2018 Scandinavia & Russia

[VivianK]

Any idea when the schedules for these cruises will be available? Thanks!

[WestLakeGirl]

If they go as previous years did, the new releases might start rolling out in November ]and into December

[roxievegas]

just a point: we went on the Baltic cruise in May 2016. We originally booked a cruise in June, but then saw that we could save $2,000 total on veranda cabin if we went on the first cruise of the season. So we switched. The prices ended up dropping by $50 pp and we got an extra perk before final payment was due, but did not see much change after that. Then all hell broke out in europe and the prices starting dropping on the other cruises - but if that had not happened, price is much higher in summer months

Weather- we had the most beautiful sunny, warm and everyone told us how lucky we were. It was for all the stops - never wore a coat. Later cruises had horrible cold and windy. Can't predict the weather, but don't eliminate May because you think it will be too cold.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Interesting viewpoint, roxie, thanks. I'm still vacillating between May and August 2018. Itineraries can't come soon enough!

[VivianK]

just a point: we went on the Baltic cruise in May 2016. We originally booked a cruise in June, but then saw that we could save $2,000 total on veranda cabin if we went on the first cruise of the season. So we switched. The prices ended up dropping by $50 pp and we got an extra perk before final payment was due, but did not see much change after that. Then all hell broke out in europe and the prices starting dropping on the other cruises - but if that had not happened, price is much higher in summer months

Weather- we had the most beautiful sunny, warm and everyone told us how lucky we were. It was for all the stops - never wore a coat. Later cruises had horrible cold and windy. Can't predict the weather, but don't eliminate May because you think it will be too cold.

Thanks for the advice. We'll definitely consider May.

[easyboy]

just a point: we went on the Baltic cruise in May 2016. We originally booked a cruise in June, but then saw that we could save $2,000 total on veranda cabin if we went on the first cruise of the season. So we switched. The prices ended up dropping by $50 pp and we got an extra perk before final payment was due, but did not see much change after that. Then all hell broke out in europe and the prices starting dropping on the other cruises - but if that had not happened, price is much higher in summer months

Weather- we had the most beautiful sunny, warm and everyone told us how lucky we were. It was for all the stops - never wore a coat. Later cruises had horrible cold and windy. Can't predict the weather, but don't eliminate May because you think it will be too cold.

We also enjoyed our Baltic cruise in May. Nice weather and beautiful tulips too. No regrets.

[TLCOhio]

Weather- we had the most beautiful sunny, warm and everyone told us how lucky we were. It was for all the stops - never wore a coat. Later cruises had horrible cold and windy. Can't predict the weather, but don't eliminate May because you think it will be too cold.

 

Great to hear on your May Baltics "good luck" with the weather, but what happened for you is not the "normal" or average.

 

Here are a few weather averages/details for these three key cities in the Baltics by looking at the 7th, 15th, 23rd days of each month from http://www.wunderground.com:

 

Copenhagen: High/low averages,

May, early: 61 high/47 low °F

May, mid: 63/48 °F

May, late: 65/50 °F

 

June, early: 67/53 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 69/54 °F

 

July, early: 69/55 °F

July, mid: 69/54 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/53 °F

August, mid: 66/52 °F

August, late: 64/51 °F

 

Sept., early: 60/49 °F

Sept., mid: 58/47 °F

Sept., late: 56/45 °F

 

St. Petersburg:

May, early: 60 high/41 low °F

May, mid: 62/44 °F

May, late: 65/46 °F

 

June, early: 68/49 °F

June, mid: 70/51 °F

June, late: 72/53 °F

 

July, early: 72/53 °F

July, mid: 71/52 °F

July, late: 70/51 °F

 

August, early: 66/48 °F

August, mid: 64/46 °F

August, late: 61/45 °F

 

Sept., early: 55/41 °F

Sept., mid: 52/38 °F

Sept., late: 48/36 °F

 

Stockholm:

May, early: 60 high/44 low °F

May, mid: 62/46 °F

May, late: 63/49 °F

 

June, early: 66/52 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 70/55 °F

 

July, early: 71/56 °F

July, mid: 70/55 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/52 °F

August, mid: 65/50 °F

August, late: 63/48 °F

 

Sept., early: 58/44 °F

Sept., mid: 54/42 °F

Sept., late: 51/40 °F

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

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 215,248 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

[H2OH!]

we also want to book a 2018 Baltics cruise. Hoping for 2 or 3 days in Russia.

[VivianK]

Great to hear on your May Baltics "good luck" with the weather, but what happened for you is not the "normal" or average.

