Dates & prices

Services

Our price includes

• Cruise in the booked cabin-category (only outside cabins)
• Visit to the famous Amber Room
• Full board with three main meals, from Dinner on Embarkation day to Breakfast on the final morning
• Coffee / tea after lunch and dinner
• Traditional Welcome Ceremony with bread and salt
• Welcome and Farewell cocktail
• Captain’s Dinner
• nicko tours Cruise Director, German speaking local guides (on MS Fedin/MS Chicherin), German/English speaking guides (on MS Simonov)
• Participation in the on-board events programme (eg folklore concert, classical concert, dance evening, Russian language course, Pirate Evening)
• Shashlik party (weather permitting)
• Resident musicians
• Free use of the ship’s sauna
• Detailed cruise documents
• All harbour dues
• Luggage transfer from the quayside to your cabin and v. v.

Our price does not include

• Individual travel to/from Russia
• Excursions
• Visa
• Obligatory health insurance
• Beverages
• Gratuities (we recommend a sum of € 5-7 per person and day)
• Personal spending

Excursions

MOSCOW: CITY TOUR (EP)
With a population of over 10 million Moscow is one of the world’s largest cities and by far the largest city in Russia. It is the administrative, economic, scientific, cultural and spiritual centre of the nation. In many respects Moscow is a fusion of two worlds – East and West. In the city live people from almost all parts of the former Soviet republics. The important buildings in Moscow reflect the turbulent history of former centuries and of recent decades and thus attract tourists from all over the world. Our coach tour takes us into the city centre, past Gorki Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, the new arena, Alexander Gardens and the main shopping streets, Novi Arbat and Tverskaya. A photo-stop on a hilltop allows an excellent view across the city. One highlight of the tour is Red Square with St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Museum of History and the GUM department store (where we allow about 20 minutes free time). Red Square has a length of 700 m (850 yards) and is 130m (150 yards) wide; it is the central point of the capital. Since the 15th Century it has been the scene not only of annual fairs but also of major political and religious events. Opposite the north-east Kremlin Wall is the GUM department store, one of the world’s largest stores. It was built in 1890 in Russian fairytale style and is about 250m (300 yards) long, with traditional paintings on the walls, windows of coloured glass, small turrets, dainty mouldings and fountains. The most attractive building on Red Square is St. Basil’s Cathedral. This magnificent church with its bizarre and colourful domes is a masterpiece created by the Russian architects Posnik and Barma. It was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th Century – as a triumphant monument to his victory over the Tartars at Kasan.

MOSCOW: SIGHTSEEING CRUISE ON THE MOSCOW RIVER (INCLUDING LUNCH) (EP)
Get to know the Russian capital from a different perspective! Enjoy the views from a cruise boat on the Moscow River, a 502 km long tributary of the River Oka, which rises in the Smolensk Hills and provides a way for shipping right through the heart of the capital.

MOSCOW: KREMLIN (EP)
The Russian word “Kremlin” means “fortress”. Moscow’s Kremlin is the largest and most famous. Today, more than ever, it is the focus of Russian politics. The inner, triangular complex has an area of 28 ha (12 acres) and is surrounded by a wall, 2235 m (3000 yards) long, with 20 defensive towers. The Kremlin has been the seat of the Russian rulership since 1918 and, with its palaces and cathedral, it is the historical heart of the nation. Begun in 1156 as a residence for the Grand Prince, it was elevated by Czar Ivan I to be the seat of the Czars and of the religious leaders. Although Peter I moved the government in 1712 to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin remained seat of the religious leadership until 1918. The focal point of the Kremlin is Cathedral Square with its many impressive cathedrals and churches. Our tour will show you the outside of the major buildings and then go inside one of the lovely churches (eg the Coronation Church). A further feature of the Kremlin is the world’s largest bell, cast in 1733-1735. This bell is 5.8 m (19 ft) high and 6.6 m (20 ft) in diameter and weighs over 200 tons. However, it has never been rung, since the foundry caught fire before the bell could be taken out of the mould. The water, used to fight the fire, penetrated the still warm mould and dislodged a 12 ton section of the bell.


UGLICH: CHURCH OF ST. DIMITRY-ON-THE-BLOOD (EP)
This old-established town greets its visitors with a peal of bells. Here we have a walking tour of the Church of St. Dmitry-on-the-Blood, which was built where once the son of Ivan the Terrible was murdered. On the spot where, according to legend, Dmitry met his death, a wooden church was built and then replaced in 1692 by a stone built edifice. The church is thus a fine example of 17th Century church architecture. The visitor is deeply impressed by the decorated windows and window ledges and the star covered domes. One is reminded of a red and blue birthday cake. The interior frescoes form a moving portrait of the creation of the world. Next to the bell we find the bier. Today Uglich is a pleasant provincial town with several ancient buildings.

