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ONE PIECE GRAND CRUISE VR

Become a member of the Straw Hat Crew!

Come aboard and experience the pirate’s life in ONE PIECE: Grand Cruise for PlayStation®VR. Be prepared to be swept away in the first ONE PIECE VR experience. Step onto the famous Thousand Sunny ship and meet the Straw Hat Crew including Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and many more while you brave fierce battles and fire cannons to depend the ship! Choose rooms to explore within the ship and feel what it’s like to be a pirate.

Key features

• Exclusively on PlayStation®VR
• Experience what it’s like to be a member of the Straw Hat Crew
• Enjoy meeting characters from the hit anime series, ONE PIECE
• Make choices that guide your grand experience
• Get ready to defend the Ship from the Marine, monsters and legendary foes of the crew!
• Includes both Summer and Winter experiences which were exclusively available at the Tokyo Tower in Japan.

rgb(230,16,16) rgb(27,92,160)

First anime game in Playstation VR with ONE PIECE GRAND CRUISE

First anime game in Playstation VR with ONE PIECE…

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Learn more about ONE PIECE Universe

©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation Game ©2018 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc

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One Piece Grand Cruise

• View history

One Piece Grand Cruise is an interactive, virtual reality game released in May 2018 in Japan, North and South America, and Europe. [1] [2] A demo of the game was available at Tokyo One Piece Tower .

• 2.1 Sea Battle Against the Marines
• 2.2 Repel the Kraken
• 3.1 Enemy Characters
• 4 References
• 5 External Links
• 6 Site Navigation

Gameplay [ ]

The unnamed protagonist and the Straw Hat Pirates fighting the Kraken.

Players are able to interact with the Straw Hat Pirates by visiting rooms of the Thousand Sunny and having conversations with the crew. For example, players can train with Zoro or help the crew fight the enemies. In conversation, characters' reactions will also change based on the options you select. The game also includes summer and winter experiences formerly exclusive to Tokyo One Piece Tower. [2]

Players can interact with Sanji in the kitchen, with Zoro on the ship's deck to train, and with Chopper in his medical offices to watch his examinations. They can also collect items from the crew by spotting them in the environment and hovering over them.

During combat, players operate cannons to shoot at enemy pirate ships and large enemies like the Kraken . Shooting enemies gives players points. Players also use the cannon to choose which Straw Hat Pirates will complete actions like attacking enemies or deflecting projectiles.

In the Tokyo One Piece Tower demo, eight players can play simultaneously. It is unknown if these features will be available in the console version. The game features two main adventures: Sea Battle Against the Marines and Repel the Kraken . Each adventure has multiple scenes.

Players board the Thousand Sunny as new deckhands and meet different members of the crew. An unidentified person speaking through Den Den Mushi acts as the main guide and narrator for the duration of the game.

Sea Battle Against the Marines [ ]

Players choose whether they want to visit Nami's Quarters to talk with Nami and Robin or the ship's Galley to talk with Sanji and Chopper. After they finish their conversation, the players return to the deck of the Sunny to Fight the Marines in a cannon battle, shooting to deflect cannonballs and barrels sent toward them by a fleet of Marine ships . They are divided into two teams, one red and one blue, competing for higher scores. Sanji and Zoro get into a dispute, and players use the cannons to choose which of them will defend against a giant cannonball.

Repel the Kraken [ ]

Players choose whether they want to visit Nami's Quarters to talk with Nami and Brook , the ship's Galley to talk with Sanji and Usopp , the Sick Bay to be examined by Chopper, or the Upper Deck to talk with Zoro and Franky . After the conversation scene, the players and the Straw Hat Pirates return to the deck of the Sunny to Fight the Kraken . Divided into teams again, players shoot at the Kraken and its tentacles. After the players damage and anger the creature, Robin uses Gigantesco Mano: Stomp to knock it out and send it back into the sea. Suddenly, Donquixote Doflamingo appears. Luffy fights him, and players choose what happens during an interactive cutscene. With the players' help, Luffy defeats Doflamingo.

Characters [ ]

The only playable character is an unnamed first-person protagonist. Players can interact with all of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Enemy Characters [ ]

• Marine ships
• Donquixote Doflamingo

References [ ]

• ↑ One Piece Grand Cruise Lets Players Interact with Strawhat Crew & Fight Alongside Them
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 One Piece: Grand Cruise coming west in 2018

External Links [ ]

• Official Japanese Website

Site Navigation [ ]

• 1 Story Arcs
• 2 Chapter 1114
• 3 Monkey D. Luffy

Hi, what are you looking for?

