waikato river tour

Play. Stay. Explore.

Discover the waikato river at your own pace..

Minutes from Cambridge yet a world of its own, our spot along the Waikato River is surrounded by lush bush and overlooked by the magnificent Maungatautari. 

At Riverside Adventures we want you to savour the beauty of our picturesque backyard. Our guided tours are designed to take you on a physical and spiritual journey as you explore the Waikato with us.

With a new location now at the Grassroots Velodrome, the options for bike hire and packages are endless.

We're also now at the Cambridge Velodrome!

We've got a second handy location - right on the Te Awa River Ride trail! Come and visit us at the Velodrome Cambridge, next door to the Bikery Cafe. At our bike shop we can do your bike servicing and rentals, tour bookings, shuttles and accommodation too.

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SUMMER October to March. Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm 

CLOSED  24 December 12pm - 1pm, 26 December 

WINTER  - bookings recommended. April to September. Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm

GET IN TOUCH

Riverside Adventures Waikato  Ph: 0800 287 448 Text: 0277 287 448 International: +64277 287 448

Velodrome Bike shop: 07 823 0713

Contact us here

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• Cruises/Timetables

Group Events

• Café & Bar

Café Cruises

River Ferry

Onboard Cafe Bar

Experience the beauty and tranquil water of the waikato river on the waikato river explorer.

Come and experience the Cafe with the best views in the Waikato and enjoy a relaxing cruise on New Zealand’s longest waterway flowing through Hamilton, New Zealand’s largest inland city. Waikato River Explorer is a great option for corporate events, client functions , staff dinners or just a leisurely cruise with family and friends. Bookings essential on all sailings to avoid disappointment. See you on the river …

About Waikato River Explorer

Established in 2012 by a group of Hamilton Business people, our mission is to open up this magnificent inland waterway to everyone. Our vessels are out on the river year-round and our amazing skippers and Crew are ready to show our river off to you. Experience the beauty of the Waikato river from the Waikato River Explorer. Click here to book your scenic cruise or enquire about your Waikato event today.

• Mystery Creek Wines Tasting Cruises Definitely our most popular cruise offering, these cruises are available all year each Sunday and Saturday afternoon offering a fantastic cruise, food and wine tasting experience that is totally unique to the Waikato.
• Vilagrad Wine Tasting Cruises Definitely our most popular cruise offering, these cruises are available all year each Sunday and Saturday afternoon offering a fantastic cruise, food and wine tasting experience that is totally unique to the Waikato.
• Weekday Scenic Cruises Scenic Cruises on Thursday & Friday run for 90 minutes departing at 12:30pm each week and 2:30pm October to April. We have a fully licensed bar on board and café style food available for purchase during these cruises.
• Scenic Cruises – Saturday Scenic cruises on Saturday depart Hamilton Gardens. The 12:30pm sailing generally operates between Riverlea and Claudelands. All other sailings generally head upstream as the vessel will most likely be dropping passengers off at Mystery Creek. This schedule can change from time to time due to operational requirements. Please see Terms and Conditions for information. We have a fully licensed bar on board and café style food available for purchase during the cruise.
• Mystery Creek Ferry Riding the Waikato Explorer to events at Mystery Creek Events Centre certainly beats sitting in long traffic queues and the long walk back to the car at the end of the day with bags of bargains and samples.
• Scenic Cruises – Sunday Scenic cruises on Sunday depart Hamilton Gardens. The 12:30pm sailing generally operates between Riverlea and Claudelands. All other sailings generally head upstream as the vessel will most likely be dropping passengers off at Mystery Creek. This schedule can change from time to time due to operational requirements. Please see Terms and Conditions for information.

Deposit and Cancellation Information

Departures : Waikato River Explorer Cruises Depart from the River Jetty @ Hamilton Gardens (Just down the hill from the Gate 1 car park). Terms and Conditions of Sale and Cruises