ROSTOV VELIKY (EP)
Only two cities in ancient Russia bore the title veliky (large): the northern capital of Novgorod and Rostov Veliky which lies like a fairytale kingdom between two ancient monasteries on the banks of Lake Nero. Rostov achieved fame in the 17th Century with the building of its Kremlin. Still today it impresses visitors with its splendour and beauty. Almost all parts are linked together by galleries, stairs and corridors. Its focal point is the cathedral, which bears a similar name to that of the Kremlin in Moscow „On the death of the Blessed Virgin“. Next to the cathedral is an unusual 4-arched bell-tower with 13 bells. Rostov is also famous for its enamels, a craft which has been handed down to the present day. It is hard to resist the temptation to buy a souvenir in the form of a miniature, a brooch or a bracelet.

YAROSLAVL (EP)
Yaroslavl was founded in 1016 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise from Kiev and is thus much older than Moscow. Yaroslavl is the most attractive town on the so-called “Golden Ring”. The town has grown up around the Monastery of the Epiphany, which was founded in the 12th Century with the aim of strengthening the town’s defenses. After a disastrous fire in 1222 the monastery was rebuilt. The Church of the Epiphany, built in 1516, is the oldest church in Yaroslavl. It has three domes and strong architectural lines. Unlike in many other cities, it was the merchants and craftsmen, and not the nobility, who exerted the greatest influence. They commissioned the building of the finest churches, such as the Church of the Prophet Elijah with its beautiful icons. The church has two small bell towers and three onion-shaped domes and is regarded as an architectural masterpiece of its age and an example of the harmony of building style and frescoes. The town centre has been tastefully restored and contains several lovely buildings in Classical style.

GORITZY (EP)
Goritzy lies to the south of the White Lake and is the starting point for a tour to the Kirillov BelozerskyMonastery, some 7 km (4 miles) distant. The monastery was founded in the 14th Century and reached the peak of its influence and wealth in the 18th Century. Today it is a museum for history and architecture. The oldest part of the monastery is on Lake Siverski and consists of the Monastery of the Assumption and the small Ivanovsky Monastery. The Monastery of the Assumption has nine churches and monastic cells, a sanatorium and an administrative complex. Of the nine churches, dating from the 15th and 16th Century, the finest is the Cathedral of the Assumption, with its wonderful frescoes and icons. This brick built church with four columns was the third stone church to be built in Russia. The small Ivanovsky Monastery consists of two 16th Century churches, a house of prayer and the cell of St. Cyril, the founder. The art of icons had a special role in the monastery. It was here that Dionysis Glushinsky painted his full-length icon of St. Cyril. Since the 16th Century the monastery has also served as a place of banishment for opponents of the regime.

KIZHI (EP)
Kizhi is the largest and best-known island in Lake Onega. It was reputedly settled as early as the 11th Century. From the “Golden Age” of the island we have today unique examples of wooden constructions, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the principal attraction in the province of Karelia. In the course of a 90-minute guided walk on the island we visit some of the 82 buildings, which were brought together into an Open Air museum in 1966. The 33 domes of the two churches and the bell-tower are visible from a long way off. The Church of the Transfiguration dates from 1714. 30 000 wooden tiles cover the 22 domes of this church. Legend has it that this 37 m (120 ft) high church was built by one man, using only an axe and without recourse to a single nail. The farmhouses are over 100 years old and are fine examples of woodwork. They provide an insight into the life style typical for that period.

