cruising sailboat lessons

• 101 Full August 3, 2024 - August 5, 2024
• 101 August 3, 2024 - August 5, 2024
• 101 Full August 6, 2024 - August 8, 2024
• August 6, 2024 - August 8, 2024
• 101 Full August 9, 2024 - August 11, 2024
• August 9, 2024 - August 11, 2024
• 103 Full August 13, 2024 - August 15, 2024
• August 13, 2024 - August 15, 2024
• 104 2 Spaces Available August 16, 2024 - August 19, 2024
• August 16, 2024 - August 19, 2024
• 104 August 16, 2024 - August 19, 2024
• 101 1 space Available August 20, 2024 - August 22, 2024
• August 20, 2024 - August 22, 2024
• 101 Full August 24, 2024 - August 26, 2024
• 101 August 24, 2024 - August 26, 2024
• 101 Full August 27, 2024 - August 29, 2024
• August 27, 2024 - August 29, 2024
• 101 Full August 31, 2024 - September 2, 2024

Course Descriptions

Asa 101 – basic keelboat sailing.

ASA 101 is a 2 day course designed to teach you the basic sailing theory and skills required to safely skipper a 20-30ft keel boat in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. You will learn sailing terminology, the parts and functions of the boat, how to trim the sails, sailing the boat on all points of sail, tacking, jibing, seamanship, safety, navigation rules, Crew Overboard recovery, and important knots.

Preparation for the course includes reading through the Sailing Made Easy textbook a week or so before your lessons. This will help maximize our time on the water.  The classes run from 10am to 5pm each day and all the teaching is done on the boats. The first half of day 1 is spent reviewing key parts of the book and the remaining time (apart from the test) is spent on the water. There are no prerequisites for ASA101.

ASA 103 – Basic Coastal Cruising

The 2 day Basic Coastal Cruising class builds on ASA 101, and will prepare you to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered keelboat of approximately 25 to 35 feet in length by day in moderate winds and sea conditions. You will learn to confidently maneuver the boat under power, docking procedures, advanced sail trimming theory and techniques, details about the boat’s systems, anchoring, basic navigation, marine weather, and advanced COB recovery techniques.

Preparation for the course includes reading through the Coastal Cruising Made Easy textbook a week or so before your lessons. This will help maximize our time on the water.  The classes run from 10am to 5pm each day and all the teaching is done on the boats. The first day we spend several hours going through the book, then the rest of the day is out on the water working on skills. The next morning is the test and then out on the water again doing the skills. Prerequisite for ASA 103 is ASA 101

ASA 104 – Bareboat Cruising

The pre-requisites for this course are ASA 101 and ASA 103. The Bareboat Cruising course focuses on learning the skills required to safely go coastal cruising while living aboard, with the ultimate goal of preparing you to bareboat charter in many areas in the US and the Caribbean. This course is also taught on our Caribbean Adventure Learning cruises.

You will become competent in operating all of the boat’s systems including the plumbing, fresh water, the head and shower, AC and DC electrical systems, the galley, the engine, communications, and instrumentation. You will learn how to prepare for a cruise including fuel/water/food planning, float plans, route plans, navigation using charts and GPS, advanced anchoring, sailing at night, heavy weather sailing, use and towing of the dinghy, problem solving and trouble shooting. The course consists of 3 days and 2 nights staying on board.

ASA 105 – Coastal Navigation

The Coastal Navigation course will prepare you to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters using paper charts and traditional tools and electronic charts with charting software. You will learn how to obtain and read a chart, and how to use other navigational tools such as compasses, depth soundings, speed and distance logs, VHF radio, GPS, navigation publications and resources, and weather information. You will learn how to take fixes and to plot a course taking into account wind, tides, current, and leeway.

This is a 3 day classroom course which can be quite challenging, so we allow a week between the lessons and the test. During this time you are welcome to call or Skype your instructor with questions. There are no prerequisites for ASA105.

ASA106 – Advanced Coastal Cruising

Pre-requisites for this course are ASA101 through ASA105. Your Advanced Coastal Cruising certification will prepare you to safely act as skipper and crew of a sailing vessel about 30 to 50 feet in length in coastal and inland waters, in any conditions. We teach this course on our 8 day Caribbean Adventure Learning cruises, typically sailing boats in the 50 foot range in the US, Spanish, and British Virgin Islands. You will put into practice the skills you learned in Coastal Navigation and learn new skills such as man overboard at sea while sailing at night, open ocean and heavy weather sailing, sailing on to a mooring, anchoring in difficult conditions, and much more. Our captains have a wealth of experience and the value of what you absorb from them during these cruises is immeasurable.

ASA114 – Catamaran Cruising

The pre-requisites for this course are ASA101 through ASA104. This course is only taught on our Caribbean Adventure Learning course which give you 8 days of on board, hands on experience. At the completion of this course you will be able to skipper an auxiliary-powered sailing cruising catamaran of approximately 40 to 50 feet in length during a multi-day liveaboard cruise upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions. You will learn about catamaran structure, components and features, performance under sail and power, boat systems, seamanship and safety, heavy weather operation, and emergency response.

ASA118 – Docking Endorsement

Once students learn to sail, in many cases the biggest source of intimidation is docking. Getting that big boat into a little slip can be a daunting challenge, even for experienced sailors. To dock competently and safely requires an understanding of the forces acting on a boat, how you can control them, and lots of practice. This course provides the student with the theory and practice to confidently maneuver their boat in a variety of docking configurations and conditions.

EMBARK ON A LIFETIME OF ADVENTURES

THE STAKES ARE HIGH

Embark successfully.

THE ULTIMATE LIVEABOARD SAILING COURSES

4,000+ alumni sailing the world, outstanding instructors, outstanding reviews, official asa certified facility, official asa sailing school for dream yachts, as featured in.

Connect With Us

Plan Your Trip

START YOUR SAILING JOURNEY NOW

FREE RESOURCE! AVOID COMMON PITFALLS ON YOUR SAILING JOURNEY

We’ve successfully taught more than 4000 students over the years and can help you avoid common mistakes.

Here are 5 Top Tips to help you confidently embark on your sailing journey.

• TERMS OF USE
• Privacy Policy

Home  Education  Adult Sailing  Sailing Certification Courses & Endorsements  Find a School

Sailing Certification Courses & Endorsements

Find a school, taking lessons from a us sailing school will prepare you to meet your goals, regardless if you're just starting out or have dreams of cruising offshore., as the national governing body for sailing in the us, us sailing does not extend accreditation lightly. all us sailing accredited schools undergo a full evaluation to ensure that they meet the high standards of us sailing., us sailing accredited schools and course offerings.

Please use this search feature to find a school and course that suits your needs. Streamline the search by selecting options from each dropdown to narrow your search (like Location; type of course ie. Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, etc). Then, when you find the school you want to contact, click on the school name and be redirected to their webpage!

Find a School / Course 2

Please provide us with a little bit of information about you and your interests and a representative from our office will be in touch!

1 Roger Williams University Way Bristol, RI 02809 Tel: 401.342.7900 [email protected] US Powerboating (sister organization): www.uspowerboating.com

Specific/ New program questions:

Betsy Alison Adult Director, US Sailing 401.342.7914 [email protected]

Safety at Sea

• Safety at Sea Planning
• Hosting a US Sailing Championship

Andrew Clouston SVP Programs & Services Email Andrew Clouston

Betsy Alison Adult Director Email Betsy Alison 401-342-7914

Diana Emmanuelli Competition Manager Email Diana Emmanuelli 401-342-7912

Karen Davidson Adult Program Coordinator Email Karen Davidson (401) 342-7934

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

Dynamic title for modals

Are you sure.

SAILING SCHOOL

12 knots sailing courses.

Weather forecast

Learn how to read clouds and winds like a pro

Competent Crew

Introduction to sailing. Learn how to become an active crew

Bareboat Skipper

Recreational sailing yacht skipper of vessels up to 78 feet

Issued documents

10 days live aboard course on power or sailing yacht. The key objective of the course is to teach candidates to become a recreational sailing yacht skipper and be able to charter and handle big cruising yachts on their own.