• Scenic Cruises run in all weathers due to the river environment not having an adverse effect on conditions.
• Bookings for Scenic Cruises may be transferred to an alternative date if that date is available no less than 24 hours from sailing.
• No refunds will be given if passengers don’t turn up for a sailing.
• All sailings are subject to change at Waikato River Explorer’s discretion for reasons of operational requirements.
• Tickets are refundable in the event that Waikato River Explorer cancels the service. This is most likely to happen if operational conditions on the river prevent the vessel from conducting safe passage.
• In the event that a group has chartered the vessel for a function and a scheduled cruise has been cancelled, notification of this will be made via the website no less than 24 hours prior to sailing.
• Passengers are guaranteed seating on Scenic Cruises if tickets are bought and paid for online or by other means no less than 24 hours from the commencement of that cruise and that cruise will NOT be available for charter.
• Waikato River Explorer reserves the right to refuse any person access on any sailing for any reason including any person who is unruly in behavior, unfit to travel, is likely to cause distress or discomfort to other passengers or has previously engaged in any unlawful activities affecting the company. The Master may also require any person to leave the vessel.
• All prices are in NZ$ and include GST.
• Any scheduled Scenic Cruise including the Sunday Wine Tasting Cruise is available for charter but only if no less than 25 tickets have been purchased online or by other means prior to the commencement of the cruise and only if there are no other bookings registered for that cruise.

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Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

WAIKATO RIVER EXPLORER (Hamilton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Waikato River Scenic Cruise

• Live commentary on board
• Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
• Drinks (available to purchase)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Lunch (available to purchase)
• Beamsville, Beamsville, Lincoln, Ontario
• Location Name: Waikato River Location Address: Hamilton Gardens River Jetty Gate 1 Hungerford Crescent SH1 (Off Cobham Drive) Hamilton New Zealand Return Location: Returns to original departure point
• Wheelchair accessible
• Availability for cruise cannot be checked without making a booking. Credit cards will only be charged upon confirmation of cruise availability
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Minimum drinking age is 18 years
• Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

• Auckland2023 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sad Sadly closed for good ... These guys did an amazing job for a decade fighting local bureaucracy, vandals and the challenges of operating on a hydro river. Read more Written January 20, 2023
• Tai L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A very nice river explorer The landscape is so nice and also the foods. There is also a guide along and introduced the history of bridges and some of them were a surprise to me Read more Written April 27, 2022
• Enjoyingawine 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Just do it! Relaxing, informative, friendly staff, lunch food quality was really good - we would recommend this cruise and want to do it again in a different direction on the river. Read more Written April 2, 2022
• paulabH8200KI 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lovely afternoon out Really lovely cruise, service above and beyond and good value for money. Enjoyed the views and drinks Read more Written February 17, 2022
• mooloonz 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Waikato river cruise The crew on board were really friendly and helpfull. Great service and look forward to cruising with them again in the future. Read more Written August 15, 2021
• dm-sd-mcfarland 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles An enjoyable start to an autumn evening. We had a very relaxing and pleasant time on the dinner cruise; from the beginning the staff made us feel welcomed and special. The meals were very flavoursome, filling, and had a good-size servings of vegetables and potatoes to class it as a real dinner (not simply a meat course with a few token bits of veg & potato masquerading as a garden sculpture). The staff were always cheerful and worked to ensure we enjoyed ourselves and received best value for money. It was one of the best dining-out experiences we've had in recent years. (If you aren't gifted a voucher, I suggest that you book online for best value.) Read more Written April 24, 2021
• Newsfeed01 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommended Absolutely loved the entire experience. What an amazing idea ... a floating Café that doubles as a River Cruise. Very busy on the day we cruised from the new City Jetty but the crew coped admirably. Great food despite having such a small Galley space and entertaining commentary from the Skipper who gave us plenty of time to chat amongst ourselves during the trip. Read more Written April 14, 2021
• 368elainah 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Bad Very few menu options as half sold out. Very rude person in cafe. Was not told how this works went up to pay got told that they would come to us in a very rude manner was so upset that wanted to get off and go home. Was meant to be a nice anniversary gift but made to feel embarrassed and felt stupid. Apart from that the views were amazing. Read more Written April 2, 2021
• 792rebeccaj 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful! A floating cafe river cruise! Entertainment from the Skippers commentary, delicious cafe food onboard and lots of stuff to look at. Would recommend. Read more Written March 19, 2021
• AlexDeLuz 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Great Trip But........ The trip was amazing the atmosphere was inviting and the seating was comfortable. A trip down the mighty Waikato River is something that I will forever cherish. However; the skipper of the vessel has a voice that greats on you and interrupts pleasant and polite conversation. He references points of New Zealand history filled with pro colonialist ideals and completely disregards the cultural sensitivity of the indigenous people. We enjoyed a 90 minute cruise up & down the river; we had to wait 70 minutes for our food to be served after we ordered it. This was as a result of understaffing as the young leaders who served us tried to do their very best! Read more Written January 6, 2021
• tashah350 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles hungry Nice cruise but very disappointed especially after booking online and after we had departed we were then told there was no food available to order off the lunch menu which we were given. We had deliberately held off getting lunch prior to cruise so we could get lunch on the boat. We had 2 children who were very hungry and only crisps were the only thing available. I think we should have been given the option of continuing before we set off or at least been offered a free drink or some compensation, as you are advertised as a Cafe River Cruise with Lunch Read more Written October 25, 2020
• Margaret R 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles It was a great outing Loved the crew, very help and very friendly and obliging. I do think that they could possibly invest in a 'two cup' coffee machine... took a while to get our coffee, in fact we were almost back to base by the time we got our coffee. But having said that the coffee was really good. Read more Written July 2, 2020
• Bonnie H 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Let's tell the real story We finished a great weekend in Hamilton with the cruise from the Gardens. It was okay but a bit underwhelming. The service on board however was great - very attentive and a happy crew. We were disappointed with the commentary about the city that began with the establishment of the city by the English settlers completely ignoring the tangata whenua's long history in the area and the confiscation of their land for the new arrivals. The full history of the area is told really well in many other places around the city so we were sad that the River Cruise management didn't bother to tell a more complete story of the river. Read more Written June 11, 2020
• Kiwis_that_fly 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 2 Hour River Cruise with Lunch We enjoyed a lovely cruise on the Waikato River, taking in all the city sights. The staff were so welcoming, and very informative. We had a lovely Cafe style lunch, along with wine and beer, then afterwards to finish coffee and cake. A great afternoon out. Read more Written June 10, 2020
• Kiwis_that_fly 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 2 Hour Cruise with Lunch We brought a 2 hour River Cruise before COVID, and today spent a lovely, relaxing time viewing the sights on the mighty Waikato. The staff were so welcoming, and very informative. Lunch was Cafe style food, amazing how such lovely food could come out of that small kitchen. Support this wonderful business, you won’t be disappointed! Read more Written June 6, 2020

