aidadiva cruise mapper

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9334856

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The current position of AIDADIVA is at Baltic Sea reported 1 min ago by AIS. The vessel arrived at the port of Rostock, Germany on May 18, 04:39 UTC. The vessel AIDADIVA (IMO 9334856, MMSI 247187700) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2007 (17 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Italy .

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AIDADIVA current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of AIDADIVA data.

All information about AIDAdiva. 2024, 2025 and 2026 itinerary of this ships. Technical data, rating and reviews of tourists. The actual location of the vessel.

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AIDAdiva Itinerary

AIDAdiva Cruises

Aidadiva rating.

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AIDAdiva in the News

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• May 12, 2023 Aberdeen sees first large cruise vessel The Scottish port of Aberdeen welcomed the first large cruise ship into its new £400 mill South ...
• Apr 24, 2023 AIDA Cruises launches 2024-2025 winter vacations including 380 new travel dates 2024-2025 winter vacations with AIDA Cruises feature 380 new travel dates that are bookable as of...
• Apr 4, 2023 AIDA Cruises unveils new vacation program AIDA Cruises is providing more reasons for families to take a break aboard their cruise fleet thi...
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• Jan 26, 2023 AIDA's ships to visit 250+ call ports in winter 2023-2024 AIDA Cruises offers tourists a variety of routes in winter 2023-2024 with 250+ ports of call in 8...
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Ship Overview

On board AIDAdiva every cruise is an unforgettable experience! This beautiful ship offers a high level of comfort that will delight all travelers. The extensive amenities on AIDAdiva make life onboard all the more interesting and guarantees fun for everyone.

In addition to sport and wellness facilities, top-class entertainment is part of everyday life on board. The three-story Theatrium is the stage for incredible shows and family activities. AIDAdiva also guarantees exciting entertainment for the youngest passengers. In the kids club with its own pool area kids can experience exciting adventures each day with youth supervisors. When it comes to dining experience international delicacies are served in seven restaurants. From market stall, pizzeria, sushi bar, or gourmet restaurant there is something for everyone’s taste. 

Embark on a journey and find out your perfect cruise holiday with this year’s itinerary schedules and the latest offers onboard AIDAdiva. In order to make the most informed decision and decide when is the right time to cruise, we’ve included an additional feature that shows how crowded is each cruise destination.

Ship Specifications

City Warnemunde

City La Romana

City Montego Bay

Aidadiva itineraries, 7 nacht ostsee ab warnemunde, 14 nacht norwegen & ostsee ab warnemunde, 7 nacht norwegens fjorde ab warnemunde, 7 nacht schweden, polen & danemark, 14 nacht skandinavien & polen ab warnemunde, 12 nacht scharengarten der ostsee, 4 nacht kurzreise nach stockholm & gotland, aida cruises fleet.

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AIDADIVA Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9334856

Where is the current position of aidadiva presently vessel aidadiva is a passenger (cruise) ship sailing under the flag of italy . her imo number is 9334856 and mmsi number is 247187700. main ship particulars are length of 251 m and beam of 37 m. maps show the following voyage data - present location, next port, estimated (eta) and predicted time of arrival (pta), speed, course, draught, photos, videos, local time, utc time. book a cruise, schedules, vacation, deckplans, reviews..

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AIDADIVA current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database. The data is for informational purposes only and Marine Vessel Traffic is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data reported above herein.

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AIDAdiva Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Golf Simulator *
• Teens Lounge
• Hot Tub (4)
• Jogging Parcours
• Golf Driving Cage *
• Wellness Oase *
• Art Gallery
• Sushi Bar - Sushi *
• Buffalo Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Markt Restaurant - Buffet
• Ocean Bar - Bar
• Anytime Bar - Bar
• Pool Bar - Bar
• Sunset Bar - Bar *
• Diva Bar - Bar
• Bella Vista Restaurant - Buffet
• Beach Bar - Bar
• Time Out Bar - Bar
• Weite Welt - Buffet
• Café Mare - Starbucks *
• Aida Bar - Bar
• Aida Lounge - Bar
• Rossini Restaurant - Fine Dining *
• Pizzeria Mare - Italian *
• Vinothek - Winery *
• Excellent 0
• Very Good 0
• All languages ( 2 )
• German ( 1 )
• English ( 1 )

Cruise Ship   AIDAdiva

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2050 Passengers (2500 with upper beds)

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About AIDA Cruises

The AIDA fleet has been sailing the world's oceans since 1996 and is very successful on the German cruise market with a casual and informal concept. There is no fixed table order and you are welcome to leave your formal attire at home. AIDA Cruises convinces with a variety of buffets, a good sports program and varied entertainment. The age structure on board is mixed and depends on the destination. Young couples and families in particular quickly find a connection here. AIDA Cruises is very popular with cruise newcomers, but many guests who have once traveled on an AIDA ship also return again and again enthusiastically. German is spoken almost exclusively on board.

About AIDAdiva

AIDAdiva was put into commission in 2007, was built in the Meyer Shipyard in Germany and is constructed nearly identically as its sister ships AIDAbella and AIDAluna . It was modernized last in May 2015. Maximum 2,500 passengers spend a wonderful holiday aboard of the approx. 252-metre long AIDAdiva. It is the first ship of the Sphinx class. AIDAdiva can be recognized well by the glass walls of the Theatrium where impressive shows take place. Due to the mix of entertainment, sports and wellness AIDAdiva suits very well to families.