Ideal for those who already have little sailing experience and would like to learn coastal navigation.

• navigation at sea
• collision regulations
• practice at sea 200nm
• Skipper on a yacht up to 78ft. / 24m
• 20 miles offshore in day time
• in moderate weather conditions

5-day sailing course on board of a cruising yacht. The main objective of the course is to teach basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, basic sail trim, helm commands, seamanship and safety.

Ideal for candidates with little to no previous sailing experience who wish to train to become an active crew member on a power or sailing yacht.

• no special requirements
• Crew on a yacht up to 78ft. / 24m
• in sight of land and in fair weather
• only with professional skipper

Choose your sailing program. Where to start?

Introduction to sailing, on the coast.

Sailing knots - 3 hours

Understanding of the boat - 3 hours

On the water

Basic keelboat - 3 hours

Basic cruising

Safety on board - 3 hours

Live aboard sailing boat - 5 days

Live aboard power boat - 7 days

Bareboat cruising

Mandatory shore-based course for navigation and collision regulations at sea

Passage planning

Collision regulations

Practice at sea

Sailing boat - 10 days

Motor boat - 7 days

Advanced coastal cruising

Take additional shore-based courses prior to practice at sea

Long-term passage planning

Tidal navigation

Night sailing

Celestial navigation

Live-aboard course in tidal waters

Sailing yacht - 7 days

Upcoming courses

Blue water sailing practice

from ₽18,630

Availability

Competent crew

from ₽10,890

Marine weather forecasting

from ₽1,350

Liveaboard Cruising

Course description.

This sailing course is for the more advanced sailor.  If you are moving up to a larger boat, interested in the shipboard life of passage-making and adventure sailing, or if you are wanting to bareboat charter, this course is for you.  For this one, we take the classroom underway!  J World Sailing School teaches this sailing class aboard a 40-50 foot sailboat.

The liveaboard cruising course will give you the confidence you need for offshore cruising and/or coastal cruising.  We offer seven, five, and three day options at all of our locations.  J World Sailing School also offers special adventure sailing Liveaboard Cruising courses in the Channel Islands, Mexico, Hawaii, and other outstanding destinations.  Please see our special events page or contact us for details and information.

For all these sailing courses, we create our float-plan as a group on the first day, taking into consideration our goals and current weather conditions.  We have a maximum of four sailors per class, so you are guaranteed plenty of personal attention.

The Seven Day Liveaboard Cruising Courses are usually special events, and often have separate starting and ending ports.  Trips such as San Francisco to Santa Barbara and Puerto Vallarta to Cabo San Lucas happen at certain time throughout the year.  See our special events page or contact us for additional information on upcoming possibilities.

The Five Day Liveaboard Cruising Course (Monday – Friday) is our most popular cruising class.  Possible destinations from our San Francisco Bay base include sailing to Monterrey Bay, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, Bolinas Bay, San Pablo Bay, and the Sacramento River Delta.  From San Diego, we regularly head out to the Channel Islands and Catalina.  In Puerto Vallarta, we explore the further reaches of Banderas Bay, and venture along the Mexican coastline to some beautiful areas which can be found along less-traveled paths.

The Three Day Liveaboard Cruising Course runs Friday to Sunday in San Francisco Bay, San Deigo, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Due to the shorter time-frame, this course tends to be for those individuals with a bit more experience who require ‘brushing up.’  For most sailors, we encourage the five day format so that we have lots of time to cover all the information in great detail.

The course covers many topics in great detail, including:

Itineraries

Each of our  locations offers various itineraries.  The final float plan is decided as a group based on goals and the weather conditions/forecast, but here are some of the most popular:

San Francisco Bay – Numerous destinations within the world famous Bay, including Sausailto, Angel Island, SF Cityfront, Berkeley, Napa, and Sonoma, plus some nearby coastal options including the Farallone Islands, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and Monterrey.

San Diego – Coastal ports-of-call include Mission Bay, Oceanside, and Dana Point, while our favorite destination remains the beautiful Catalina Island (and for the longer trips, the further lying Channel Islands as well).

Puerto Vallarta – The beautiful Banderas Bay hosts numerous options, including the coastal villages of Yelapa, Quimixto, and Las Animas to the south and La Cruz and Punta Mita to the North.  Longer trips can head up the coast to Sayulita, Chacala, Coral Island, San Blas, the remote Isla Isabella, and Cabo San Lucas.  Or turn south along the Costallegre and make for stunning gem Cayeres.

Special Events – J/World also offers a range of special cruising classes/events.  See here for details on our Mexico Trips, the Baja Ha-Ha, and the Hawaii to California Offshore Passagemaking offerings!

What makes the J/World Learn to Sail Course different from the average sailing school?

Numerous seemingly small differences in a learn to sail course can result in a dramatically different overall experience.  You can get a degree from many, many universities, but we all know that all colleges are not created equal…  and the same hold true of sailing schools.  So what are the primary differences between J/World’s Learn to Sail Course and other sailing schools?

We teach on the latest generation of sportboats: more comfortable, safer, faster, and better learning platforms. Offshore rated, yet nimble and responsive, these boats have huge cockpits, high booms, and are extremely well balanced.

Most of our team are full-time, year-round professional sailing coaches… not just seasonal, part-timers. All J/World instructors teach everything from these beginning sailing courses to private cruising classes and race coaching. Just because you are a beginning sailor in a learn to sail class doesn’t mean you should have a beginning instructor… in fact, quite the opposite!

Our Curricilum

J/World has been teaching sailors for 35 years, and much longer than ANYONE has been certifying them. We teach our own curriculum which have been proven successful and launched thousands of sailing adventures….

More time sailing. More course days. Exceptional boats. Phenomenal instructors. But don’t just take our word for it. See below to read some of our customers testimonials to read why we have been selected as the “Best in the Business” for over 19 years running. And please ask sailors and do lots of web searches… we feel confident that the more you ask around, the more great things you will hear about us and the more likely you will come to J/World!

Improve your sailing skills with the top rated sailing school in the country, J/World

Liveaboard Cruising – Requirements

The ability to comfortably sail an auxiliary powered sailboat. Knowledge of sailing, seamanship, basic navigation, and boat handling.

Liveaboard Cruising – Certifications

US Sailing Basic Cruising  – Three day course US Sailing Bareboat Cruising – Five and seven day courses

In order to obtain certifications you must already have the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification and a current US Sailing membership. We include one certification with each course. Sailors with sufficient previous experience may complete the course work for both certifications in the five or seven day options. The cost for additional certification is $60.00.  Please contact us directly to discuss this option.

Liveaboard Cruising – Price

Three Day – Standard: $1495   Alumni: $1345   Member: $1196 Five Day – Standard: $2395   Alumni:  $2155   Member:  $1916 Seven Day – Standard: $3350   Alumni: $3015   Member:  $2680

Please visit our pricing page for full details, terms, and conditions.

US Sailing Certified

Private instruction.

If you prefer a private experience over a group course, we offer the opportunity to receive fully personalized attention from one of the best sailing instructors in the country.  You can come alone, or limit the enrollment in a particular course to your group of friends or family.  We provide custom sailing instruction for individuals or groups at prices which compare favorably to standard courses, and will custom tailor the curriculum to meet your specific goals on a schedule which accommodates your plans.  Visit here for more info.

Testimonials

We had an absolutely fantastic time and achieved one of my life long goals – learning to sail!  The Instructors were truly great and we appreciated their very professional and friendly teaching style.  We’ll be back for sure!  Thank you for a great experience, J/World. Please send our regards to everyone….

Just wanted to say thank you for a great week taking the Performance Cruising class at J/World. Sailing the J80 was mucho fun and that J105 is a rocket!  Both of my instructors are super talented and I definitely learned more in that one week than I have in quite a while.  I’ll be in touch to do more sailing with J/World!

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful trip and the experience of a lifetime. I was and remain extremely impressed with all the preparation and hard work that you put in to make this trip a success. I took from this experience not only a great deal of knowledge on ocean sailing, but also increased confidence in my ability as a sailor.