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Waikato River Scenic Cruise provided by Waikato River Explorer

Jet Boat New Zealand in Cambridge

Waikato River Cruise Ecological Tours

Waikato river cruise.

Enjoy a leisurely Waikato River cruise up the mighty Waikato River, taking in the sights as your driver also shares with you the stories of the area. This 60 minute tour takes you upstream through the narrow Cambridge gorge also whilst capturing a glimpse of stunning waterfalls, fish and birdlife.  Along the way you will also learn about the history of the river, all from the comfort of one of our jetboats. But don’t worry, no spins, unless you ask for one or two spins. In addition, you will visit the base of the Karapiro Dam and power station. The Waikato’s best kept secret, come and see for yourself, in conclusion you will be very impressed.

Ecological River Cruise

• Adults: $121.00
• Children (4 – 14 yrs): $55.00
• Teens (15 – 17 yrs): $80.00
• Seniors (+65 yrs): $115.00

Family deals are also available for (2 adults & 2 children): $330.00

Also, if the Tour times do not suit your group, give us a call to book a time that works for you.

LARGE GROUPS:

If there are 8 or more of you wanting to experience the Waikato River cruise we also ask for you to book in advance. This will also ensure we can cater for your needs on the day. Subsequently you can, contact Camjet direct, (we have two 8 – 9 passenger jet boats and one 11 – 12 passenger twin engine V8 jet boat available).

If you have a large group, you can certainly contact Camjet direct, (we have two 8 – 9 passenger and one 11 – 12 passanger jet boats available).

MINIMUM FARE:

We are one of the best value jet boat tour in NZ, but we still have a minimum fare to take the boat out on this sight seeing Waikato River cruise, which is 2 Adults. So if your group consists of 1 adult and 1 child, you will need to select 2 Adults. After that you can add children, teens, seniors and more adults.

TRAVELING SOLO

No problem, as we depart on minimum numbers, please contact us so you can join a group on the Ecological River Cruise that is already departing. Otherwise, you are welcome to pay the minimum fare as outlined above.

Gift cards are available for the Ecological Waikato River cruise and also for all of our Tours

Twilight Tours

The Ecological Waikato River cruise is also available during “day light savings” at 5 pm and 6 pm

Huka Falls River Cruise

Experience the best views of New Zealand’s most visited natural attraction, Huka Falls with Huka Falls River Cruise.