AIDAdiva facts

• Ship class : Sphinx class
• Built in : 2007
• Home port : Genoa
• Length : 252 metres
• Tonnage : 69,203 GT
• Speed : 22.5 knots
• Passenger : 2,050
• Language : German
• Currency : Euro
• Internet : Starlink from SpaceX; internet café and wi-fi available for an extra fee

AIDAdiva staterooms

The staterooms are furnished comfortably. Regardless of the category all staterooms are equipped with air condition, hair dryer, bath robes, telephone and tv. The size starts at approx. 13.5 sqm in interior staterooms and reaches up to approx. 87 sqm incl. approx. 12-50 sqm balcony in the deluxe suites. There is a huge variety of categories for families as well because quadruple occupancies are available in nearly all categories. To meet special needs as well there are eleven wheelchair accessible staterooms in total in the categories IB, MA and MB.

Atmosphere on board

The ships of AIDA Cruises are famous for their relaxed and informal atmosphere. The daily program includes a lot of sports activities and entertainment highlights. Places like the AIDA Lounge with a small library or the Wellness Oase are calm places. One of the best places to see the sail away is the Anytime Bar which turns into a disco in the evening.

AIDAdiva Restaurants, bars & lounges

The culinary offering on board AIDAdiva includes numerous restaurants where every guest will find something to suit them. You can expect a culinary variety ranging from traditional to modern dishes.

The following restaurants are already included in the price :

• Bella Vista Restaurant (buffet restaurant) : A variety of dishes from the hot and cold buffet as well as delicacies from the Mediterranean cuisine await you here.
• Market Restaurant (buffet restaurant) : Discover the various "market stalls" and try specialities from all over Europe.
• Weite Welt Restaurant (buffet restaurant) : Enjoy dishes from all over the world, e.g. Thai curry or burritos.
• Almhütte (drinks not included) : Sample specialities from the Alpine region.
• Best Pizza @ Sea (drinks not included) : Enjoy new pizza creations every day as well as Italian starters and desserts.

You pay a surcharge in the following restaurants:

• Buffalo Steak House : Sample tasty grilled specialities, e.g. American beef.
• Rossini gourmet restaurant : Enjoy new creations from top chefs with fresh ingredients every day.
• Sushi Bar : Look forward to Japanese specialities such as miso soup and tuna carpaccio.

In the numerous bars and lounges (not included) you can enjoy a relaxing cappuccino in the Café Mare , savour delicious cocktails in the AIDA Bar or have an aperitif in the Vinothek . We also recommend the Sunset Bar , where you can enjoy the sunset with a cool drink.

Entertainment, sports & relaxation

At the daytime workshops and sports acitivites are offered. In Theatrium art auctions, readings and rehearsals from the AIDA show ensemble take place. In the evenings the fascinating shows with actors, singers, dancers and acrobats are presented. In the Anytime Bar or at the pool deck passengers join different theme parties. Most of the time there is live music in AIDA Bar and the guests have the opportunity to dance in classic style. In the big fitness area Body & Soul Sport with modern sports equipment and at the sports area outside on deck 14 sports classes are offered. Sometimes there are football, basketball or volleyball tournaments as well. If guests prefer active and sporty shore excursions we recommend the biking, golfing, diving, hiking and stand up paddling excursions. For relaxation there is the approx. 2,300 sqm large Body & Soul Spa. It includes three saunas which are free of cost, a solarium, a Turkish bath and the Wellness Oase. There is a big variety of wellness treatments which can be booked for an additional fee.

Our summary

With AIDAdiva the cruise line has done the further developement of the smaller ships of the fleet successfully. Travellers who look for good entertainment, sports and fun with the family will spend a wonderful holiday aboard.

• Destinations: Baltic Sea , Norwegian Fjords , Western Europe , Western Mediterranean , World Cruise

Overall rating

8.0 Very Good Based on 118 recent customer reviews.

Our rating of the AIDAdiva:

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Table of Contents

Inside cabins

Outside cabins, balcony cabins, barrier-free cabins, features of all cabins, market restaurant, weite welt restaurant, bella vista restaurant, pizzeria mare, rossini gourmet restaurant.

Buffalo Steakhouse

AIDA lounge

Anytime bar

The sports offer

The body & soul spa, entertainment, general information about the aidadiva, current position aidadiva.

The AIDAdiva was built by the MEYER shipyard in Papenburg on behalf of Rostock AIDA Cruises as the first of seven seemingly identical cruise ships of the "Sphinx class". In April 2007, AIDA Cruises took over the new building.

AIDAdiva - The Theatrium

Sphinx-class ships are now very familiar to cruise passengers. In 2007, however, the AIDAdiva's circular “theatrium” located amidships attracted a lot of attention. The artificial word Theatrium defines the innovative, central theater and event area of ​​the kiss mouthships. Based on a well-known coffee filter, he earned these cruise ships the nickname “Melitta class”.

The deck plan shows 1.025 cabins for the AIDAdiva: The cabin selection is diverse. The offer ranges from the inside cabin to the suite. Of the outside cabins and suites, 439 have a balcony. Guests who book the AIDA PREMIUM tariff can choose their dream cabin.

Inside cabins are 13,50 square meters and they are offered as 2, 3 and 4-bed cabins.

Outside cabins, euphemistically called “cabins with a sea view” in the cruise industry, are barely larger than the inside cabins with an area of ​​14 to 16,50 square meters. Depending on requirements, they are equipped with two, three or four beds.

Outside cabin

The balcony cabins measure between 17,50 and 23 square meters. Depending on individual needs, they are offered with two to four beds. As everywhere on the ship, modern design, beautiful colors and well thought-out equipment details are convincing. The balconies take up three to six square meters of the designated area. The larger balcony even has a hammock.

Like the sister ships, the AIDAdiva also offers individually designed junior suites, suites and premium suites. The sizes range from a modest 34 square meters to a lush 87 square meters.

In addition to increased living comfort, guests who book the AIDA VARIO or AIDA Premium tariff in the suite area are offered some additional goodies.

Crusaders with disabilities have a total of eleven barrier-free cabins of various sizes (18 to 27,50 square meters). Seven of the cabins are inward, four offer sea views.