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One piece: grand cruise review – vr, vr on the cruise.

One Piece: Grand Cruise isn’t a good game, but it’s a fantastic experience. It is a way for One Piece fans to feel like they’re part of the One Piece universe. The gameplay is essentially nonexistent, but for fans, nothing will prepare you for how amazing your first step on the Thousand Sunny will feel.

One Piece: Grand Cruise Developer: Bandai Namco Price: $9.99 Platforms: PS4 (reviewed) MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 code for review

Fans of One Piece will get quite a lot out of Grand Cruise because of their love for the series, while people looking for an objectively good game will likely not be pleased with the experience. Like many franchise-based VR titles, Grand Cruise is focused entirely on letting players step into the world of the series they love, making it entirely hit-or-miss.

One Piece: Grand Cruise puts you (literally) into the shoes of a nameless and faceless fledgling pirate in the world of One Piece . The entire Strawhat crew is hanging out with you for the day to give you the full pirate experience, which is made up of naval battles, a Kraken battle, and an encounter with the infamous villain of the Dressrosa arc, Donquixote Doflamingo. While doing everything will only take a couple hours at most, simply being on the Thousand Sunny is breathtaking. I’ve followed One Piece since I was a kid in the early 2000’s, so stepping onto the crew’s iconic second ship while interacting with the characters was remarkable.

Players are given the ability to hang out in different parts of the ship with different members of the Strawhat crew. Each crew member talks about themselves and what they do on the ship while asking the player a variety of “yes or no” questions. It’s nothing too deep, but bonding with Zoro over sword-fighting, or with Chopper over medicine will make any fan’s day. There’s something truly surreal about looking around while talking to these characters from a first-person perspective, a feeling that can be attributed to just how exciting virtual reality can be.

The cannon minigames that make up the majority of actual gameplay are pretty dull, as you simply mash one button while aiming your controller at the sky. Shooting at the Kraken from the Fishman Island story arc is neat in concept, but boring in execution. There’s no real gameplay hook in One Piece: Grand Cruise , meaning the title is carried by fanservice alone. This isn’t a bad thing for fans, as the $10 price-point is entirely worth it for the One Piece VR experience I received; just know that there’s no exciting or even interesting gameplay to be had.

There are plenty of small details for dedicated fans to notice as well, from Sogeking’s mask and Brook guitar on display to Usopp’s Dressrosa face occasionally shooting out of your cannon. It’s clear to see that Grand Cruise was made by developers who are familiar with and passionate about the world and story of One Piece , which is incredibly important in an experience which lives or dies by how it pleases One Piece fans. The Japanese voice actors and actresses for the Strawhat crew all reprise their roles alongside Doflamingo’s actor, which definitely helps in this regard.

MonsterVine Rating:  4 out of 5 – Good

Stationed in the barren arctic land of Canada, Spencer is a semi-frozen Managing Editor who plays video games like they're going out of style. His favourite genres are JRPGs, Fighting Games, and Platformers.

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ONE PIECE Grand Cruise

By Ryan Ouellette on May 24, 2018

Developer / publisher – bandai namco entertainment price – us $19.99 / eu €19.99 / uk £15.99 / au $26.95 release date – may 22, 2018 control method – ds4, 1 x move controllers play type – sitting pro patch – no digital only – yes reviewed on – ps4 pro.

There is nothing better then some good old-fashioned fan service, provided of course that you are a fan of whatever it is being thrown your way.  ONE PIECE Grand Cruise aims to be a VR taste of the ONE PIECE universe that I am admittedly totally unfamiliar with. It’s an odd blend of anime, pirates, comedy and some of the most flamboyant characters I have seen and even after playing through this title, I still really have no idea what the heck is happening in this world.

This talking snail is the 1st character you meet in the game

Armed with a DS4 or lone Move controller, which is really only needed for the combat section of the game, you just choose which area of the ship you wish to visit and watch a scene unfold.  The scenes are minimally interactive and mostly require you to stare at a reticle that pops up on an object or person to trigger a tiny event.  Once those scenes are done you are brought to the Ship deck fight where you control a canon…it’s not as exciting as it sounds.  Aiming is handled by tracking the controller so you tilt and steer the DS4 to line up a targeting reticle on the incoming objects or just point with the Move.  Once you hit X the game takes over and auto aims and shoots the target and you just keep doing this until the game decides to move on to another cut scene.

Line it up and take it down.