ST. PETERSBURG: CITY TOUR (EP)
The city, named “The Venice of the North”, was founded in 1703 by Czar Peter the Great as his “Window on Europe”. The particular charm and appeal of St. Petersburg stems, to a large part, from its unique architecture and the arrangement of its buildings, squares, parks, palaces and boulevards. The individual phases of its architectural history blend together seamlessly – the simple, clear, unadorned lines of the style of Peter I merge with the Russian Baroque and Classicism, giving a most harmonious outcome. In the 18th Century St. Petersburg was the centre of Russian science and culture. Universities, academies and theatres were founded, and major writers, composers and painters settled here. During the 20th Century St. Petersburg saw no less than three revolutions, before the Soviet regime eventually seized power in October 1917. In March 1918 the seat of government moved to Moscow. Our city tour gives you a glimpse of the most important sights – the Palace Square with the Hermitage, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Admiralty, the Nevski Prospect (shopping street) with the Kasan Cathedral, the Smolny Monastery, the Peter and Paul Fortress, Dekrabist Square with its monument, the battle cruiser “Aurora”, the Field of Mars and the Square of Fine Arts. The Peter and Paul Cathedral on the island is the origin of the city. Designed originally as a defensive structure, it was turned into a prison as early as 1718. The wooden John’s Bridge, the city’s oldest, takes one through two gates and across the main boulevard directly to the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which was built between 1712 and 1733. Although regarded as a masterpiece of 18th Century Russian architecture, German and Dutch features are clearly identifiable. Since the reign of Peter I the cathedral was the burial place for almost all the Czars. The finest square in St. Petersburg is the Palace Square with the Winter Palace, which housed the General Staff and the Hermitage. The square gained its present shape at the start of the 19th Century. Thanks to its rounded shape and vast size it has been an ideal location for marches and parades.

ST. PETERSBURG: HERMITAGE (EP)
The Hermitage museum is directly adjacent to the Winter Palace. Construction started in 1775 with the “Small” Hermitage, followed by the “Old” Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre. The new Hermitage was started in 1839. Today most rooms of the Hermitage and a large part of the Winter Palace house the famous art collection. The Hermitage is one of the world’s four leading museums, with one of the largest collections of paintings. In total the museum houses over three million artefacts in some 400 rooms, including the largest collection of French art outside France. In order to appreciate the size of the museum, it has been calculated that, were one to spend just one minute looking at each artefact, one would need more than 9 years to see them all. The architecture and the interior of the Hermitage are both of the highest artistic merit. The magnificent skill of Russian craftsmen completed the tasteful furniture and the beautiful parquet floors. Another impressive feature is the colourful stonework in the galleries, the most famous of these being the Malachite Room.

Your ship

Important travel information

Important Travel Information

Passports and Visas:
Please check in good time that all necessary papers and documents needed for the cruise are valid and correct. May we draw your attention to the fact that you yourself are responsible for all official travel documents and (where needed) visas and for organizing any necessary inoculations.
Failure to follow these regulations may result in a refusal to allow you to undertake all or part of your journey and thus involve you and your party in considerable extra expense. Should the lack of appropriate documentation lead to your being refused permission to travel, there can be no refund of payments already made. It is not part of our service to obtain entry visas. This remains the responsibility of individual clients.

Insurance:
May we draw your attention to the fact that you yourself are responsible for travel insurance. Unfortunately you cannot book insurance directly with nicko tours.

Travel to/from port:
Travel to/from port of embarkation/disembarkation needs to be organized individually. Please note that should flight or train delays occur, the vessel cannot wait in the port of embarkation. In such cases the transfer to the next port, where embarkation is possible, must be arranged individually. Please contact the emergency hotline as soon as possible (0049-163 765 68 60). To book transfers between the airport or main station and the port of embarkation please contact us at info@nicko-tours.de.

Minimum passengers per cruise: 200

Important Travel Information

Dear Partner:
We are delighted that you are interested in offering one of our river cruises and you are now starting the planning for the holidays of your customers. We would like to offer some suggestions for this process, to help you on your way. Each means of travel has its own peculiarities - things that are worth knowing. We have tried here to select some of the most important items.

 Travel Documents
nicko tours will not provide travel documents to you. As you are a tour operator you have to use your own documents and vouchers. You also have to provide nicko tours with a sample copy of the travel vouchers valid for the cruise. This will be forwarded to the Cruise Director to assure boarding of your group.
 
EU Safety Certificate
The cost of your tours includes an EU guarantee of set standards of care. This certificate will be sent with your letters of confirmation.

 Passports and Visas
You are responsible for the Visa arrangements of your customers. Please ensure, that they check in good time that all necessary papers and documents needed for the cruise are valid and correct.
May we draw your attention to the fact that you as the Operator are responsible for all official travel documents for your clients and (where needed) visas and for organizing any necessary inoculations.

Failure to follow these regulations may result in a refusal to allow your clients to undertake all or parts of their journey and thus involve considerable extra expense for your clients. Should the lack of appropriate documentation lead to a refused permission to travel, there can be no refund of payments already made. It is not part of nicko tours service to obtain entry visas. This remains the responsibility of the Operator and the clients.
 
Insurance
May we draw your attention to the fact that you and your passengers are responsible for travel insurances. Unfortunately you cannot book insurance directly with nicko tours.