All cabins are modern and comfortable. Equipping them with satellite TV, telephone and air conditioning corresponds to the standard of modern cruise ships. In contrast to the competitor TUI Cruises, the cabin service is only performed once a day. An additional turn-down service is only offered in the evening in the suite area.

Eating & drinking on board the AIDAdiva

The AIDA Cruises catalog promises "Holidays for discerning connoisseurs". This statement includes the on-board restaurants. A distinction is made between buffet restaurants and à la carte restaurants included in the tour price.

Buffet restaurants included in the tour price

It is the on-board restaurant with the richest range of dishes (deck 9 aft): it is very busy at all times. For organizational reasons, the guests take the dinner in two sessions. Between the two sequences, the restaurant is closed for half an hour and prepared for the next meeting.

Markt Restaurant

The dishes from the buffet are varied, tasty and varied. Eat at tables with four to eight people. Drinks such as house wine, beer and soft drinks are served with main meals at no extra charge.

The highlight of the restaurant is the presentation of the dishes in the form of market stalls. The guest should feel like they are in a market hall. Lush fruit baskets are already at the entrance to the restaurant. The dinners revolve around specific topics. These are, for example, “World Tour”, “Portugal” or “Spain”.

Stalls in the market restaurant

The Weite Welt restaurant is located aft on deck 10. An outdoor area follows. AIDA Cruises locate this on-board restaurant between Orient and Occident, North Cape and South America. In other words, the guests are offered something at the buffet from many regions of the world. This includes Thai curry, as well as churasco or Mexican burritos.

Guests who suffer from food allergies or intolerances are offered lactose- and gluten-free dishes in the Weite Welt restaurant. A diet cook is available to you as a permanent contact. On the day of arrival, passengers with intolerances should make an appointment with the chef at reception.  

The Bella Vista buffet restaurant is specially dedicated to Italian cuisine. AIDA Cruises recommend the restaurant with enthusiastic words: "High up on deck 11, lovers of Italian cuisine are on cloud nine".  

Do you fancy a pizza? The Mare pizzeria is on deck 11. From noon to midnight, simple Italian dishes, but above all various pizza variations, are prepared there.

The general rule is: The range and quality of the food is right on board AIDA cruise ships. A light food is available for allergy sufferers. Free drinks such as various juices, water, tea, beer, as well as white and red wine are served at the table.

Specialty restaurants subject to surcharge

As described, the service concept of AIDA Cruises is geared towards self-service. If guests value service, they are dependent on the ship's restaurants, which are subject to a surcharge. The fact that these are regularly well frequented is probably not solely due to the quality of the food

Especially the noble restaurant Rossini is recommended. The ambience, the food and the service offered are praiseworthy. The extensive wine list also satisfies the wine connoisseurs among the guests. Additional payments are made for food and drink at the Rossini.

Gourmet restaurant Rossini

The 3-course “Chefs Menu” is currently paid for at EUR 28,50. Then there are the drinks. The "Dinner for Two" hits the on-board account with 100 euros without much effort. Table reservations are necessary. The Rossini is on the 11th deck.

The top address for meat lovers on deck 10. American beef and bison meat are prepared in front of the guests in a show kitchen. Ten steak creations with names such as Tomahawk Steak or Wagyu Skirt Steak are on offer. The quality and so much skill requires an extra charge! The drinks menu is interesting. It offers beer lovers delightful "brewing creations", for example the "Clan - Scotch Ale". 0,75 liters of the brew cost an impressive 15,50 euros.

Fans of Japanese cuisine visit the sushi bar on deck 9. It is adjacent to the theatrium. Sushi chefs prove their skills there. Appetizing rolls and bites are prepared with fresh vegetables, exotic marinades and spicy sauces. The mixed platter for two with cold and warm sushi is currently available for 24,50 euros.  

Cafes, bars and lounges

We like the location and presentation of most of the bars. On AIDA cruise ships, the drinks served in the cafes, bars and lounges are chargeable. A selection of notable bars:

A funny facility: on port days, a hatch is opened near the gangway. The guests of the bar follow what is happening on the quay and on the gangway up close.

The wine bar on deck 10 behind the theatrium presents good wines from all over the world. Wine seminars are also held in the vinotheque.

This star-shaped bar can be found on deck 10 in the forward part of the ship. Those who don't like to sit at the bar can choose one of the many armchairs. The music plays on a small stage; there is dancing in front of the stage.

In front of the AIDA Bar, the quiet and dignified AIDA Lounge invites you to daydream. A small on-board library has been integrated on the edge of the lounge.

The Starbucks Café provides good coffee, tea or cocoa in between. You can find it behind the Buffalo Steak House on deck 10.

The discotheque located aft on deck 12 is worth seeing. The guest enters the bar through a barrel-shaped corridor. Illuminated, colored tables give it a special atmosphere. From time to time the bar and its outdoor area are used for events.

With so many bars, it's hard to choose. We especially liked the star-shaped AIDA Bar. And we didn't despise the AIDA Lounge either. The price level in the bars is reasonable. The service is dedicated and always good.

Sport, relaxation & wellness

  The Body & Soul Sport on deck 11 is well equipped with modern equipment, weight benches and other training facilities. Exercises take place individually or in a group.

At the Landtag, bike tours with "normal" bikes or e-bikes, Segway excursions, dives and more are organized for a fee.

Ball athletes can play basketball, handball or squash on the outside sports deck (deck 14). A short jogging course invites you to run. In our opinion, the pool landscape is only designed in a minimalist manner.

Field for ball games

AIDA ships are known for their large wellness areas. The AIDAdiva does not lag behind its sister ships either. The Body & Soul Spa called wellness zone, is distributed over decks 12 and 14. On the AIDAdiva, wellness is all about the Caribbean.

