Cruising Talk - View Single Post - Grand Circle Travel opened the 2007 version of its Russian Waterways River CruiseTour

**Ally** · 06-14-2006, 09:25 AM

One of the unique activities is a meeting with Russian veterans of WWII. Frevert adds "It's always an emotional encounter, and it really complements what travelers learn when they meet local families at Svir Stroi, an area that was very hard hit during the war."

Travelers also rub shoulders with the locals at a food market in medieval Yaroslavl, and can join an optional tour to the Star City complex, the formerly secret enclave where Russia's cosmonauts were trained.

Frevert is candid about the challenges of operating in former Soviet Union.

"I came here in 2004 with our owner, Alan Lewis, because we had grown disenchanted with the ships available to us for private charter here. They simply did not meet our quality standards, so we enlisted the government to help us find one we could buy. "

While travel services in Russia are generally not yet on a par with those of western Europe, Grand Circle travelers appreciate that GCT's direct control of the ship enables them to deliver a level of comfort, service, and convenience that is higher than local standards.

"The dining service, which features classic European cuisine, gets particularly positive reviews", notes Frevert.

The company purchased the M/S Tikhi Don in 2005, and began a $5 million refurbishment.
Compared to the typical, spare Russian cruisers plying the Volga, the Tikhi Don is spacious and more modern. The 220-passenger ship is 361 feet in length, with larger, all outside cabins with picture windows and standard European-style bathrooms.
Cabins also have permanent (versus fold-down) beds, and a satellite TV. Grand Circle also hired a new, English-speaking crew, and re-trained them in American-style service.

Travelers can add three more countries to their journey by reserving an optional pre- and/or post-cruise extension (depending on which direction their itinerary sails) Three nights in Kiev, Ukraine are offered from only $$445; and five nights in the Baltic capitals of Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland are priced from $645.

In addition to the three main gateways (New York, Boston, and Newark), travelers can fly from about 130 other US cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington DC (from $2895); Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, and Tampa (from $2945); and Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle (from $3045).

(Source: Grand Circle Travel)