Why choose Huka Falls River Cruise?

Enjoy incredible views of this spectacular waterfall in comfort with Huka Falls River Cruise’s purpose-built river boat. Sit back and relax as we glide along the Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, to Huka Falls . Experience the crystal clear water, birdlife, natural hot streams and the native tree-lined bush with our informative local guides. 

Enjoy the views and capture the best photos from our open-air large rear deck and front viewing platforms. We bring you so close to the falls that you can feel the spray on your face.

The river is always calm so we can operate our family friendly, 1 hour 20 minute cruise in all weather.   Complimentary tea and coffee is available in the comfortable inside seating area. Watch the opening of the Aratiatia Dam to create spectacular rapids before or after your cruise.

Awesome Views

Get the best views of Huka Falls from our comfortable inside seating area, large rear deck and front viewing platform.

Real New Zealand Experience

Experience crystal clear water, birdlife, native bush lined riverbanks and natural hot streams.

Complimentary Drinks

Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee while enjoying the commentary from our local guides.

Excellent Photo Opportunity

This is an excellent cruise for breath taking photography. The water is always calm so we can operate in all weathers.

Cruise options

Daily cruise times, 4.30pm (summer only).

Book a cruise today!

Best way to book, freephone  0800 278 336.

If you would like to make a booking for a cruise the best and easiest way is to call our freephone number.

Advanced Bookings

Book now online.

For advanced bookings, please fill in the form on our contact page. We will then contact you to confirm your booking.

Huka Falls River Cruise is a family run business established in 2001.

Owner operators Dave and Ange Kilmister have lived in Taupo since 1995. The couple met in London on their big overseas adventure. They returned to New Zealand and visit some famous sights. After visiting many regions they arrived in Taupo where their car promptly broke down. They have been in Taupo ever since!

With a passion for tourism and the natural environment, they jumped at the chance to buy Huka Falls River Cruise in 2001.  The business has grown to include more great drivers and guides, but the backbone is still rooted in family, love of place and sustaining the beauty of the natural environment.

Testimonials

“ really worth while ”.

I’ve been wanting to do this cruise for awhile now so we decided to do it on our honeymoon recently. The cruise was really worth while the commentary was great, the guy running it was fantastic. The cruise is definitely value for money will definitely be back again in the near future.

“ Great fun ”

We went on the huka falls river cruise yesterday and as the meeting point was in the ariatiara dam car park we were able to combine watching the Dan gates being opened before and after the cruise. Dave our host was great giving us a really interesting dialogue as we cruised to the falls , once at the falls which were spectacular he kept circling so we could all get our photos taken. I would recommend this trip to anyone visiting the area as its well worth it.

“ Amazing experience Huka Falls River Cruise dont miss it! ”

What a great experience to see the huka falls so close. The beautiful scenery of the Waikato river, lots of birds. Comfortable boat and all the information about the area that Dave our friendly guide provided us made our tour more interesting.

“ The best and closest way to see the Huka Falls ”

ally enjoyed this river cruise and getting up so close to the Falls themselves. The driver provided an interesting commentary as we cruised up and down the river and we had several ‘runs’ up to the Falls so plenty of opportunity to take photos. There weren’t that many people on our cruise and hardly any made use of the platform at the front of the boat which didn’t make any sense to us as it was definitely the best place to view the Falls themselves. We also stayed out there for the whole trip back down the river (with the platform all to ourselves!) and we could still hear the commentary outside. Free tea & coffee were also provided on board. Very enjoyable 🙂

Get In Touch Today!

If your booking is for the next few days, call us on  0800 278 336  to ensure your spot! For advanced booking, please complete the contact form below.

Email Address

Waikato River Explorer

Experience the beauty and tranquil water of the Waikato River on the Waikato River Explorer and enjoy a relaxing Scenic Cruise on New Zealand’s longest waterway flowing through Hamilton, New Zealand’s largest inland city.

Cynthia Dew was built of native New Zealand Kauri in 1979. Initially built for cruises in the far north, she was transported to Hamilton by a group of passionate Waikato business people. She was then launched at Grantham Street boat ramp.

The Waikato River Explorer is a fantastic way to enjoy some of the city scenery and learn a little history from the live commentary along the way.