AIDA wellness includes saunas and a solarium. Paid massages and various treatments increase well-being. Entry to the wellness oasis costs 20,00 euros. Guests in the spa cabins and wellness suites can use the offer daily at no extra charge. Individual applications charge the on-board account.

Those who pass the Body & Soul reception in the front part of the ship on deck 12 have access to well-being. On the 14th deck, the wellness oasis offers its visitors a whirlpool, an adventure shower and a relaxation room. The highlight of the oasis is a glass, retractable roof.

All sorts of things are offered to entertain the almost 2.000 passengers. The AIDA club team organizes, for example, bingo tournaments, dance courses, painting meetings, parties and sporting competitions (darts, shuffleboard, volleyball).

That is the focus of on-board entertainment Theatrium . It extends over decks 9 to 11. The 30-minute AIDA shows are legendary.

One can argue about the theatrium itself. In terms of concept, it is inferior to conventional theaters on board cruise ships. There is not enough space, the seats are often uncomfortable and some of the views are restricted. In addition, the theatrium is designed as a passage area. We feel that the strollers cause disturbances.

Not only entertainment shows are presented on the round, versatile stage. The moderators of the on-board television report from the theatrium. The room is also used for information events or for the regular art auctions.

Musical entertainment is also provided in other areas of the ship. The stage on the pool deck is just one example of many. Well-established events on the pool deck are the Welcome Laser Show, the Sail Away Show or the Farewell Laser Show.

The casino on the 10th deck offers further entertainment and diversion. The game is played on machines or tables. Roulette, poker and blackjack are on offer. But bingo and similar amusements also find grateful participants. The art gallery is located on deck 9. AIDA Cruises recommend booking gallery tours before starting the cruise.

AIDAdiva is a family ship, especially during the holiday season. Children aged three to eleven and teenagers aged twelve to seventeen have their own clubs. Expert childcare according to German standards is provided to the family. The kids & teens programs offer a wide range of entertainment.

The AIDAdiva is number four in the order of the AIDA ships. The ship meets the expectations of German vacationers for casual and unconventional cruise vacations. In other words: there is no binding dress code, there are no annoying receptions on board, but good food from the buffet and lots of entertainment are offered. That fits. In 2017, more than a million travelers were welcomed on board all AIDA ships.

Who occasionally value service and À la carte - Lays dishes, takes excellent meals in three restaurants for a fee.

We liked the café, bars & lounges. We feel comfortable in most of the localities.

The entertainment on board is varied and the daily shows are first class.

However, we have to note one thing: We do not see the AIDAdiva on a par with the premium ships from Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line or TUI Cruises. These cruise brands offer higher quality services for comparable money.

However, it is undisputed that AIDA Cruises offers its guests a special lifestyle on board the twelve ships. After all, in 2017 almost 50 percent of all German cruisers traveled with ships from the AIDA fleet. This success is by no means astonishing.

Book AIDAdiva

Overview of all AIDAdiva trips on the AIDA Cruises website.

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Celebrity Apex sets sail from Southampton UK for inaugural season

Setting sail on May 15 for her inaugural season from Southampton , Celebrity Cruises ' award-winning ship, Celebrity Apex , marked a significant milestone as the first vessel in the revolutionary Edge Series to call the United Kingdom home.

Celebrity Apex began her European season with an 8-night Norwegian Fjords cruise, departing from Southampton. This voyage will take passengers to enchanting destinations, including Bruges, Belgium , known as 'the Venice of the North,' with its picturesque canals and charming cobblestone streets; Geiranger, Norway , renowned for the stunning Geirangerfjord, where waterfalls cascade into deep-blue waters surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains; and Kristiansand, Norway , a vibrant waterfront town famed as 'Summer City,' offering sandy beaches, premium shopping, and a lively cultural scene.

As the second ship in the groundbreaking Edge Series, Celebrity Apex redefines ocean travel with its innovative outward-facing design and visionary spaces that set new standards at sea. Onboard, guests will enjoy elevated cruising experiences with enhanced dining options, luxurious spa and wellness amenities, and high-energy entertainment comparable to top land-based performances.

From May through October 2024, Celebrity Apex will offer a range of itineraries from Southampton, including four-to-13-night voyages to breathtaking destinations in Northern Europe and the Canary Islands. Notable sailings include a 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Arctic Circle cruise, showcasing the region's awe-inspiring natural beauty. Additionally, guests can explore enhanced destinations such as Ibiza , where they can indulge in local culinary delights, enjoy vibrant beach clubs, and soak up the Mediterranean sunshine.

Russian River Cruise – Waterways of the Tsars

Updated December 14, 2017

// By Margherita

Back to Russia! Did you follow our Russian river cruise in August and September? We travelled between Moscow and St Petersburg on the Waterways of the Tsars Viking River Cruise – here’s what we got up to!

We both share a deep connection with Russia. I was named after the heroine of Master and Margarita , one of the best Russian books of the 20th century. Nick is actually of Russian ancestry – his maternal great-grandparents were from St Petersburg, and spent the best part of 50 years wandering around Europe escaping wars and revolutions, before settling in Australia .

Russia has been at the top of our travel dreams for several years , but somehow something always came up whenever we made plans to visit. Once we couldn’t get a visa on time. Another time we couldn’t get time off. Winter is too cold, summer is too hot.

This year, Russia was one of our travel resolutions . Our desire was for the trip to be special – something different from what we’d done so far. We wanted a higher level of comfort, help with visa arrangements, and a trip that would help us understand the country we longed to visit for so many years . The Waterways of the Tsars river cruise with Viking ticked all boxes, so we made arrangements for a departure from Moscow in late August.

Things to Know Before a Russian River Cruise with Viking

When we announced our friends we would be travelling on a Russian river cruise , some of them were really surprised. A CRUISE? You guys are such hardcore independent travellers! What are you doing ON A CRUISE with all those OLD PEOPLE? True, the average age on a Viking river cruise might be a fair bit higher than 35 – but really, who is to say we wouldn’t enjoy the experience?

