Transatlantic Cruises: Excursions

This special tour is designed for guests who would like to look at the city from a different perspective, learn about the tragic death of one of the most mysterious figures in Russian history – Grigory Rasputin – and witness one of St. Petersburg’s masterpieces, also surrounded by the mystery of murder and intrigue – the amazing Cathedral of Our Savior on Spilled Blood. Your coach will bring you to the pier in the city center, where you’ll start your fascinating journey through the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg. You’ll see the city from the water, which surrounds its numerous squares, monuments and palaces. After an hour of touring the waterways, you’ll arrive near Yusupov Palace, where you’ll disembark to discover an intriguing story about the palace, its owners and the dramatic events which ended the life of the famous favorites of the last Romanovs. Yusupov Palace is located on the banks of the Moika River and is one of the 57 palaces in Russia, four of which are in St. Petersburg and were owned by Felix Yusupov – often said to be almost as wealthy as the Tsar himself. This palace was Yusupov’s favorite and exemplifies his wealth and very eccentric style. Among the palace's treasures are French tapestries and porcelain, and Venetian mirrors and woodcarvings. It was here in 1916 that the notorious Grigory Rasputin was assassinated. He was lured to Yusupov's palace by several influential figures of the time, given poison cakes, which for some reason had no effect on him, then shot several times and thrown into the river.

The tour will take you through the rooms of the palace, and after climbing down the narrow, winding staircase, you’ll see the very place where Felix Yusupov and his accomplices assassinated Grigory Rasputin. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, you’ll visit the magnificent Cathedral on Spilled Blood. This marvelous old Russian-style church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. The cathedral should not be perceived as simply a cult building; its idea is broader and deeper. The image of the Savior in this cathedral reflects not so much the cult aspect, but the political, historical, artistic, stylistic importance of the monument, and underscores its importance for the city. Built in 1883-1907, the church was designed in the spirit of 16th and 17th century Russian architecture, inspired particularly by St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow. With its distinctive cupolas, the Muscovy design is unique to St. Petersburg and provides a dramatic contrast to the Neo-Classical architecture which dominates the city center. The interior of the church, a memorial to the late Emperor Alexander II, is decorated with different marbles and several thousand square yards of mosaics. These mosaics are far from being ordinary; their surfaces were left unpolished, so that they reflect sunlight, which impressed worshipers and visitors alike. The Cathedral of Resurrection, as it is also called, is the only surviving monument to Alexander II in the city.

This tour offers you an opportunity, to explore the most remarkable sites of St. Petersburg. With a brief introduction to the history of St. Petersburg, your bus brings you to the city center, to the St. Isaac's Square where you will have a chance to take pictures of one of the largest cathedrals in Europe - the St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Our double-decker bus is equipped with a high-quality 10-language sound system so you’ll be able to learn a lot about the places of interest in St. Petersburg. From this very place our highly professional driver will drive you along the Admiralty and Nevsky prospect. You’ll see the fantastic Palace Bridge, the Spit of Vasilievsy Island, St. Peter and Paul Fortress, Russian Cruiser Aurora and Trinity Bridge.

You'll have a perfect chance to take pictures of one of the main landmarks of St. Petersburg – the Church on Spilled Blood which was built in 1907 on the spot where the Russian Tsar Alexander II had been assassinated. After this fascinating tour you’ll have an opportunity to spend almost two hour as you wish. You'll have an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of this unforgettable city, like a local. Walk along one of the main streets of St. Petersburg – Nevsky Prospect, where you can browse the best shops, buy lovely souvenirs for your relatives, friends or yourself and enjoy lunch in a cozy café or restaurant. Afterwards the bus will bring you back to the pier.

Begin your tour with a view of the impressive military fort of San Felipe de Barajas, the greatest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in their colonies. This is an exceptional accomplishment of Spanish military engineering where construction began in 1656 and lasted for 121 years. At the Rafael Nuñez House, a horse carriage ride will take you through the narrow streets of the walled city where you’ll find Colonial houses and squares such as La Merced, Santo Domingo, Custom Square, San Pedro Claver, and the beautiful Baroque door of the Inquisition Palace at Bolivar Square. Visit the dungeons within the walled city ramparts which were built to store provisions for the troops and are now home to a high quality handicrafts market. This market offers a variety of brightly decorated cloths, woodwork and woven bags made by some of the indigenous people of Colombia. Note: Bring comfortable attire, hat and sun block. less

Start your adventure from Cannes with a scenic drive as you head to Nice. Enter the city driving along the Promenade des Anglais, a splendid palm-lined boulevard stretching three miles along the Baie des Anges. You’ll pass landmarks such as the legendary Negresco, an imposing hotel with a Rococo façade and, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, built with pink bricks, light gray marble and vividly colored ceramics that gives an exotic touch to the Nice scene. Then arrive in Old Nice as you visit the old city where tall houses, bright with flowers or washing, exclude the glare of sun and keep the streets cool. Here you’ll enjoy your walk on Cours Saleya, the elegant promenade of Old Nice, lined with shops and restaurants and with the famous flower market, held here in picturesque quarters. Your drive continues passing Regina Hotel to Cimiez Hill, a sophisticated part of Nice with many large villas. Pass the Franciscan Monastery, gardens and Roman arenas, before joining the highway back to Cannes. Note: There is approximately 1 mile of walking on relatively flat terrain. less