 

Here are a few weather averages/details for these three key cities in the Baltics by looking at the 7th, 15th, 23rd days of each month from http://www.wunderground.com:

 

Copenhagen: High/low averages,

May, early: 61 high/47 low °F

May, mid: 63/48 °F

May, late: 65/50 °F

 

June, early: 67/53 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 69/54 °F

 

July, early: 69/55 °F

July, mid: 69/54 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/53 °F

August, mid: 66/52 °F

August, late: 64/51 °F

 

Sept., early: 60/49 °F

Sept., mid: 58/47 °F

Sept., late: 56/45 °F

 

St. Petersburg:

May, early: 60 high/41 low °F

May, mid: 62/44 °F

May, late: 65/46 °F

 

June, early: 68/49 °F

June, mid: 70/51 °F

June, late: 72/53 °F

 

July, early: 72/53 °F

July, mid: 71/52 °F

July, late: 70/51 °F

 

August, early: 66/48 °F

August, mid: 64/46 °F

August, late: 61/45 °F

 

Sept., early: 55/41 °F

Sept., mid: 52/38 °F

Sept., late: 48/36 °F

 

Stockholm:

May, early: 60 high/44 low °F

May, mid: 62/46 °F

May, late: 63/49 °F

 

June, early: 66/52 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 70/55 °F

 

July, early: 71/56 °F

July, mid: 70/55 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/52 °F

August, mid: 65/50 °F

August, late: 63/48 °F

 

Sept., early: 58/44 °F

Sept., mid: 54/42 °F

Sept., late: 51/40 °F

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

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 215,248 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

 

Thanks Terry! Great information.

[TLCOhio]

we also want to book a 2018 Baltics cruise. Hoping for 2 or 3 days in Russia.

 

Not sure if Celebrity will offer any options for three days in St. Petersburg. But, if possible with Celebrity or another cruise line, having three days there can be a very important option to consider. WHY?

 

With three days in St. Petersburg, the "star" of the Baltics, you can either do more in-depth for this famed city . . . OR . . . do a mix of two excellent days there (best only if done with a good private guide/tour arrangement) and allow one day to go to Moscow and back. Doing ALL that does require more money, time and effort. BUT, the rewards can be excellent!!

 

Need some added details, proof and evidence?

 

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.

 

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 me know any questions, thoughts or reactions.

 

Below are a few 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. Below are a few of my visuals to illustrate the beauty in both great, historic cities.

 

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 201,903 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.:

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Private, personal tours can be worth it, especially in St. Petersburg. Here our group of four, with our guide, Jane or Zhenya from Anastasia, we are viewing and learning more about one of the two da Vinci masterpieces (Madonna Litta or Madonna and Child) at the Hermitage after an early admission. There are only 14 such paintings by this artist existing in the whole world. We did an early admission at the Hermitage, lessening the crowd battles and adding to the enjoyment in this spectacular place/set of five palaces AND museum. It is both! This Madonna and Child was probably painted in Milan, where the artist moved in 1482. The Madonna's tender gaze as she looks at her son, and the tranquillity of the distant mountainous landscape, reflect humanist dreams of Ideal Man and a Harmonious Life. Experts says the painting reveals great beauty in its coloring and composition. The painting came to the Czar's collection and museum in 1865 from the collection of Count Antonio Litta in Milan.:

 

 

 

Here is a unique angle for the spectacular fountains and water from the spectacular Peterhof outside of St. Petersburg. The greatest technological achievement of Peterhof is that all of the fountains operate without the use of pumps. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. This elevation difference creates the pressure driving most of the fountains for the Lower Gardens, including the Grand Cascade.:

 

 

 

Here is an overall view of the size and scale of St. Isaac's interior in St. Petersburg. It is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in this historic city and was dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. The cathedral took 40 years to construct, 1818 to 1858, under direction of a French architect. During Soviet rule, it was nearly destroyed and was made into a Museum of Scientific Atheism. It has been restored to its religious beauty/role. The cathedral's main dome tops out at 333 feet and is plated with pure gold.:

 

[DrivesLikeMario]

I agree that the good weather in May was a lucky thing and that there's greater chance of better weather in say, August. I remember Terry's post about this on the other board and because of that, I think we'll go with August instead of hoping that May will have unusually good weather. To each his own though - I can totally understand why people would want to go in the shoulder season.

[Fun Redhead]

just a point: we went on the Baltic cruise in May 2016. We originally booked a cruise in June, but then saw that we could save $2,000 total on veranda cabin if we went on the first cruise of the season. So we switched. The prices ended up dropping by $50 pp and we got an extra perk before final payment was due, but did not see much change after that. Then all hell broke out in europe and the prices starting dropping on the other cruises - but if that had not happened, price is much higher in summer months

Weather- we had the most beautiful sunny, warm and everyone told us how lucky we were. It was for all the stops - never wore a coat. Later cruises had horrible cold and windy. Can't predict the weather, but don't eliminate May because you think it will be too cold.