This awesome post by One Modern Couple  really nails the point – a Viking river cruise is an experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. In their words ‘River cruises are cultural, experiential, educational and scenic. Enjoy the ride, take in the surroundings, learn about the countries you are visiting – from history to local life, food to language – and experience the destinations in a thoughtful way.’ 

Whether you’re 30, 60 or 90, it doesn’t really matter.

Secondly,  who’s to say that travelling in a group is not ‘real’ travel? We have always been (and continue to be) lovers of independent travel, but sometimes you just can’t beat the insights given to you by a local guide . Viking River Cruises offer plenty of guided tours included in the cruise price, all led by experienced local guides.

Meals were always excellent – breakfast and lunch included a combination of buffet and à la carte specialties, while dinner was always à la carte. Every day we were given the choice to sample some Russian specialties, like beef stroganoff, borsch, pelmeni, solyanka and lots of delicious desserts.

Another great plus of a Russian river cruise with Viking is that during sailing time lots of cultural activities are on offer – things like cooking demonstrations, Russian language lessons and lectures about Russian history and culture, led by the local tour escorts who were with us for the whole duration of the trip. On top of that, every day we received a briefing detailing the following day’s activities, optional excursions and that night’s menu.

Whenever we passed points of interest on the boat, such as Mother Volga statue or the sunken Kalyazin Cathedral, we were always called out on the loudspeaker to make sure we wouldn’t miss them. There was no pressure to join in any of the activities – we could spend the whole day chilling on the deck or on our veranda, looking at the beautiful colourful churches built on the riverbank, surrounded by nothing but nature.

Waterways of the Tsars – the Itinerary

The Waterways of the Tsars cruise is 13 days long, starting either in Moscow or in St. Petersburg . Most Russian river cruises had always been described to me as ‘Volga Cruises’ – in fact, our boat cruised along a variety of waterways, including the Moscow Canal, the Volga-Baltic Waterway, the Rybinsk Reservoir, Lake Onega and Ladoga (the two largest lakes in Europe) and the Neva River (the shortest in Europe!)

Here’s a map to give you an idea of the route.

Days 1-4 Moscow

Three days were barely enough to get an idea of how amazing Moscow is. Our days were packed from morning to night with tours and activities – from visiting Moscow must visits like Red Square, the Kremlin, the Moscow Metro and the Arbat, to quirky locations like the Museum of Cosmonautics , located in one of Moscow’s best districts for Communist architecture (one of our passions!)

Even though our itinerary was packed full, we managed to spend half a day touring Moscow independently , visiting some of the sights mentioned in The Master and Margarita – Patriarch’s Ponds, both Bulgakov Museums and Sparrow Hill. Let’s just say that we need to get back to Moscow soon to explore more! Meanwhile, here’s our things to do in Moscow for first timers article, detailing our Moscow visit with Viking.

Day 5 Uglich

After setting sail from Moscow, our first stop was Uglich , a cute town on the Volga River, famous for its pretty churches and for being the location of one of the darkest chapters in Russian history .

After the death of Ivan the Terrible, his youngest son and heir to the throne Dmitry was exiled to Uglich, where he was murdered at the age of 10. Suspicion fell on the tsar’s chief advisor, but Dmitry’s cause of death (i.e. throat slitting) was ruled to be an accident. This episode started a period of political unsettlement, that ended with the start of the Romanov dynasty.

We spent an afternoon around Uglich , starting with a home visit of a local family where we had the chance to try homemade grain vodka (the best we’ve had in Russia) and a variety of pickled vegetables, tea and cakes. Then, we toured the Kremlin – the word ‘kremlin’ actually means fortified city, and several Russian cities have one. Moscow’s Kremlin just happens to be the best known!

Day 6 Yaroslavl

The following morning we reached Yaroslavl , a much larger city compared to Uglich. It looked like the perfect Russian city – large enough not to get bored (there was even a cat cafe!) but small enough not to get frustrated with the traffic and crowds found in Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Our Yaroslavl visit was centred around four points of interest . The centre of Yaroslavl is located on the Strelka, a promontory formed at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers. Our first stop was the covered market , where we tasted some local products, and then we headed to the Church of Elijah the Prophet , where we had a guided tour (and played with some cute cats). Afterwards, we visited the Governor’s Mansion , now an art gallery. We were welcomed by some beautiful ladies in period costumes, and treated to a music concert. Our final stop was the Yaroslavl Kremlin , where we admired the façade of the Dormition Cathedral, destroyed by the Bolsheviks and rebuilt and reopened in 2010 in time for Yaroslavl’s millennium celebrations.

Before heading back to the ship, we stopped at the lookout over the Millennium of Yaroslavl Park at the end of the Strelka – the flowerbed right in the centre displays a bear (Yaroslavl’s coat of arms) and the city’s age – 1006 at the time of our visit. Looking good!

Day 7 Kuzino

Kuzino is a small village in in the middle of nowhere – we visited on a chilly and rainy morning, to visit the stunning Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery , the largest in Europe. The Monastery is surrounded by walls and located on the shores of Severskoye Lake, with waters so pure that boat traffic is prohibited.

Kirillo-Belozersky was founded at the end of the 14th century, and had its heyday between the 15th and 17th century, when Russia’s tsars and noblemen (including Ivan the Terrible!) paid frequent visits and showered the monks with icons and precious gifts. Luckily the Bolsheviks spared the monastery from destruction, turning it into a museum instead. The day we visited was the feast of the Assumption and the churches were crowded with locals, but we had a lovely guided tour of the museum and time to appreciate its beautiful icons.