[Our instructor] did an incredible job of ensuring that we both had a positive experience. I have been an educator for almost 30 years. Currently I am Superintendent of Schools for a jurisdiction of over 10,000 students with 1050 staff. I can assure you that [our J/World instructor] is a natural teacher with a broad range of skills.

I just wanted to take a minute to express my appreciation for this weeks class, and to let you know I was really impressed with [my instructors]. You have a great team there!  I certainly got everything I’d hoped for… and more. The J/80 was a blast, and the time on my own boat was invaluable. The Friday race was the perfect end to an excellent week…

Absolutely exceeded my expectations in every dimension. The boats were exceptional… new modern and in good shape. The instructors were awesome. It was hard to believe you could get that level of experience and accomplishment and at the same time have great teachers. Thanks you J/World Team!

As someone who’s been teaching and evaluating teachers for a quarter of a century, I’m writing to tell your instructor is one of the best I’ve seen. He’s tremendously skilled at communicating knowledge and also has the rare talent of being able to tell what his students do and don’t understand.

J/World Sailing

San Francisco Bay San Diego Puerto Vallarta

(800) 910-1101 (510) 271-4780 [email protected]

Email Address:

First Name:

jworld.sailing

J/World Performance Sailing School is the preeminent source for sailing skills development.

• Live Aboard Cruising Courses

Get Started:

Call: (888) 454-7015.

[email protected]

Request a Quote

• Private Sailing Courses
• Fast Track to Monohull Cruising
• Learn to Sail Certification Courses
• Fast Track to Sailing
• Family Learn to Sail Programs
• Sailing Lessons and Sailing Rides
• Small Sailboat Cruising Course
• Online Learn to Sail Course
• Docking Refresher Course on a Catamaran or Monohull
• Bareboat Charter Courses
• Catamaran Cruising Courses
• IPC Prep With Cruising Certification & Catamaran Endorsement
• Catamaran Endorsement & Refresher
• Boat Handling & Docking
• Women-Only Sailing Programs
• Navigation Courses
• Performance Sailing Courses
• Fast Track to Sailboat Racing Courses
• Performance Racing Clinics
• Coastal Passage Making Courses
• Offshore Passage Making Courses
• Celestial Navigation Courses
• Powerboat Courses
• Sailing Certifications
• Top 10 Tips for Learning How to Sail
• Safety and Comfort Aboard
• Sails & Sail Trim
• Steering and Maneuvering
• Handling Spinnakers
• Engine Maintenance
• Become an Instructor
• How to Choose a Sailing School
• Yacht Lease Management

Live Aboard Cruising Courses — OSS 103/104/114

Learn on a monohull cruising yacht or catamaran, monohull or catamaran.

If you do not have any sailing experience on large cruising yachts,  we recommend you gain your Bareboat Cruising Certification on one of our classy and fast 43′-47′ Jeanneau monohulls.  In the OSS 103/104 Monohull Live Aboard Course at our Florida campuses you quickly learn how to control and capture the wind on all points of sail, feeling the excitement of steering a large cruising yacht on all points of sail, far better than on a catamaran.

The Ultimate Learn to Cruise Experience

Catamarans are the choice of many new cruising sailors because they have more room, and will not heel (lean over).  If you opt for the Catamaran Live Aboard Cruising experience, OSS 114 is added to your certifications for handling a twin-hulled cruising boat with two engines under sail and power.  Learn more about some of the yachts in the Offshore Sailing School fleet .  The choice is yours, of course. We teach a maximum of four students per week, so don’t wait to sign up to reserve a spot on one of our cruising sailboats!

How the Live Aboard Course Works

During the six-day live aboard sailing lessons program, you gain incredible confidence, knowledge and skills that qualify you for chartering and sailing big cruising boats without a hired captain or mate. You learn the mechanics of running a big yacht under sail and power; how to maneuver, dock, anchor and pick up moorings in crowded marinas and harbors. You learn how to act quickly in heavy weather and reduce sail area for comfortable sailing in big seas.  Among the many drills and techniques you experience, is the fun of cooking and dining aboard – preparing meals and cleaning up with your crewmates, just like you would if you were bareboat chartering (skippering the boat without hired crew). Offshore provisions your yacht with breakfast and lunch items, as well as food for most dinners aboard. You and your crewmates do the meal preps as learning to cook aboard is part of the Live Aboard Cruising course experience.

Bring the Family or a Friend and Stay a Day or Two Longer

All Live Aboard Cruising Courses are based at great vacation and sailing destinations . If you would like to relax ashore a day or two before the course starts or after it ends, we can happily make those arrangements for you. We also offer packages for live aboard family sailing! Get in touch to learn more about our monohull yacht and catamaran sailing lessons.

“The Live Aboard Cruising Course gave us exactly what we needed – big boat training and experience. We are pumped and plan to get into cruising within a year. The instruction was outstanding!” O. Thomas Mueller – St. Petersburg, FL Read more testimonials here

This has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my  LIFE! My dream to sail only started about 6 months ago and as a goal orientated person (US Air Force for 26 years) I knew there would be no better way to move forward than to take a sailing course. Sure it was challenging, it was tough, but it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to sail, or to anyone wanting to check off a bucket list item. Both of our instructors were excellent. They had incredible knowledge, patience and solid teaching techniques. Both boats were in impeccable condition. I had a lot riding on this course as if my wife didn’t like it, my dream to live aboard someday would have been crushed. Thank you, thank you! Aaron Maynard – Myrtle Beach, SC Fast Track to Cruising Course – July 2018 Read more testimonials here

A Cruising Course for Sailors Who Want to Own or Charter Cruising Yachts

The Live Aboard Cruising course assumes you already have US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification and are ready to learn the techniques and skills for handling larger sailboats and bareboat cruising (chartering without a hired skipper). If you do not have US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification but do have equivalent experience on sailboats of at least 26 feet with skippering and crewing experience. you must take the US Sailing Basic Keelboat test (additional fee to added to your package when you sign up) prior to taking the US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising tests during the course.

I have taken all US Sailing courses with Offshore Sailing School. Just finished the Catamaran Live Aboard Cruising Course (that’s me in the yellow shirt on the right).  It’s been an awesome adventure and experience. Instructors are awesome!! Lots of knowledge and experience where you can’t find anywhere in books. Our instructor had so much knowledge  I thought I was a brand new student, talking to Jedi Master YODA!! Sam Hahn – New York, NY

Maximum Four Cabins Available Per Week

Because of the popularity of our live aboard sailing courses, and because we teach a maximum of four per week per cruising boat availability, please have several dates in mind when you contact us to book this cruising course. If you are interested in “Buy the Boat” live aboard family sailing packages, you can add up to 2 more family members. See the Course Schedules tab below for more details.

“My husband and I have traveled the world and this was by far one of our best adventures. An amazing vacation that ended with an acquired skill that will last us our lifetime. I am a teacher. My husband and I run our own Test Prep School and thought I knew everything. My teacher at Offshore taught me the importance of patience and independence. He guided but never coddled. The outcome: I learned more than I could ever have imagined. I am a new person!” Ariana (and Khalid) Khashoggi – Highland Park, NJ Read more testimonials here 

“I did this course with my 16 year old son. Now he has a gift he can use and enjoy for the rest of his life. And I have both a gift and a memory that will remain forever.” Russ McCallian – Aurora, CO Read more testimonials here 

Exclusive Sailing School for The Moorings

Offshore Sailing School has been the exclusive sailing school for  The Moorings , the most prominent charter company in the world since 1988. Offshore Sailing School cruising course graduates are “Captains” in The Moorings preferred charter program and enjoy discounts up to 15% when booking a charter. If you take this course in the British Virgin Islands with family or friends, why not continue your cruising adventure with a bareboat charter vacation right after you graduate?