 Travel to/from port
Travel to/from port of embarkation/disembarkation needs to be organized by yourself. Please note that should flight or train delays occur, the vessel cannot wait in the port of embarkation. In such cases the transfer to the next port, where embarkation is possible, must be arranged by yourself. Please contact the emergency hotline as soon as possible (0049-163 765 68 60). To book transfers between the airport or main station and the port of embarkation please contact us at sales@nicko-tours.com

Baggage Handling
If arriving by plane, please check the baggage regulations of your airline in advance.

 
Ship’s berth
Details of the ship’s berth you will get from our product managers.
Every vessel is officially assigned a harbour berth. Occasionally it is necessary to moor alongside another vessel. This means that the view from the cabins window may be restricted to the neighbouring vessel and that there may be a certain amount of additional noise and smell. While going ashore it might be necessary to pass through or across another vessel. Anchorages are subject to change.

 
Changes to the itinerary and to the programme
Cruise itineraries are weather-dependent – for example a long period of rain or drought could have a detrimental effect on water levels. It may on occasions be necessary to change the itinerary, as a result of abnormal water levels or delays at locks or bridges. On the rare occasion that a section of the river is closed, we will transfer passengers to alternative means of transport, which may result in cancellation of, or changes to planned visits. We also reserve the right to alter the order in which we visit the planned destinations.

 
Joining and leaving the vessel
You will get embarkation details from our product manager. However, since there are occasional changes to the ships’ berth, we ask your customers to check the information boards on the quayside, to find the exact location of the vessel. Please take special note of the embarkation times. Even though the vessel may already be at its berth, the crew need the available time to prepare the ship for its next cruise. Please understand that it is not possible to embark before the time specified, nor can we accept your luggage until this time.

 
Excursions / Going ashore
Excursions ashore organised by nicko tours offer a general view of the most important sights in the various ports of call. Your clients may also wish to explore the area on their own.
We ask your clients to wait for an announcement of official clearance of the vessel, before going ashore. Return times on board are published in the daily journal. Since our berths and our passage through locks have to be arranged in advance, we are not able to wait for passengers who return late.

 
Excursions
For each cruise we offer a package including interesting excursions, which we specially recommend.
Excursion packages for international groups are operated with English speaking guide. Therefore a minimum of 10 persons is required. nicko tours can also arrange excursion packages for other languafe groups. Please let us know.

It is, of course, possible to book these excursions on board as well, usually at a higher price and subject to availability, especially because of the language. Usually these optional excursions are subject to a minimum number of participants. Theatre performances depend on local schedules, which are sometimes subject to last minute alterations. Should your clients not take part in a pre-booked excursion (either as part of a package or booked individually on board), we are not able to issue a refund. Also please note that abnormal water levels or extended waiting times at locks may lead to delays and alterations to the planned excursion schedule or to a change of disembarkation or embarkation point.

 
On-board facilities
On board our ships your customers will find a Panorama Lounge offering excellent views of the passing scenery. Live music is played during the evening for dancing, whilst during the day the Lounge is used for lectures. Some ships have, in addition, smaller lounges for reading or board games or for small group meetings. On most of our ships there are fitness facilities, which you clients may use free of charge. On the Sun Deck they will find sunshades, chairs, tables and, in many cases, deck-chairs.

The on board language for all nicko tours vessels is German. However, if you are a inernational tour operator and arranging a closed group and an accompanying tour guide, we will provide all announcements, menus, daily programs etc. also in English (other languages on request).

 
Payment on board
The on-board currency depends on our route (Central Europe = Euro). Drinks taken and excursions booked on board can be paid for at the end of the cruise, either by credit card (see the cruise description for details) or in cash. Cash payments must be made in the on-board currency, as exchange is not permitted or not possible on board (except in China). Please be aware that your bank or Credit Card Company may impose fees for credit card payments.

 
Cabins
Normally you receive the cabin numbers with the booking confirmation. We will try our best to assign you the cabin you have specified with your booking, but this is not a contractual requirement on our part. A certain amount of noise from the ship’s engines, air-conditioning plant or ventilation systems is noticeable in some parts of the vessel. Those cabins marked “aft” are in the rear section of the vessel and here the noise may be noticeable when the vessel is underway. Occasionally there is noise from the bow propellers when manoeuvring or moving through locks. This mainly affects the forward cabins. On our Russian and Ukrainian ships the bathroom is rather more basic. The shower is drained through a drain in the bathroom floor and the shower head is extendable from the wash basin.