Day 8 Kizhi (Sailing)

Whenever travelling, you always need a plan B. Autumn was well on its way by the time we reached the northernmost section of our cruise, and we were held at a lock for the best part of one night due to thick fog . This meant we had to sail the whole day and miss out on Kizhi , a tiny island on the northern side of Onega Lake, famous for its spectacular wooden churches.

We were all disappointed when boat staff made the announcement – personally, Kizhi was one of the stops I was looking forward to the most, after reading about it on the Guardian and knowing that the site is very difficult to visit without a river cruise. However, we didn’t mind too much because we were both suffering the consequences of the previous night’s vodka tasting , organised by Frank, the hotel manager who also happened to be a real vodka connoisseur!

Viking staff were really amazing at keeping us busy during the sailing day with activities like guided tours to the wheelhouse, the room where the captain and sailors pilot the ship.

Day 9 Mandrogy

The last stop before reaching St. Petersburg was Mandrogy , a village on the banks of the Svir River, built in 1996 as a replica of a village destroyed during WW2. A Russian businessman had the idea of ‘rebuilding’ Mandrogy to provide a stop to river cruise passengers before reaching St. Petersburg. So, the village is not actually ‘real’ – it’s more of an open air museum. Cute little painted houses were built around a little forest, with people in traditional dress showcasing traditional crafts and selling souvenirs.

Those in search of souvenirs loved Mandrogy – the quality of matrioshka dolls, icons and other handicrafts was far higher than anywhere else we had been. We are not into souvenirs, but if there was a place to get something, Mandrogy would be it. The village was pretty, but it felt a bit fake for us – kind of like a tourist amusement park. Which in a way, it is.

However, we did enjoy Mandrogy for two reasons – the first was the chance to attend matrioshka painting workshop  where we decorated our own matrioshka dolls. That’s the best kind of souvenir in my opinion! The second was the delicious piroshki place where we had some delicious buttery pastries filled with green onion and egg. Just ask Viking staff and they’ll point you the way to the piroshki place!

Days 10-13 St. Petersburg

After 6 days spent cruising, covering a distance of 1800 kilometers, we made it to Saint Petersburg . We had three gorgeous sunny days, and the city dazzled us with its beauty and artistic wealth – after all, it’s UNESCO-listed ! There’s no way I can convey everything we saw and did in three days in just a couple of paragraphs, so watch this space – a St. Petersburg article is coming soon!

There are several St. Petersburg experiences already included by Viking in the tour price – a visit to the Hermitage Museum, a ballet performance, a visit to Catherine Palace in the village of Pushkin and a St. Petersburg city tour, either on foot or by bus. On top of that, we also joined some optional tours – a river cruise, a morning tour to amazing Peterhof Palace and my very own favourite, a Cossack performance!

Things to Know Before Travelling to Russia

• Make sure you sort out your Russian Visa on time . Viking Cruises helps with an invitation letter that you can use to apply for your own Russian visa at your closest consulate – the process is pretty straightforward, provided you are applying in your own country, and takes approximately 2-3 weeks.
• You can also ask Viking to sort out your Russian visa for an additional charge . This is especially convenient if you live in the US or if your hometown doesn’t have a Russian consulate.
• River cruises of Russia only run between April and October, when the waterways are not frozen. The weather can be change dramatically between Moscow and Saint Petersburg , the latter usually being much colder than the former. Make sure you check the weather reports before packing!
• English isn’t widely spoken around Russia , not even in the main cities. If you’re planning to spend some time travelling independently, learning a bit of Russian is a VERY good idea. The Russian language classes we had on board came in very handy!
• Russia’s currency is the rouble , which fluctuates quite a bit. Larger cities are full of moneychangers, and some souvenir shops (like those in Mandrogy) also accept euro and USD.

We would like to thank Viking Cruises for having welcomed us aboard the Waterways of the Tsars cruise.

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2 thoughts on “Russian River Cruise – Waterways of the Tsars”

Truly amazing place & photography! I loved the view of church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, looks awesome. I enjoyed reading. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Thank you for reading! It was a fab trip!

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Barge Strikes Bridge in Galveston, Causing Oil Spill

No injuries were reported when the barge struck a bridge that connects Galveston, Texas, to a small island along the Gulf of Mexico, causing a partial collapse.

By Remy Tumin

A barge struck a causeway connecting Galveston, Texas, to a small island on Wednesday morning, sending debris and oil into the bay, officials said.

The Pelican Island Bridge was hit around 10 a.m., the city of Galveston said in a statement , and the causeway was closed to car traffic until further notice, shutting off the only road to the island. There were no reported injuries. The bridge connects the north side of Galveston Island with the south side of Pelican Island, which is home to a Texas A&M University campus and two museums.

The barge has a capacity of 30,000 gallons, but it was not clear how much oil had spilled into Galveston Bay, the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management said on social media .

Vessel traffic in the channel was temporarily halted, county officials said, and the structural damage to the bridge was being assessed by the Texas Transportation Department. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. Power was temporarily interrupted on Pelican Island but had been restored by Wednesday afternoon.

Richard Freed, vice president of the marine division of Martin Midstream Partners, said the barge is owned and was being operated by one of its subsidiaries, Martin Operating Partnership. The accident occurred, he said, when the barge broke loose from its tow and “drifted” into the bridge.

The spill, which he described as “limited,” had been contained by Wednesday afternoon, he said.

“We have personnel on site assessing the damage,” Mr. Freed said in an emailed statement. “The company has already engaged a salvage company to assist with the removal of the barge from the bridge area.”

The accident occurred on the same day that a senior U.S. Coast Guard official told a congressional committee that states and other bridge operators should be evaluating the types of vessels traveling near bridges, particularly older ones.

The official, Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, was testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is examining the federal response to the cargo ship crash on March 26 that knocked down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing six people and deepening anxieties about the state of the country’s infrastructure.