“Offshore made it easy to learn! From easing us through the many tactical details related to arrival and expectations with extensive email communications, to the excellent books to the truly remarkable instructor who made learning a joy – the result was one of the best weeks ever. Great memories, excellent skills development. What more could one ask for?” Mark Waltz – Muskego, WI Read more testimonials here

International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) for Chartering Overseas

If you plan to charter in Europe or other areas overseas, you may be required to show your certification credentials and an IPC, International Proficiency Certificate. US Sailing, the governing body of sailing in the United States, will issue this certificate for a nominal fee for U.S. citizens who have achieved US Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, and  Bareboat Cruising Certifications. For more information, click here .

A Note About Night Sailing

Most charter agencies do not allow night sailing and require that you are anchored, docked or on a mooring before sunset. Night sailing is not covered in this course, but is covered in  Passage Making courses , the next step in your learning process.

• What You Learn
• What's Included
• Course Schedules
• Where To Learn
• Testimonials

A Live Aboard Cruising Course or Stay Ashore Bareboat Charter Cruising Course – whether on a monohull or catamaran – prepares you for charter cruising on your own, without professional captain and crew aboard (called Bareboat Cruising by charter companies). Depending on weather conditions and the learning pace of all in your class (maximum four per boat per instructor unless you opt for a Private Family Course), the following will be learned and practiced.

• Planning a cruise
• Familiarization with boat layout and sail plan
• Operation of engine, generator if available, stove, toilets
• Routine engine maintenance
• Fueling techniques
• Use and conservation of battery and charging systems
• Water use and conservation
• Use and location of thru-hull fittings
• Maneuvering under power and sail with emphasis on windage considerations and close quarters
• Big boat docking, mooring, and anchoring techniques
• Proper and safe handling of halyards and lines
• Proper and safe use of winches
• Apparent wind, wind instruments, sail trim and set
• Inter-crew communication when trimming sails, docking, mooring, anchoring
• Genoa roller furling use
• Overboard recovery procedures
• Big boat heavy weather and reefing techniques
• Sailing wing and wing on bigger boats
• Use of jennaker if available
• Boom preventer use
• More knots and their applications
• Log procedures
• Piloting techniques including set, drift and leeway calculations
• GPS navigation
• Rules of the Road
• Danger bearings
• Coast Guard requirements
• Courtesy using lights and sound signals
• Use of safety harness
• Emergency tiller use
• Distress signals
• Operating a dinghy

If you are learning on a catamaran, your training also includes:

• Multiple scenarios related to wind direction and current while docking, mooring, and anchoring
• Close quarters maneuvering on a catamaran versus a monohull
• Windage considerations
• Spring lines and other dock lines configurations for catamarans
• Reefing by wind strength

Pre-requisite for Live Aboard Cruising Courses : US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification

Certifications : US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certifications are tested for and included in the cost of this course. You receive a logbook from your instructor at the end of the course and US Sailing certification stickers for your logbook, are sent to you after verifying successful completing of the written tests.

Package rates vary by season and location, and include all the elements listed below. Not included are meals ashore, travel and other expenses you may incur. Please call 888-454-7015 for a quote.

At all locations, your Live Aboard Cruising Course includes :

• Live Aboard Cruising Course tuition
• US Sailing textbooks
• Six days living aboard in a shared or private cabin
• One or more nights accommodation ashore (including resort fee and taxes on both)*
• All breakfasts, lunches, snacks and three dinners aboard
• 24-hour practice test mini-cruise at course end, with or without instructor aboard
• US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Certifications when tests are passed
• Colgate Logbook (or page for logbook if you have our logbook from a previous course)
• US Sailing Course Certification stickers for your logbook
• Course diploma
• Eligibility to participate in Colgate Sailing Adventures® Flotilla Cruises
• Exclusive subscription benefit from Cruising World or Sailing World magazines
• Discount charter benefits from The Moorings
• *Accommodations are NOT included in Key West. Students must make their own arrangements

If you plan to charter in Europe or other areas overseas, you may be required to show your certification certificates and an International Proficiency Certificate. US Sailing, the governing body of sailing in the United States, will issue this certificate for a nominal fee for U.S. citizens who have achieved US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification. For more details, view the  IPC page  on US Sailing’s website or go to  https://www.ussailing.org  and search IPC.

Sample course schedules are sent upon enrollment with other confirmation materials and information.

• ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa, Captiva Island, FL
• Hampton Inn & Suites, St. Petersburg, FL
• Key West, FL
• Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands

Offshore Sailing School knows we cannot thrive without great employees and products. All graduates are asked to fill out an evaluation at the end of the course. The following testimonials come from those evaluations and individual correspondence with recent graduates of the Living Aboard Cruising Course. Many are happy to correspond by email or phone with you. If you would like us to put you in touch with anyone below, please call 888-454-7015 or email [email protected].

Here’s what our Live Aboard Cruising graduates have to say :

This was my first experience with a catamaran and I am impressed with how much we all were able to learn on a compressed time schedule. I am very pleased to feel confident about handling a cruise in a 14 ton cat!

Laurent Mets – Chicago, IL

My experience was worth every penny. Jim was everything I would want from a sailing instructor and leader. I have done a fair amount of outdoor schooling and he ranks very high in my book. I would recommend the course without hesitation.

Christopher Moore – St. Petersburg, FL

Neil has been the most terrific instructor I have met in my sailing experience. (I was a sailing instructor for small boats as well and I can definitively judge this aspect.) The course was incredibly fun and well-structured. His level of knowledge is incredible and he was able to share his experiences and taught us the practical skills. Everything about my live aboard cruising course exceeded my expectations. Great sailing, the navigation and itinerary between islands were very well prepared, outstanding course content and sailing practice.

Vincent Schmitt – Hillsborough, NJ

My wife and I really enjoyed our Offshore Sailing experience. It did, indeed, exceed our expectations. The BVI is a beautiful place to learn. Our two fellow onboard students were pleasant to be with. Importantly, Amanda, our instructor, made learning fun. She was delightful, an excellent instructor, and we learned a lot from her.

Michael Leonhardt – Chicago, IL

Neil was amazing – knowledgeable, great teacher, we had a blast. Over all experience: Terrific course – I’m now ready to take a boat out on my own!

Brad Richards – Philadelphia, PA

We have taken Offshore courses and sailed the BVIs with 6 captains. Our entire family, kids included, said that Dutch (Neil) was the best captain, instructor and companion ever! We learned a lot and had a terrific experience.

James and Blanche Williams – New York, NY

The course exceeded my expectations. I have some experience as sailing crew and was nervous that I would slow the class down. I learned a lot and am now more confident. I would recommend this course enthusiastically.

Ann Hobbs – East Setauket, NY

We had an amazing six days on our live aboard! Would highly recommend this course! We learned so much and had fun at the same time. Simply amazing.

Lissa Uhlenhop – Las Vegas, NV

Amazing experience! Garren was excellent. He put my wife at ease as it was her first time on a live aboard. His technical knowledge and practical application of it is fantastic. A great week was had by all!

Eric Uhlenhop – Las Vegas, NV

Our family did the Live Aboard for our 13 year old son’s spring break. We wanted to learn how to sail the bigger boats so that we could cruise as a family. The live-aboard course allowed us to really learn and understand what it is like to bareboat. A 50 ft. sailboat is daunting but now we know we can handle it. We look forward to cruising in the BVI as a family.

Cathy, David and Will Madairy – Charlotte, NC

Jim was great. The weather was rough the first couple of days (20-25 knots gusting to 35) and he helped us make the best of it. If you can dock in that weather, you can do it in lots of situations. The rest of the week went very well. Hard work but worth it. My wife and I learned a lot. The feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment after taking the boat out and back on the last day was the perfect end to the week.

George Matook – Farmingham, MA

When I began I never handled a boat (sail or power) and by the end of the week I was sailing and maneuvering a 40’ boat out of a dock. Great learning experience! I could never imagine how much I would learn in such a short period of time.

Jennifer Eubanks – Marietta, CT

We were amazed at the end of the week by how much we had learned. Excellent experience. Looking forward to taking another class.

Dave Shanklin – Indianapolis, IN

Outstanding instruction, quality sailboat, and great winds in the BVI. We learned a great deal and had loads of fun!