The Waikato River Explorer offers weekly Scenic Cruises, Wine Tasting Cruises or Ferry Trips to events at either Hamilton Gardens or Mystery Creek Events Centre. The Waikato River Explorer is a great option for corporate events, client functions, staff dinners or just a leisurely cruise with family and friends.

Please ask us about our discounted rates for 2 or more guests

Sorry, we are currently not accepting bookings. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Package includes:.

• Pick up and drop off at your city accommodation
• Scenic Cruise  (Other cruises available upon request)

Package Info:

Waikato River Trails

Waikato River Trails overlooking lake, New Zealand

By Waikato River Trails

Waikato River Trails Dam, New Zealand

Waikato River Trails, Waikato

By Waikato Tourism

• Lake and river views
• Ecological regeneration
• Interesting hydro dams

2 hrs 30 mins from  Auckland

1 hr 45 mins from  Hamilton

50 mins from  Taup ō

Intermediate - Advanced

Go with the flow of the mighty Waikato River as this Great Ride of New Zealand passes through fascinating hydropower dams and tranquil lakes.

Traversing the rural heartland in the centre of the North Island, the Waikato River Trails (opens in new window) wind through forests, wetlands and recreation reserves. Among many memorable sights are volcanic outcrops, a gorge, hydropower stations and suspension bridges.

Flourishing native birdlife (opens in new window) and vegetation speak to the local community’s aroha (love) of te awa (the river), and a desire to see it thrive. Five trails, from intermediate to advanced, offer a chance to immerse yourself in this special and historically significant part of the North Island . 

Waikato River Trails, New Zealand

By Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Ride experience

• Stretching for more than 100 kilometres (km), this Great Ride follows the riverside most of the way and is split into five sections; each named after the lakes created by hydro dams built between 1924 and 1966. Interpretation panels dotted along the trail tell their fascinating stories.
• The trail offers various riding experiences – from intermediate (grade 3) to advanced (grade 4), on terrain ranging from smooth and gently undulating to steeper and more rugged. There are plenty of places to move on and off the trail, making it easy to choose a ride to suit your fitness level and holiday plans.
• The full trail can be ridden in either direction, with accommodation options on the trail or close by. A series of recreation reserves offer tranquil camping on the riverside.
• There are plenty of short, easy rides to be enjoyed. Arapuni to Lake Karapiro is popular for its historic pedestrian bridge, power station and regenerating wetlands.
• Another memorable option combines the Whakamaru (opens in new window)  and Maraetai (opens in new window) sections which features some flowing, forest riding and the dramatic rocky knob named Mt Pohaturoa.

Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails Official Website

A detailed description of Waikato River Trails , including maps and more information, can be found here:

Waikato River Trails (opens in new window)

Need to know

• While most of Waikato River Trails is wide and smooth, some more challenging sections are best suited for reasonably fit riders with offroad riding experience. The full trail is generally completed from south to north, following the river downstream – but it isn’t all downhill!
• The trail is well signposted and passes through a series of riverside settlements, including Arapuni (opens in new window) , Mangakino , Whakamaru (opens in new window) and Atiamuri – where refreshments and other services are available. Toilets are located at convenient intervals, and there’s cell phone coverage almost all the way.
• The region’s temperate climate means you can cycle the trail year round, although parts of it can get muddy in the winter months.
• The trails are located conveniently close to State Highway 1 and the popular tourist towns of Rotorua and Taupō where you can continue your riding.

Waikato River Trails Arapuni suspension bridge, Waikato

Transport & tours.

Alongside Lake Karapiro, Riverside Adventures Waikato (opens in new window) offers bike hire and shuttles and can sort out your accommodation needs, and there’s also bike hire at the welcoming Rhubarb Cafe (opens in new window) alongside the trail in Arapuni. Shuttles are also provided by Mangakino Shuttle Services (opens in new window) , while River Riders (opens in new window) also offers e-bike and bike racks hire for the wider Waikato River Trails as well as accommodation and shuttles. 

Accommodation

For cycle-friendly accommodation right on the trail, check out Lake Maraetai Lodge (opens in new window) in Mangakino. There are five road-accessible riverside camps along the route, and other options dotted around the surrounding countryside.

The towns of Cambridge, Putaruru and Taupō are also nearby. Accommodation providers partnered with the trail are listed on the Great Rides of New Zealand (opens in new window) and Waikato River Trails websites. 

Useful links

Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails (opens in new window)  

Waikato NZ (opens in new window)

Great Rides app - Waikato River Trails (opens in new window)

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Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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