The city of Galveston said in its statement that emergency management officials from the city, state and university responded to the crash on Wednesday, adding that the U.S. Coast Guard was assessing the extent of the spill and would “initiate the containment and cleanup processes.”

Texas A&M University at Galveston said on social media that power had been restored to the campus, which is home to the school’s marine and maritime program.

Aerial footage from KHOU-TV , a CBS affiliate, showed a collapsed portion of what appeared to be an abandoned railroad bridge that ran alongside the causeway. A large chunk of concrete and metal lay across the bow of the barge as a long vein of oil leaked from it into Galveston Bay. Emergency responders gathered on the road surface, and live footage showed pickup trucks arriving on the bridge.

The Pelican Island bridge is just west of the Port of Galveston, a deepwater shipping channel that is among the busiest cruise ports in North America. More than 900 cruise and cargo ships and other vessels pass through the port every year, according to its website .

The bridge to Pelican Island was built in 1959 and carries an average of about 9,100 cars a day, most of which are heading to and from the campus, according to The Houston Chronicle . Most of the island is undeveloped, with only a single major road running across it.

In March, The Galveston County Daily News reported that the Port of Houston Authority had approved an agreement with Galveston County to provide land for a new $100 million vehicular bridge and $300 million for a rail bridge to the island.

Remy Tumin is a reporter for The Times covering breaking news and other topics. More about Remy Tumin

Ukraine war latest: Russian forces take control of village in Kharkiv region - defence ministry

Russian troops are continuing to advance in the Kharkiv region - with the defence ministry claiming it had taken control of 12 settlements in a week.

Saturday 18 May 2024 12:25, UK

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• Russia takes control of village in Kharkiv - defence ministry
• Putin concludes trip to China with veiled reference to West
• One dead in airstrike on Odesa | Person killed gardening in Russia, local governor says
• Analysis: Great power politics on display in China visit
• Were Putin and Xi really pictured with their 'nuclear footballs'?
• Live reporting by Josephine Franks

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At least 30 people have died trying to escape conscription by crossing a river separating Ukraine from neighbouring Romania and Hungary.

The near-naked, disfigured body of a man was recovered from the Tisza River this week by Romanian border guards. 

It appeared he had been floating there for days. He was the 30th known casualty, Ukraine’s border service said.

Thousands of Ukrainians have fled the country to avoid the draft since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

New laws have lowered the age of conscription from 27 to 25, increased fines for draft dodgers and offered convicts a place in the army (see our 12.12 post for more).

Laws overhauling how army mobilisation works in Ukraine came into force today. 

The legislation, which was watered down from its original draft, will make it easier to identify every conscript in the country.

It also provides incentives to soldiers including cash bonuses or money toward buying a house or car - which some analysts say Ukraine cannot afford.

The law was passed in mid-April, a week after Ukraine lowered the age for men who can be drafted from 27 to 25.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed two other laws on Friday, allowing prisoners to join the army and increasing fines for draft dodgers.

The measures reflect the growing strain of more than two years of war on Ukraine’s stretched forces, who are now trying to repel Russia's advances in the Kharkiv region. 

However, experts and commanders say it could take several months before fresh recruits reach the front and reinforce exhausted troops there.

Russia could step up its offensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned, saying its operation in Kharkiv is potentially only the "first wave" in a summer assault. 

Mr Zelenskyy renewed his calls for allies to send more air defence and fighter jets on Friday in an interview with the AFP news agency.

He said Ukraine only had a quarter of what it needed in terms of air defence to protect its skies. 

He played down Russia's gains, but warned that Moscow was advancing. 

"We have to be sober and understand that they are going deeper into our territory. Not vice versa. And that's still their advantage."

On Friday,  Mr Zelenskyy said the situation in Kharkiv had "stabilised", adding Russian forces' "deepest point of their advance" was 10km.

Russian forces have captured the village of Starytsia in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Russia's defence ministry says. 

Russian troops are continuing to advance in the area, it added. 

On Friday, the defence ministry said it had taken control of 12 settlements in Kharkiv in a week. 

Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv area on 10 May, heaping pressure on to Ukraine's stretched forces.

A 33-year-old man has died in hospital after a reported Russian airstrike on Friday, officials say, bringing the total number of dead to four. 

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said 16 people are still in hospital after the attack on Kharkiv, with two in a serious condition. 

A shell dating back to the 1940s exploded in the basement of a military academy in St. Petersburg on Friday, injuring seven Russian servicemen.

Russian military officials confirmed the incident but did not give an update on the conditions of those injured at the Budyonny Military Academy of Communications.

The academy trains soldiers serving in the army's signal corps.

The explosion happened while the basement was being cleaned and rubbish moved, according to reports in Russian media. 

The explosion was caused by a 76mm shell dating to the 1941-45 period, the Interfax news agency reported the region's military command as saying.

It was not clear why this ammunition was stored at the academy.

Ukrainian soldiers were forced to communicate only by radio and phone when intense Russian jamming disrupted their satellite internet connection, according to a report by the Washington Post.

The Ukrainian brigade in northern Kharkiv lost connection to drone and communications systems as Russian forces began their incursion on 10 May, the newspaper reported. 

It is reportedly the first time that Russian electronic warfare has completely knocked out the Ukrainian Starlink connection since the start of the war. 

A Ukrainian soldier told the Washington Post the disruptions prevented Ukrainian forces from conducting basic reconnaissance.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said it was "notable" Russian forces were able to achieve such a widespread effect and said they may have waited to deploy a new electronic warfare adaptation during the beginning of the operation. 

Ukraine's military claims it has shot down all 13 drones it says Russia launched overnight from Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kursk. 

The Ukrainian Air Force said that, along with missile units of the Armed Forces, it intercepted the drones over Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. 

One person has been killed and another injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Kursk region, acting regional governor Alexei Smirnov said.