Dan Riordan – McLean, VA

Our instructor was fantastic! Lots of knowledge, experience and patience! He definitely made the catamaran sailing course really fun and interesting. I highly recommend anyone interested in sailing to learn in the British Virgin Islands at Offshore Sailing School. Fantastic time!

Kent Killion – Prospect, NY

Just came back from the British Virgin Islands on our maiden voyage after taking the Fast Track to Catamaran Cruising course!! Took two of our 3 boys and one of the girlfriends. Very proud of our accomplishment. Thanks for all the great training!!

Dan Barzel – Cordova – TN

A terrific experience. I look forward to opportunities to continue sailing both through the Offshore Sailing Club and other activities, flotillas or future classes.

Kevin O’Neill – Hawthorne, NJ

Offshore is a great school to take you from no sailing experience to a competent live-aboard sailor in a week!

Markus Beissinger – Randolph, NJ

6338 Presidential Court, #201  Fort Myers, Florida 33919

SPECIALS COURSES

Site Map Privacy Policy

LOCATIONS CONTACT US

ABOUT US SAILING TIPS

OPPORTUNITIES

© 2024 Offshore Sailing School - Official Site. OffshoreSailing.com is managed by Offshore Sailing School.

• Privacy Policy
• Fast Track to Sailing | Beginner to Advanced in Six Days
• Fast Track to Catamaran Cruising
• Fast Track to Boat Handling & Docking
• Ultimate Cruising Course
• Private Courses
• Catamaran Refresher & 114 Endorsement
• Team Building Programs
• Women’s Sail Sip Spa Week in the British Virgin Islands
• Top 10 Tips Learning How to Sail
• How to Become a Sailing Instructor
• Yacht Lease Management Opportunities
• Bookstore New!
• About Sailing
• Captiva Island
• St. Petersburg
• Fort Myers Beach
• Scrub Island
• St. Lucia & Windward Islands
• Greece Ionian Islands
• Sicily In The Aeolian Islands
• Dubrovnik-Montenegro Flotilla Cruise
• Italy’s Amalfi Coast Flotilla
• Tahiti’s Society Islands
• Team Building
• News, Specials & Events
• Offshore Sailing School Returns to Captiva Island, Florida
• Sailing – Out & About SWFL
• America’s Cup Endeavor Program Videos
• Growing Up Moorings
• Doris Colgate Sailing Clinic & Cup
• Steve Colgate Inducted Into National Sailing Hall of Fame
• OSS Student Proposes During Course
• Steve Colgate and National Sailing Hall of Fame
• St. Lucia and Windward Islands Flotilla Cruise
• Weathering Unexpected Bad Weather
• A Sailing Adventure He Still Can’t Believe Was Real
• 2016 Croatia Flotilla Cruise Diary
• How We Teach
• Steve & Doris Colgate
• Steve Colgate
• Doris Colgate
• Management Team
• Employment Opportunities
• Our Mission
• Our History
• Alumni Benefits
• Awards & Accolades
• Our Philanthropy
• Certification Levels
• GET STARTED

It's never too late to

Learn how to sail.

We have amazing US Sailing Certified Instructors

that would love to share their passion for sailing with you.

See what option works best for you

Lessons are available whether you are not a member of the club yet or a long time member.  We welcome you.

Whether you sailed as a child or always wish you had, our programs can get you out on the water and sailing with confidence in no time.  We offer a variety of boats, instruction levels and class times to fit your needs and schedule.  Come join the fun!

or call us at

941-388-2355

Lessons are offered on the three boats below.  let your instructor know which ones interest you., hobie getaway, american 18.

Intermediate

HOBIE WAVE The Hobie Wave is the perfect boat for a first sail – you can feel the wind and hear the water and you just might get wet!

Hobie getaway the hobie getaway is all about fun. it is an extremely spacious and stable catamaran for families and friends to enjoy. with a boomless mainsail and furling jib - the getaway is absolutely simple to use, yet delivers some surprisingly smooth speed., american 18 the american 18 is a sloop-rigged day sailor, and one of our main training boats for new sailors or sailors wishing to brush up on their skills. , two hour lesson sessions, you and your friends.

Lessons are limited to you and one other group on a boat, so that you get personalized lessons.  If you have a friend, bring them along and have the boat all to yourselves!

Our certified instructors offer personalized sailing instruction emphasizing good sailing techniques and safety – and fun!

Join the Squadron and Save on Your Lessons.

For a non-member, a lesson is $160/person for a two hour session.

Bring a friend/family member for an additional $80/person.

For our members, Lessons are $100/person for a two hour session. 

Bring another member to your lesson for an additional $60/person

View our Rate Schedule and see the Shared Boats section

Learn more about joining us, for women learning to sail learn with our luffing lassies.

Every year in the fall, the Luffing Lassies host a two week-long Introduction to Sailing (ITS) Program.  The goal is to teach women how to skipper a Sunfish so they can join the Lassies for Thursday races throughout the school year.  The ITS program is geared to first time sailors or those who wish to brush up on their Sunfish skills.  It is the first step to becoming a Luffing Lassie and joining a great group of women who love to sail.

Find out more about ITS

Want to have even more fun?

Join our Boatshare program after your lessons, and keep sailing!  Available to our members, it's a great way to get more time on the water without the costs of boat ownership.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

RACE COMMITTEE

BOATSHARE CHECKOUT

We're excited to share our love of sailing with you

Let us know of any questions you have. 

We'd be happy to answer them for you.

Come join the fun!

Cruise Routes (Interactive Map)

Request a quote download brochure

Russian River Cruises

• Find your cruise
• Moscow — St. Petersburg
• Moscow — Astrakhan
• Astrakhan — St. Petersburg
• St. Petersburg
• Cruise Highlights
• News & Travel Tips

Russia is again welcoming travelers!

• A negative PCR test is all that's needed to enter Russia
• Regular flights are now operating to / from Russia
• Visas can be issues quickly (Volga Dream provides your invitation)
• All Volga Dream personnel and guides are fully vacinated
• Bookings are transferable without penalty for 12 months
• Volga Dream arranges PCR-tests if needed for your outbound flight

Check our COVID-19 Policy page to learn more.

Lorem Ipsum

Luxurious river cruises in russia.

Explore authentic Russian cities. Enjoy premium service and engaging activities as you sail the Volga River.

2022 Cruise Season

Join our signature small group journeys and cruise in luxury along the Russian Volga river!

The Russian Odyssey

An extended 'South to North' view of Russia from Astrakhan to St. Petersburg through Moscow.

Explore Moscow, St. Petersburg and Russia’s Golden Ring in greater depth. Stay at gorgeous Four Seasons hotels. Enjoy special access to iconic cultural sites.

Lower Volga

Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience cruising the Volga river from Moscow to Astrakhan. The tour includes 2 nights in Moscow.

Find Your Cruise

Select destination Moscow — St. Petersburg Moscow — Astrakhan Astrakhan — St. Petersburg

View all months

A Volga river cruise is more than a geographical voyage; it’s also a journey through Russia’s rich and captivating history. No other experience takes you so completely to another place and time. The Volga is Europe’s longest and largest river; it meanders through the stories of Ivan the Terrible and his rise to power, the two historic ‘Greats’ Peter and Catherine, and then on into today. It’s a unique opportunity to see modern Russia in the context of its intriguing history, ably assisted by friendly and professional academics and tour guides. A Volga Dream Russian river tour promises to leave you with an unforgettable afterglow of fond memories.

Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise

Moscow and St. Petersburg are Russia’s best-known cities, but the towns of Russia’s historic Golden Ring are delightful too. The luxurious Volga Dream offers a unique opportunity to visit these Russian gems by sailing gently along the Volga River on an unforgettable cruising experience. In small, exclusive groups you’ll enjoy preferential access to some of Russia’s most significant cultural sites.

Moscow to Astrakhan River Cruise

Your River Cruise on the luxurious MS Volga Dream takes you from Moscow along Russia’s grand Volga River to the legend that is Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) and Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea. Along the way, you’ll discover the treasures of Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Volga, medieval Nizhniy Novgorod and beautiful Kazan, the ancient Tatar capital. We plan our tour carefully to combine the very best of Moscow with a world-class Volga River cruise.