Grand Cruise looks great and captures the look of the anime nicely.  All the models carry a lot detail and are fully realized in 3D.  Specific areas of the ship are available to visit, each populated with 1 or 2 characters from the show who mostly monologue about the other crew members.  Whether it be a crew members quarters or the galley, each of these stations offers some light comedy clearly aimed at fans of the series.  Some more dramatic explosion effects pop up during the 2 canon firing scenes and do look and feel like they were ripped right of an anime series and do a great job of making you feel like you are in this strange universe.

Audio is a lot more of an issue.  First off, all the voices are in Japanese with English titles floating at the bottom of your vision.  This alone is not an issue as I assume it keeps the characters and their eccentricities intact.  The problem lies with the way the subtitles are displayed.  Whenever you move your head the subtitles take a second or two to float back into position so while you may want to look around in the game, doing so will more than likely sacrifice the conversation.  This is especially true in the canon firing sections when you will be too focused on targeting incoming projectiles to even notice the words popping up below you.  If you are interested in what the characters are saying, you need to pay attention to the sub titles and ignore everything else.

It’s the KRAKEN!!!!!!

The game is broken up into 2 sections, but both offers similar scenes and action.  The 1st takes you through 1 of 2 cut scenes before battling pirates that hurl not just canon balls your way, but weights and meat and I think I even saw a kitchen sink.  The second section gives you 4 more cut scenes, and has you battle a giant Kraken, which really just involves spamming the fire button until you win.  After that battle you a greeted with longer cut scene where the main hero faces off against I’m guessing the main villain from the series.  The scenes have to be unlocked through menu selection, but once you have viewed them all, you can revisit them any time you want.

That’s it really.  Shallow combat, short cut scenes and an emphasis on repetition is the name of the game (or experience) here.    Besides the subtitle issue, my other contention would be the over sexualized female characters.  I get that this is just how things are done on the other side of the world, but for me it was laughably ridiculous and unnecessary. It just comes off as a cheap way to gather a younger male audience so if way over sexualized women are an issue for you, they are here.

I honestly don’t know what to say……..

Not much more to say really.  Grand Cruise offers a small glimpse into the ONE PIECE universe and while I was left kind of dumbfounded by it all, I think fans of the series will dig this and in truth, I’m kind of curious to see what the show is about as it just seems to be a tad insane and over the top…which I kinda dig.  This is way more experience then game but if you are into One Piece, you’ll probably appreciate what is offered up here.

What would I pay? For me, $5 seems more appropriate.  The content presented is all fan service and I’m just not a fan of One Piece…at least not yet.  That said, I think there is just enough content here to warrant a full priced purchase if you are fan of this seemingly insane series, just keep in mind it’s more experience then game.

• Crisp and clear presentation
• Some funny moments
• Fans of the show will probably dig this
• Poor subtitle implementation
• Way over the top sexualized women
• Weak shooting mechanics
• Those unfamilair with one piece will be left wondering what the heck just happened?!

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One Piece: Grand Cruise Confirmed For PSVR Release In The West

Over the past few months we’ve been following One Piece: Grand Cruise, a new VR game set in the popular anime universe, in hopes that it would release in the west. Now we know it will.

The game, which is published by Bandai Namco, will be coming to western PSVR units sometime in 2018. In it, you’ll step aboard the Thousand Sunny ship and start interacting with the iconic cast of Straw Hat Pirates. As a bonus, the app also includes both Winter and Summer experiences from the One Piece Tower in Tokyo.

Overall this looks like it’ll be fitting fan service if not too much more. We don’t know exactly how long the experience will be, but you can check out the trailer below.

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海賊の航海は楽しくも、危険と隣り合わせ！ 麦わらの一味とともに大海原へ旅立とう！ プレイヤーは麦わらの一味の見習い海賊となり、サニー号の「ある日の航海」に出よう！ 強敵との シューティングバトル ＆麦わらの一味と大接近できる コミュニケーションイベント など、VRならではの冒険やイベントが展開される！

サニー号の船内では ナミ や サンジ が登場し、プレイヤーに語りかけてくる。 目の前にキャラクターがいる臨場感 を楽しもう！

間近で眺められるだけじゃない！ コミュニケーションイベントでは、麦わらの一味がプレイヤーに話しかけてきます。 質問に答えることで、 一味のリアクションももちろん変化！ 麦わらの一味の見習い海賊として 、臨場感ある海賊体験をお楽しみいただけます。