 

Hi roxievegas, you must have been on the same cruise as we were: Leaving FLL in April to Southampton to Amsterdam to Amsterdam with St Petersburg...I actually bought warm leggins in Southampton to be prepared for the cold weather ahead of us and it was beautiful and warm instead...😊

now I am leaving on a B2B2B with Regent from Vancouver.BC (no flight for me ☺) and coming back from Montreal...I just hope that this cruiseline is as good as I was told it is...I love Celebrity and would have loved if they had the same itinerary as Regent for this 38 day cruise...My travel buddy Tish is joining me in New York for the last 10 days...

the rollcall is very small and not very active...well I will keep my fingers crossed, that all goes well...

Rose

[roxievegas]

Fun Red Head

 

I believe we were on the same cruise. B2B2B

we were on Silhouette for 34 nights starting out of FLL - we froze for the middle cruise - but we both caught horrible colds and spent most of our time in the suite so we wouldn't give it to others. lucky my brother/wife joined up with us for the Baltic cruise and they were so happy with the great weather. Have a wonderful time on your Regent cruise - looking forward to our next one.

[H2OH!]

Not sure if Celebrity will offer any options for three days in St. Petersburg. But, if possible with Celebrity or another cruise line, having three days there can be a very important option to consider. WHY?

 

With three days in St. Petersburg, the "star" of the Baltics, you can either do more in-depth for this famed city . . . OR . . . do a mix of two excellent days there (best only if done with a good private guide/tour arrangement) and allow one day to go to Moscow and back. Doing ALL that does require more money, time and effort. BUT, the rewards can be excellent!!

 

Need some added details, proof and evidence?

 

 

 

 

Thank you!! Great info and NEVER too much info!

 

Also, if you love gardens, a visit Tivoli gardens (villa d'este) is a must. I am not a big garden person. Our driver from RIL kept mentioning it so we finally said ok...OMG! We could spend an entire day wandering the garden and taking in the views.

[VivianK]

Not sure if Celebrity will offer any options for three days in St. Petersburg. But, if possible with Celebrity or another cruise line, having three days there can be a very important option to consider. WHY?

 

With three days in St. Petersburg, the "star" of the Baltics, you can either do more in-depth for this famed city . . . OR . . . do a mix of two excellent days there (best only if done with a good private guide/tour arrangement) and allow one day to go to Moscow and back. Doing ALL that does require more money, time and effort. BUT, the rewards can be excellent!!

 

Need some added details, proof and evidence?

 

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.

 

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 me know any questions, thoughts or reactions.

 

Below are a few 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. Below are a few of my visuals to illustrate the beauty in both great, historic cities.

 

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 201,903 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.:

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Private, personal tours can be worth it, especially in St. Petersburg. Here our group of four, with our guide, Jane or Zhenya from Anastasia, we are viewing and learning more about one of the two da Vinci masterpieces (Madonna Litta or Madonna and Child) at the Hermitage after an early admission. There are only 14 such paintings by this artist existing in the whole world. We did an early admission at the Hermitage, lessening the crowd battles and adding to the enjoyment in this spectacular place/set of five palaces AND museum. It is both! This Madonna and Child was probably painted in Milan, where the artist moved in 1482. The Madonna's tender gaze as she looks at her son, and the tranquillity of the distant mountainous landscape, reflect humanist dreams of Ideal Man and a Harmonious Life. Experts says the painting reveals great beauty in its coloring and composition. The painting came to the Czar's collection and museum in 1865 from the collection of Count Antonio Litta in Milan.:

 

 

 

Here is a unique angle for the spectacular fountains and water from the spectacular Peterhof outside of St. Petersburg. The greatest technological achievement of Peterhof is that all of the fountains operate without the use of pumps. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. This elevation difference creates the pressure driving most of the fountains for the Lower Gardens, including the Grand Cascade.:

 

 

 

Here is an overall view of the size and scale of St. Isaac's interior in St. Petersburg. It is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in this historic city and was dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. The cathedral took 40 years to construct, 1818 to 1858, under direction of a French architect. During Soviet rule, it was nearly destroyed and was made into a Museum of Scientific Atheism. It has been restored to its religious beauty/role. The cathedral's main dome tops out at 333 feet and is plated with pure gold.:

 

 

OMG, what a fabulous travelogue! Thank you.

[TLCOhio]

Thank you!! Great info and NEVER too much info!

 

VivianK: OMG' date=' what a fabulous travelogue! Thank you. [/quote']

 

Appreciate these kind comments. Happy to share more. Just let us know any added questions. Don't be shy!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

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 152,665 views for this posting.

[easyboy]

Very impressive Terry. Thanks for the great pictures.

[NewWestwardbound]

Terry,

 

Love your photos and travelogue. I'm seriously considering a cruise into St Petersburg in summer 2017, particularly a one day trip to Moscow. Might I ask who you arranged your trip with and an approximate cost? And how did you find the day in terms of intensity both on the day itself and the day after? I'm trying to think through whether to try to visit Moscow as the middle day of a 3 day St Petersburg tour or whether this will just be too much.

 

Many thanks.

[florisdekort]

Azamara regularly does 3 days in St Petersburg and the smaller ship can dock right next to the Hermitage.

 

 

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