Discover Russia with MS Volga Dream - Click-through map

We love hearing from guests about their time in Russia and one comment often hear is how surprised people are by the Russian capital. We can’t say for certain what people expected but we do know that it’s always far removed from what they imagined! It’s been called a modern metropolis, a cosmopolitan city, an historic gem, an architectural treasure and a cultural powerhouse, among other descriptions. Majestic Moscow has always surprised our guests and left them with lasting and fond memories.

Russia’s famous Golden Ring is an archipelago of historic towns surrounding Moscow. Uglich is one of the oldest and was founded under Igor, the last Varangian prince. It once resisted the Mongol invasion and its ancient walls saw the grisly murder of young Dmitri, son of Ivan the Terrible. The impressive Church of St. Dmitri on the Blood, with its classic onion domes and blood red walls, is a fine example of classic Russian architecture. The tour ends with an enchanting choral concert.

This, the oldest city on the Volga River, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a wealth of ancient orthodox treasures. The impressive Transfiguration of the Savior, adorned with murals depicting St. John’s apocalyptic visions can be seen in the Spassky Monastery. The Church of St. Elijah the Prophet is decorated with an awe-inspiring selection of rich frescoes. For a real taste of pre-revolutionary Russia, visitors are entertained by a costumed reception at the Governor’s House.

Close to the shores of White Lake once were the ‘tsar’s fishing grounds’. It lies in a place so serene that ancient monks chose to build no fewer than three holy sites here, including the Ferapontov Monastery. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, its chapels boast magnificent frescoes by Dionysius, one of Russia’s most renowned icon painters. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was a refuge for many nobles during tumultuous times and later a fortress that successfully repelled invading armies.

The Karelia region is a vast and naturally beautiful wilderness that spreads all the way from St. Petersburg to the Arctic Circle. The glorious island village of Kizhi consists almost entirely of the traditionally styled wooden buildings of ‘Old Russia’. Among them is the famous Transfiguration Church built in 1714. Remarkably, and in testament to the craftsmen of the time, not a single nail was used in its construction! Kizhi is one of the favorite stops on the river cruise to St. Petersburg.

A typical rural hamlet brought to life by warm and welcoming villagers. Volga Dream guests are invited into local homes to enjoy classic Russian fare, tea with jam and ‘pirozhki’ (pies). Enthusiastic hosts share Russian traditions and the appeal of village life while proudly showing off their scrupulously kept homes and kitchen gardens. The tour continues with a brief bus ride to see a unique World War II memorial and then, for a real glimpse of Russian life, a visit to a local primary school.

Nizhny Novgorod

This was once a wealthy city thanks to its proximity to rich eastern trading routes. During the Soviet era, the city was closed to outsiders because of its military importance. It’s also where many political prisoners were sent to live out their days in exile. The 16th-century Kremlin ramparts offer spectacular views and the city is known for its elaborately decorated churches. For Volga Dream cruise guests, the highlight of the day is an evening folk concert performed by local children.

Sailing along the Volga river, the riverbank gradually ceases to be dominated by Orthodox churches. Instead, beautiful mosques appear as the river crosses into Tatarstan where the first stop is scenic Kazan, the region’s capital. Inside the white walls of the citadel, the famous Kul Sharif mosque and the old Cathedral of Peter and Paul stand side-by-side symbolizing the two faiths’ long and peaceful coexistence in the region. A concert of traditional Tatar music ends the Volga Dream tour in Kazan.

Passing the Zhigulevskie Mountains offers wonderful views from the sundeck before touring the city. One of the key attractions is the fascinating Space Museum, which offers a revealing glimpse of how the Soviet Union pursued its ambitious journey to the cosmos. The town is also noted for its beautiful esplanade, perfect for a relaxed stroll beside the Volga river. This in turn leads to the Samara State Art Museum. Founded in 1897, it is home to a collection of more than 16,000 works of art.

This city is best known for its close associations with cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin. The Russian hero who achieved worldwide fame as the first man in space lived and studied here. Saratov used to be home to a large German community, a heritage that can still be seen in the local architecture. The Volga Dream tour visits the Radishchev State Art Museum, the first picture gallery in Russia outside Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Originally called Tsaritsyn, the city was renamed Stalingrad from 1925 to 1961 in honor of the USSR’s leader. During World War II, the city’s residents put up a heroic defense, repelling an advancing Nazi invasion. The battle for Stalingrad has gone down in history as a pivotal moment in the bloody conflict on the eastern front. The most ferocious and deadly fighting took place on Mamayev Hill, where an imposing memorial now stands close to the excellent Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum.

Saint Petersburg

If Moscow surprises, then St Petersburg delights. Peter the Great founded the city to showcase Russia’s newfound enlightenment. He wanted to show the modern world a cultured and advanced society. In short, he built the city to impress and in that he succeeded splendidly! The striking buildings were designed by some of the finest architects Europe had to offer and even now, the ‘Venice of the North’ never fails to enchant with its spectacular buildings and impressive canal network. It is a city of true grandeur.

Cocktails with the Captain

Commanding any ship is a complex role that calls for a long list of skills. Captains know their vessels inside out as well as well as the routes they sail and when things don’t go to plan, they have to make instant decisions. Above all though, the most important part of the job, underpinning everything they do, is to keep the ship and everyone aboard safe. The Captain’s cocktail party is a great and a wonderful opportunity for passengers and crew to get acquainted as the gets underway.

Matryoshka doll painting

There is nothing more typically Russian than a Matryoshka. It embodies the fact that there’s always something deeper to be found in every aspect of Russian life. Learning the traditional designs and techniques used to decorate these iconic dolls offers a pleasant diversion and some cathartic creativity!

Superb Service & Dining

Our restaurant serves the highest standard of international cuisine, freshly made by our Cordon Bleu Chef. Choose either a sumptuous buffet or set menu for lunch while dinner is always four or five courses with full service. High praise for the exquisite quality of meals is yet another constantly recurring feature in feedback from our guests.

Meet the Professor

From the Mongol hordes to Soviet times, Russia’s history is, like all of Europe’s, a complex web of political intrigue, war and peace, trade and treaties, as well as heroes and villains. Academics devote whole lifetimes to studying Russia’s long past and one of them presents a series of lectures shedding light on everything from Gorbachev to Chekhov, Khrushchev to Ivan the Terrible and of course, contemporary Russia. Our Professor is on board throughout the river cruise for informal conversation.

Beginner’s Russian

The Russian language can be rather beautiful and poetic and we know that many seasoned travelers enjoy trying their hand at different languages. Our onboard teachers provide an introduction to the riches of Russian, so guests can try out a few useful words and phrases on real Russians during the exciting river tours from Moscow to St. Petersburg or from Moscow to Volgograd!

Russian tea tasting

The drink we tend to associate with Russia is vodka, but tea, in fact, is the much more universal beverage of choice throughout the country. Guests will get acquainted with the Russian tea etiquette, a fundamental component of the country's social culture, and enjoy the traditional tea ceremony while cruising from St. Petersburg to Moscow or taking a Grand Volga river tour.

Russian Dinner & Vodka Tasting

All our dining is international but for Russian Dining night, the Chef includes a selection of traditional Russian dishes: Chicken Kiev, Kulebyaka and no Russian table is complete without Borsch. To add to the ‘Taste of Russia’ optional Russian dress, or at least a touch of Russian style, is provided along with enthusiastic help from our staff!

Russian Cooking Class

A plate of pelmeni might not look like much to the untrained eye, but it forms the heart of Russian cuisine and culture. Basically, it's a type of dumpling: small portions of meat and onion wrapped in a thin sheet of unleavened dough and boiled, a little like ravioli. Guests can join a Russian cooking class onboard the MS Volga Dream to learn how to cook this delicious Russian dish.

Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov Piano Recital

Some of the greatest classical music ever written comes from Russia. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting stage for a virtuoso solo recital by our resident concert pianist than the mighty Volga or a better backdrop than the heart of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov’s own serene homeland.

