olga were extra special. Would unreservedly recommend this trip!

Fantastic Trip I took this cruise with my 82 year old mother. The experience was once in a lifetime! The guides were vey knowledgeable; the service on the boat was impeccable! The activity options on the boat were plentiful. The food was superb, like eating at a five-star restaurant every night. The tours in Moscow and St. Petersburg were slightly strenuous for my mom (it was hot in Moscow, over 85 degrees), but everyone in the group kind of "adopted" her and pointed out chairs for her to sit down in, etc. I would (and have!) recommend this cruise.

A Terrific Tour We enjoyed the terrific international mix of individuals on the tour. Not only were the crew and local guides welcoming and informative, but the sites chosen were well-planned and interesting. Unlike other cruise lines, we appreciated the lack of bombardment of brochures, emails, and telephone calls. All in all, a wonderful experience.

Russian tour If coming from West Coast or further plan an extra day before tour starts to give yourself time to adjust. First day program in Moscow is very intense. Our guide in Moscow was knowledgeable but too strict, insisting we listen to her and stand right next to her at all times, giving almost no time for photos or questions. Staff on board were exceptional particularly our cruise director, Olga. I loved the boat, all wood paneling and old world. Food plentiful and delicious. Marvelous guide, Natasha, in St. Petersburg. Night tour of Moscow was not worth doing. However, performance in St. Petersburg was worth every penny, but be prepared to fight for your unassigned seats. Overall, a wonderful trip I would recommend to anyone.

Wonderful first time experience of Russia's culture, history and scenery We chose Platinum Class for our first experience of a river cruise, and it was well worth the extra.. We really felt treated like special people. Small group (6 of us!) for cultural visits in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with excellent very knowledgeable guides who steered us through the museums. Sadly in the Kremlin we had very little time to look at the beautiful historic churches and rather too long looking at royal wedding dresses and diamonds. The on-board experience was wonderful, with tasty and varied food , lots of things to do, so no time to get bored, even in the rain! Prof.Ludmila Selezneva's talks on modern Russia and history of art were wonderful and so enthusiastic. We really learnt a lot. The crew were super-efficient and friendly too, Just one point of criticism of what was otherwise a marvellous trip. The diningroom on "Volga Dream" with its low ceiling and small portholes felt a bit claustrophobic and the acoustics were so bad that everybody had to shout. Not so good for conversation with your neighbour at table. Perhaps that part of the vessel could be refurbished (?)