It comes after a resident in the southern Russian region of Belgarod was killed by a drone while gardening on Friday (see our 7.43am post). 

Russian forces launched drone attacks on two energy facilities in Ukraine overnight, according to the country's grid operator Ukrenergo.

There were no casualties and power was not cut off to customers, the company wrote on Telegram. 

One of the attacks was in the central region of Poltava, Filipp Pronin, head of the regional military administration, said on Telegram. 

The other damaged facility is in the east of the country, Ukrenergo said. 

For context: Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian energy systems in recent months.

Sky News analysis of data from Ukrenergo shows in March 2024, an average of 889,000 Ukrainians were without power on any given day - the highest number since the war began in February 2022.

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World News | Putin says Russia wants a buffer zone in…

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World News | Putin says Russia wants a buffer zone in Ukraine’s Kharkiv but has no plans to capture the city

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday during a visit to China that Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region aims to create a buffer zone but that there are no plans to capture the city.

The remarks were Putin’s first on the offensive launched May 10 , which opened a new front and displaced thousands of Ukrainians within days. Earlier Friday, a massive Ukrainian drone attack on the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula cut off power in the city of Sevastopol, after an earlier attack damaged aircraft and fuel storage at an airbase.

In southern Russia, Russian authorities said a refinery was also set ablaze.

Moscow launched attacks in the Kharkiv region in response to Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Belgorod region , Putin told reporters while visiting the Chinese city of Harbin .

“I have said publicly that if it continues, we will be forced to create a security zone, a sanitary zone,” he said. “That’s what we are doing.” Russian troops were “advancing daily according to plan,” he said and added there were no plans for now to take the city of Kharkiv.

Ukrainian troops are fighting to halt Russian advances in the Kharkiv region that began late last week. In an effort to increase troop numbers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed two laws Friday, allowing prisoners to join the army and increasing fines for draft dodgers fivefold. The controversial mobilization law goes into effect on Saturday.

Russia enlisted prisoners early on in the war, and personnel shortages compelled the new measures. The legislation allows for “parole from serving a sentence and further enlistment for military service” for a specific period for some people charged with criminal offences. It doesn’t extend to those convicted of crimes against Ukraine’s national security.

Penalties will be increased to 25,500 hryvnias ($650) for citizens and 51,000 hryvnias ($1,300) for civil servants and legal entities for ignoring draft notices or failing to update the draft board of their information. Fines were previously 5100 hryvnias ($130) for citizens and 8500 hryvnias ($215) for civil servants and legal entities.

Ukrainian authorities have evacuated around 8,000 civilians from the recent flashpoint town of Vovchansk, 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border. The Russian army’s usual tactic is to reduce towns and villages to ruins with aerial strikes before troops move in.

At least two people were killed and 19 were wounded in the Russian bombing of Kharkiv, regional chief Oleh Syniehubov said on his Telegram posting on Friday. Four of the wounded were in critical condition.

Russia’s new offensive has “expanded the zone of active hostilities by almost 70 kilometers” (45 miles), in an effort to force Ukraine to spread its forces and use reserve troops, Ukraine’s military chief, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Friday.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian forces have advanced 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border, Zelenskyy said Friday.

Separately, speaking about Ukraine’s upcoming peace conferences in Switzerland next month, Putin said it was a vain attempt to enforce terms of a peaceful settlement on Russia and stressed that Russia wasn’t invited to the meeting.

He said that Russia was ready for talks but shrugged off Zelenskyy’s peace formula as wishful thinking. Any prospective peace talks should be based on a draft deal negotiated by Russia and Ukraine during their Istanbul talks in 2022, he said.

Ukraine meanwhile carried out drone raids on Crimea in an attempt to strike back during Moscow’s offensive in northeastern Ukraine, which has piled on pressure on outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces awaiting delayed deliveries of crucial weapons and ammunition from Western partners.

A Ukrainian intelligence official confirmed to The Associated Press that the country’s intelligence services struck Russia’s military infrastructure sites in Novorossiysk, on the Black Sea coast, and in Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol. The official was not authorized to make public comments and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The operation, carried out by Ukraine-built drones, targeted Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels, the official said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region of Russia and six over the Belgorod region. Russian warplanes and patrol boats also destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea, it said.

At least three fighter jets were destroyed in an earlier attack in Crimea a few days ago, according to satellite imagery of the airbase provided by Maxar Technologies.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor of Sevastopol, which is the main base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, said the drone attack damaged the city’s power plant. He said it could take a day to fully restore electricity and warned residents of power cuts. He also announced city schools would be closed temporarily.

In the Krasnodar region, authorities said a drone attack early Friday caused a fire at an oil refinery in Tuapse, which was later contained. There were no casualties. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted refineries and other energy facilities deep inside Russia, inflicting damage.

The Krasnodar region’s governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, said fragments of downed drones around the port of Novorossiysk caused several fires, but there were no casualties.

Belgorov Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said a Ukrainian drone struck a vehicle, killing a woman and her 4-year-old child. Another attack there set a fuel tank ablaze at a gas station, he said.

Recent Russian attacks have also targeted the eastern Donetsk region, as well as the Chernihiv and Sumy regions in the north and in the southern Zaporizhzhia region — apparently seeking to further stretch depleted Ukrainian resources.

Having boosted their forces in northern Ukraine, Russian forces are now pushing to advance near the village of Lyptsi, as well as the town of Vovchansk, according to Syrskyi, the Ukrainian military commander.

Syrskyi also said he inspected units that are “preparing for defense” of Sumy. On Tuesday, the head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, reportedly said Russia’s military planned to launch offensive actions in Sumy.

Russia has also been testing defenses elsewhere along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, which snakes north-to-south through eastern Ukraine. The line has barely changed over the past 18 months, in what has become a war of attrition.

Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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