Russian River Cruise Aboard Volga Dream

Moscow to St. Petersburg

Why Volga Dream

Family Owned & Operated

MS Volga Dream is Russia’s only family-owned river cruise ship. She can accommodate up to 100 guests, far fewer than most other cruise ships on the river making for a uniquely friendly and intimate atmosphere aboard.

Five-Star Central Hotels

We at Volga Dream are completely convinced that, our guests should stay in great 5-star hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg within comfortable walking distance of all the major attractions, theaters and restaurants, rather than having to waste time in traffic.

Luxurious Accommodation

The MS Volga Dream is the most intimate and elegant 5-star cruise vessel in Russia. She boasts 56 cabins, all river facing, ranging from comfortable Standard Cabins to spacious Junior Suites and the luxurious forward facing Owner's Suite.

Russian Cultural Experience

Explore Russia's past with the help of professional tour guides. Our on-board program includes fascinating talks on Russian history and politics, Russian language lessons, a festival of Russian cuisine (including vodka tasting!), and much more.

Gourmet Dining

Our on board restaurant serves international cuisine to the highest standard, all freshly made by our Cordon Bleu Chef. For Russian Dining night, he prepares a selection of traditional Russian dishes: Chicken Kiev, Kulebyaka and Borsch.

Tailored Service

All our service crew members are native Russians who are fluent in English and handpicked by the Owner. Proudly, the Volga Dream is famous for her hard working and very hospitable personnel who take care of every aspect of your life aboard.

Download Our Brochure

It's never been easier to plan your next holiday in Russia. Download our free brochure to learn more about authentic Russian river cruises.

Escape the hassle and bustle and add a satisfyingly informative element to your trip and bring together a colorful mosaic of people, history, traditions,  religion, music and art. These are the many strands that time has woven into what is known today as Russia.

What people are saying

Jacqueline Lapwood

Great Britain

Rick Dowden

United States

Alexander Powell

Monique Verbrugge

Peter & Annemieke English

Philippa Calnan

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter and keep up to date with the latest offers, savings and news at Volga Dream

• Practical Boat Owner
• Digital edition

What I learned during a boat knockdown while sailing alone

• August 22, 2024

Freya Terry gets an early lesson in the perils of single-handed sailing when she embarks on a round-UK and Ireland circumnavigation in her distinctive She 31

When the knockdown threw Freya across the boat, her head struck the bulkhead Credit: Claudia Myatt Credit: Claudia Myatt

The wind is sitting at about 25 knots, and I’m 15 miles north of Padstow, but the tide is against me, writes Freya Terry .

Although I’m making good speed (4 knots), I just can’t point. So, I put in a tack, and it takes me almost 180° around due to the tide.

I’ve missed the tide and will have to sit it out till midnight when I can head to shore. It’s going to be slow, but I know I can do it.

I’ve already lost my engine and most of my battery power .

I’m only using battery to power my navigation lights, but luckily there’s not a boat in sight, so I’m not too worried.

I’m back to old-school navigation so I head down below to fill in the log and mark my position on the chart, and that’s when it happens.

I feel something, and the boat starts to tip. I make a desperate dash for the tiller.

Freya Terry and her Sparkman & Stephens She 31 Pink Delta built in 1977. Credit: RYA Cymru Wales

I’m too late; the force of the knockdown throws me across the boat, and I hit my head on the bulkhead by the window.

I scream in pain, but no one hears. I’m alone on a boat miles out to sea.

I fall as Pink Delta rights herself, landing painfully.

For a moment, my whole world is pain, and then I’m sick. I take a moment and check my head—no blood, that’s good. I get up and go on deck; everything is the same like nothing even happened.

Pink Delta is sailing along beautifully, 50° to the wind. I sit still, marvelling at her incredible resilience.

I turn on my handheld radio but as soon as I start to transmit, the screen loses power.

Okay, the ship’s radio next. It turns on, and I transmit a Mayday message.

After a few minutes, I hear nothing back. I try again… nothing. I think it must not be getting enough power.

Freya Terry is a dinghy, keelboat, multihull, power-boat and jetski instructor from Pembrokeshire. Aged 21, after restoring a She 27 yacht (bought for £1 from a friend’s garden), she upsized to a She 31 for her solo circumnavigation around Britain and Ireland. Freya won a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Cymru Wales Impact Award for her achievements at Pembrokeshire Performance Sailing Academy. She has now made repairs and restarted her circumnavigation. www.she-sails.co.uk

My head is foggy, and I know I should be calling for help. So I clip in and climb back on deck, and then I’m sick again.

I know I need to set off my personal locator beacon (PLB) , but I don’t want to. I wanted to do this trip alone.

I think I can make it back to shore, and I don’t want to worry everyone back home.

I know that if I do this, people will judge me. I’m only a few days into my trip, and I feel like I’ve already failed.

But I know I need to put my safety first, so I do the adult thing, the thing I’ve always avoided doing—I ask for help.

I set off the PLB and then I cry. I’ve overcome so much already on this short journey. I was proud of myself, but this… this I can’t deal with alone.

The journey before the boat knockdown

Some background and how I ended up in this situation. I’m 21 and I grew up on the water.

I first learned to sail at Fishguard Bay Yacht Club in a Topper when I was 12, then I moved up to a Feva and a 420.

I’ve raced and trained extensively, even representing Wales.

I’ve worked as a dingy instructor for five years and, last year, I bought my beloved Sparkman and Stephens She 31 from Aberystwyth.

I spent months refurbishing her, including painting her bright pink inspired by Jessica Watson .

I re-named her Pink Delta and spent the summer sailing her from Aberystwyth down to Neyland, exploring along the way.

We spent the winter in Neyland marina, where I dreamed of big adventures. I was determined and set my sights on sailing around Great Britain and Ireland.

Freya did much of the work herself to prepare Pink Delt a for the circumnavigation. Credit: Matt Cottingham

As a young person this seemed financially impossible, but I set up a GoFundMe and started seeking sponsors (I’m still looking), I aimed to raise awareness for mental health issues, and I began speaking openly and honestly for the first time about the extreme mental health difficulties I faced from a young age.

As funds came in, I bought essential safety kit and prepared the boat. I set an ambitious launch date of 11 May 2024 to give me all summer sailing.

My voyage isn’t about speed; I’m intentionally embracing a slower pace, engaging with communities and sparking vital conversations about mental health.

Things were a little chaotic in the run-up to the launch, but I had everything under control. I’d serviced the engine and had it up and running.

The electronics had been checked by an electrician the day before I left. It was busy but mostly final touches.

All in all, I was happy that the boat and I were ready.

The conditions were stunning  on launch day– clear blue skies, sunshine, and about 15 knots of wind, not the usual Welsh weather.

Loads of my friends and family came to wave me off and wish me good luck. It was heartwarming and emotional but at 1015 my lines slipped and I was off.

Once out past St Ann’s Head, I was comfortably sailing at 7 knots and with the tide behind me, I made the best course to wind. I made some food and settled in, but by mid-afternoon, the wind dropped to 5-8 knots and began shifting a lot.

I hand-steered and tried to keep my speed up. To try and arrive before dark I switched the engine on, but that wasn’t meant to be.

After an hour, the engine ground to a halt.

Watersports instructor Freya Terry from Pembrokeshire was among the first to be honoured in the RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards. Credit: RYA Cymru Wales

I suspected a fuel problem, so I changed the filter and connected it to a jerry can of fresh diesel. I bled the engine and eventually, she started up again.

I congratulated myself and carried on, but an hour later, the same thing happened.

I went below, adjusted some things, and the engine started once more.

But after 40 minutes, it cut out yet again. I was a few miles from the island. I started swearing at the engine, I was so close; couldn’t it have kept going just a little longer?

Almost as if they heard me, three dolphins appeared to reassure me I’d be okay.

I kept an eye on my position and spent nearly an hour trying to get the engine going – nothing worked. I realized I was going to have to sail to Lundy.

As it got dark the wind dropped completely, barely propelling me forward at around 1 knot.

I finally anchored safely by 0300 and I turned on my anchor lights before going to sleep. Poor weather meant I stayed at anchor for two days,

I tried everything I knew to do to start the engine without success.