 
Multi-berth cabins
Some twin-berth cabins can be arranged to accommodate three or four occupants, but please note that these cabins are usually the same size. The third and fourth bed in these cabins is usually a fold away upper berth.


Drinking water
Because the fresh water supply comes from an on-board tank, we recommend drinking bottled water obtainable from the ship’s bar or restaurant. The water from the ship’s taps is perfectly safe for cleaning teeth etc.

 
Meals
All our cruises include full board – details are given in the brochure. We try to source the meals with local produce. On all ships we serve a buffet Breakfast. Lunch is usually served at table and Dinner is always table service. Meals on board are served at a single seating. Please refer to the tour information for further information. If one of your customers have special diet requirements, we ask you to inform us when making the booking, although this may present difficulties in Russia, Ukraine, China and Egypt.

 
Medical treatment and health issues
For urgent medical needs there is a doctor on board our ships in Russia, the Ukraine and China, as well as on board MS DONAUSTAR, MS DELTASTAR, MS MOLDAVIA and MS DNEPR. Otherwise it is normally easy to reach a doctor on shore. Medical treatment on board is charged for and medicines are also to be paid for locally. Please be aware that our on-board staff (eg at the Reception) are not allowed to dispense medicines. If your clients are taking prescription drugs, please ensure that they have a sufficient supply with them. We recommend international health insurance.

 
Dress
During the day on board and on the excursions your passengers may dress how they please, with the emphasis on comfort and practicality. We recommend wearing non-slip shoes on the outside decks and that they have warm clothes for cooler evenings and sound, comfortable footwear for trips ashore. Although there is no formal dress code, we ask to dress smartly for Dinner. Your customers should please remember to pack a hat, sun glasses and rainwear and please bear in mind that the countries to be visited have dress codes different to ours, often based on religious precepts. Churches, monasteries, temples and mosques are primarily places of contemplation and reverence. We therefore ask to dress accordingly – shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops are not welcomed.

 
Mail
Your clients may hand in cards and letters for posting at Reception. Normally the mailbox is cleared at the next port of call. Postcards and stamps are available from the Reception Desk. Please be aware, though, that on-board prices are generally higher than those ashore.

 
Smoking
Smoking is permitted only outside and normally on the open Sun Deck. Smoking is not permitted in enclosed areas of the vessel, such as restaurants, lounges, cabins, corridors etc. The only exception is on board the MS CENTURY DIAMOND, where smoking is permitted in the Cigar Lounge.

 
Gratuities
Tips are not included in the tour price. They are a personal way of showing appreciation for good service. The amount is at the passenger’s discretion, but our recommendation for ships on the rivers Volga, Dnieper, Danube and on rivers in Germany is € 5-7 per passenger per night on board. As we recognise that European passengers often have difficulties with local scales of gratuity in China and Egypt, we offer a service whereby the recommended gratuities are collected at the start of the cruise by the Tour Leader, who then distributes appropriate amounts to the ship’s crew, local guides and coach drivers. Please refer to the cruise information for recommended scales of gratuities. In the case of cruises in Egypt with MS NILE EXCELLENCE the gratuities are included in the tour price.

 
Telephone
It is normally possible to call from cabin to cabin (except on the Russian and Ukrainian ships). On many ships your passengers can phone ashore using a satellite link. However, the charges for this service are high and we recommend your customers useing their own mobile phone. Your service provider can advise on tariffs.

 
TV
Those ships that offer on-board TV rely on satellite reception, which is operative over large parts of the itinerary. However, there can be unforeseen interruptions of transmission when passing under bridges or lock chambers as well as on certain stretches of the river.

 
Electrical appliances
For reasons of safety, electric irons and similar appliances are not allowed in the cabins. There is no hair dryer in the cabin on the Russian or Ukrainian ships. The electrical supply in the cabins is at 220 V. Please note that, as all electrical sockets on the vessels are German standard, your passengers might need to bring a suitable adaptor.

 
Items of Value
On board our ships there is either a deposit box at the Reception Desk (sometimes for a small fee) or a small safe in the cabins. Please use these to deposit items of value. However, we do recommend that your customers leave items of value (eg expensive jewellery) at home, if possible. Some of our tours take your clients to places where minor items are considered as wealth and where wearing expensive items can lead to covetousness or theft.

 
Children
For children we offer a discount of 30% up to the age of 11. Please note that this discount will be deducted at a later stage. The booking confirmation shows the full amount.


Should you have further questions please contact us on our Infoline +49 (0) 711 – 24 89 80 0

We wish your customers a splendid time on board, cruising some of the world’s most beautiful rivers.