Then, on the evening of 13 May, I started having battery problems,

Despite a voltage reading of 12.1V before bed, I awoke four hours later to a flashing warning light at 6.5V which I didn’t understand.

The next morning, I checked again – my leisure battery was dead. I still had some power in my engine battery but it was low from all the time cranking and trying to fix the engine.

On 14 May, while there was a good wind, I set sail for Padstow as I’d planned. I didn’t want to be stuck in Lundy Island with no power, and knew once I arrived in Padstow I could get things fixed.

I had a portable battery for my phone and I updated my family and the RYA SafeTrx app to my passage plan.

It took me a while to get the anchor up and sail away from the island, so by the time I was on course for Padstow, I knew I’d likely missed the tide window but chose to sail on.

I left a message for the harbour master to let him know I’d probably be arriving the next day instead and tried to update my SafeTrx, but I was already out of signal.

I knew it would likely be a late night, and I planned to find somewhere along the way to anchor for a little while.

Though fighting the tide, the strong wind gave me good speed but its angle prevented a direct course to Padstow.

Down on power, I was running my nav light from the engine battery. I was back to using Imray paper charts for navigation, a difficult feat alone in a Force 6.

RNLI rescue after the boat knockdown

But I was coping. I’m a sailor, and I was simply sailing my boat. I had nav lights so other boats could see me. I had charts to navigate.

I didn’t need anything else –fancy chart plotters, radios, AIS, even engines – are all luxuries we don’t actually need to sail.

I knew it was going to be another late night, but once the tide turned, I’d sail into an anchorage.

Unbeknown to me (as I had no communication), the harbour master didn’t receive my message and contacted the coastguard about my overdue estimated time of arrival.

Falmouth Coastguard, noting my SafeTrx, sent the Padstow lifeboat to look for me at my last known location, 20 miles away from where I now was.

Their search was stood down at nightfall.

I was simply dealing with the conditions at hand.

Later, at around 2200, was when I was knocked down. I hit my head and, believing I had a concussion, I activated my PLB.

It took the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crew nearly an hour to get to me, and for a while, I wasn’t sure if the PLB had even worked.

I can’t say what I felt at the time; my brain was a little foggy. I was running on autopilot, just doing what I knew I needed to.

Positive vibes

I didn’t know if the lifeboat was coming out to me, but if not I knew the tide would change around midnight and then I’d be able to sail to shore.

All the same, seeing the coastguard helicopter and then the lifeboat was such a relief. I knew I needed them. I wasn’t alone anymore, and I knew I’d be safe.

I have to thank the amazing team in Padstow – the harbour master, everyone on the lifeboat, and those in Falmouth co-ordinating my rescue.

Since this incident, I’ve experienced such incredible kindness, support and encouragement.

And since beginning this journey I’m more connected to family, friends, followers, and even strangers than I have ever been.

I have faced criticism and judgment at every step.

But before judging me too harshly, remember I’m a young person struggling with mental health issues.

Please be kind; words do hurt.

Things go wrong at sea, and good seamanship is how you handle them.

Despite my preparation and experience, my boat was knocked down, causing a head injury and concussion.

That is a Mayday call, regardless of age, experience, preparations or crew size.

I’m confident I did everything I could to keep myself as safe as possible but there are always lessons to be learned.

I’m glad to know that even when I was experiencing communication problems, the systems I’d put in place worked.

I’m so grateful to everyone involved in the search, and to Falmouth Coastguard and Padstow RNLI for their support.

Lessons Learned from the boat knockdown

• Remember that this is sailing: You can survive without electronics, engines, or radios.
• Have paper charts and know how to use them: I use Imray charts on Pink Delta .
• Keep your emergency contact informed of your passage plan. If it’s a difficult passage, inform the Coastguard.
• RYA SafeTrx and emergency beacons can save your life but make sure they are registered and updated regularly. The more detail you provide, the better.
• Practice using your VHF radio and PLB so it’s second nature.
• Things will go wrong at sea – it’s how you deal with them that counts.
• Don’t be scared to ask for help. If you need help, that’s what the lifeboats are there for.

RNLI incident report on Freya’s boat knockdown

Lifeboat view of Pink Delta with two RNLI Padstow crew aboard assisting Freya. Credit: RNLI/Padstow

At 1927 on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, Padstow lifeboat launched to look for an overdue yacht, Pink Delta .

Pink Delta was not at her last known location, 27 miles north of Trevose, so the lifeboat crew began a search.

Meanwhile, Falmouth Coastguard discovered that the yacht was in fact not due into Padstow Harbour until 15 May, so the lifeboat crew was stood down.

At 2220, just as the crew were returning to the station, they were tasked again because a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) alert had been received from Pink Delta – 16.5 miles north-west of Stepper Point.

Coastguard Helicopter 924, also tasked, was first at the scene. The air crew confirmed it was the Pink Delta with one person on board and were stood down.

Two Padstow lifeboat crew went aboard the yacht to assess the casualty who had fallen and hit her head. Due to the conditions, the two RNLI crew stayed on board Pink Delta , while Padstow RNLI lifeboat towed the yacht into a Camel Estuary mooring, arriving at 0333.

The casualty was transferred to the lifeboat and taken to the station at Trevose, where paramedics took her to the Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) for observation.

Padstow Coxswain Richard Pitman said: “It was great to see the skipper had the means to call for help and we were glad we could be there. We don’t see many bright pink yachts. We wish her all the best with the rest of her solo sail around the UK.”

Expert response

Richard Falk

Richard Falk, RYA director of training and qualifications, responds: “Hindsight is a powerful tool, and a willingness to share experiences (good and bad) and to reflect on what might have been done differently is equally as powerful, both for the person involved and for readers.

“Freya is an experienced sailor who has clearly put much time and effort into preparing both herself and Pink Delta for her challenging voyage. She had carried out extensive maintenance, had planned her voyage , had all the sensible safety equipment on board and most importantly, she knew how to use it, and when.

“Without knowing the cause of Freya’s engine woes, it is difficult to comment on that, other than to say that after any period of maintenance, it is always advisable to spend some time running all relevant equipment and sea trialling it before an extended passage.

“It’s interesting to note that despite the engine and subsequent power supply issues Freya encountered, she was not daunted by this. She took those setbacks in her stride and was content to navigate her way to a safe haven using pencil and paper, something many people are ill-equipped to do in this day and age. Freya’s real problems began with the knockdown which resulted in a head injury.

“Put simply, that could have happened to anyone. It could just as easily have occurred by slipping down the companionway steps while at anchor. However, despite the impact of that injury Freya was not panicked, and made the wise decision to seek assistance by activating her PLB. Head injuries are unpredictable and while she was conscious, she was aware that her condition had the potential to deteriorate. Having the right equipment on board, knowing how to use it and, importantly, exercising good judgement in when to use it is something all skippers should aspire to.

“Thank you Freya for sharing your experience and we wish you well in your exciting undertaking.”

Freya Terry rescued following the knockdown of her yacht just days after starting her solo circumnavigation around Great Britain and Ireland

Freya Terry was sailing towards Padstow in her SHE 31 when the boat's engine failed while fighting the tide; the…

Jessica Watson – the real sailor behind the True Spirit film

Whilst the new Netflix True Spirit movie was being filmed, celebrating Jessica Watson's real-life teenage solo, non-stop global circumnavigation, the…

Sailing in storms and squalls

One crew's brisk breeze and exciting sail can be another's gale, even if sailing similar boats. So what makes the…

Why you should still make a passage plan

Cruising guide author Robert Bailey explains the importance of not being completely dependent on electronic chartplotters and why it is…

Did you enjoy reading What I learned during a boat knockdown while sailing alone?

A subscription to Practical Boat Owner magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

PBO is packed with information to help you get the most from boat ownership – whether sail or power.

• Take your DIY skills to the next level with trusted advice on boat maintenance and repairs
• Impartial in-depth gear reviews
• Practical cruising tips for making the most of your time afloat

Follow us on Facebook , Instagram, TikTok and Twitter

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.

Pin it for later?

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!

Comments are closed.