思い思いに過ごす麦わらの一味に、突如として襲い掛かる危機！ サニー号に降り注ぐ砲弾を麦わらの一味と協力して撃ち落とせ！

サニー号に襲い来る新たな敵！巨大な クラーケン！ プレイヤーに襲い掛かるクラーケンの脚を、うまく弾丸で狙い撃ち、 協力して撃退せよ！

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ONE PIECE Grand Cruise

• PS4 Version PS VR headset required
• PS Camera required
• PS Move motion controller optional
• 1 PS Move motion controller supported
• DUALSHOCK 4 vibration

Global player ratings

Come aboard and experience the pirate’s life in ONE PIECE Grand Cruise for PlayStation®VR. Be prepared to be swept away in the first ONE PIECE VR experience. Step onto the famous Thousand Sunny ship and meet the legendary Straw Hat Pirates including Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and many more while you brave fierce battles and fire cannons to defend the ship! Choose rooms to explore within the ship and feel what it’s like to be a pirate. In addition, on PS5™ consoles: PlayStation Camera adaptor for PS Camera is required (no purchase necessary) go to Playstation.com/camera-adaptor.

ONE PIECE: Grand Cruise

OpenCritic Rating

Top Critic Average

Critics Recommend

ONE PIECE: Grand Cruise Media

ONE PIECE: Grand Cruise - Announcement Trailer | PS VR

Critic Reviews for ONE PIECE: Grand Cruise

Cogconnected.

One Piece: Grand Cruise is diabolically short, bereft of almost any interaction from the player's side, painfully repetitive, and a wholly uninspired effort that seems more interested in luring in its most ardent fans rather than making a competent game.

Read full review

One Piece: Grand Cruise is a big disappointment.There's a lot more interesting opportunities to spend time.

Review in Russian | Read full review

PlayStation LifeStyle

ONE PIECE: Grand Cruise feels like a trip aboard a dinghy rather than a pirate ship.

Spaziogames

One Piece: Grand Cruise is an awful experience that lacks both in content and quality.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Video Chums

The premise of Grand Cruise seems promising: a virtual reality mini-game set in One Piece's colourful world.

MonsterVine

Though it’s not a good game, One Piece: Grand Cruise is a fantastic VR experience for fans of the franchise. Despite its minimal gameplay and short runtime, One Piece: Grand Cruise succeeds in making you feel like a member of the Strawhat pirates for a solid couple of hours.

Grand Cruise is expensive for what it has to offer with barely half an hour of playtime. As cool as it is to become a Straw Hat Pirate, the two barebones mini-games are boring to play and look pretty bad. Fans of One Piece might enjoy this, but that's it.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

• River Cruising

GCT Moscow to St. Petersburg have you done it?

By relevart , January 25, 2006 in River Cruising

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This is my first time with GCT and I was very disappointed when they said they were substituting a WWII memorial and Victory Park tour for a tour of the Kremlin and Armory Museum. We can take the Kremlin Armory tour for $60.00. The War Memorial and Victory Park tour was originally $45.00. They say it is because people didn't like the Kremlin and Armory Museum tour. It looks like a bait and switch to me. I can't imagine people not wanting to visit the Kremlin and Armory. If any of you have done this cruise I would be curious what you thought about these tours.

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We took the GCT Russian cruise two years ago. I would not go to Moscow without going inside the Kremlin and the Armory. I don't understand droping that tour from the trip.

We're on the GCT Moscow/St. Petersburg September 6th cruise and have gotten the notification about the tour changes. We were going to do both anyway, so it's just a higher cost.

Anyone else going on this date?

Believe me, no matter what do take the Kremlin tour. If you have no other possibility, I can recommend an excellent local guide for you. I am a Cruise/Tour Director for AVALON and we will have the Kremlin Armory included and this would never be replaced for something else, UNLESS there is an official event going on in the Kremlin on the date you are there. This is the only possibility. The Kremlin regularly closes the doors without good reason (visit of a foreign dignitary or so).

Check this with Granc Circle (that is your cruise company am I right?)

Thank you Heintje. If you could give me the local guide info if he is able to pick us up at the boat I would be grateful. My e-mail address is [email protected] . All the Grand Circle tours have been switched from the Kremlin so I don't know what the problem is.

The name of the guide is IRA, She has been my local guide several times, and is specialized in Kremlin and Armory (also the treasury). She is prefered guide for individual guests of some of Moscows top hotels. Her e-mail address is:[email protected]

When you write her, you can mention that you received her name and address through me: Hendrik Jan from Holland.

I will sent a copy of this message to your e-mail address.

Good luck and let me know if you managed to get in touch with her; [email protected]

• 4 weeks later...

I am becoming less and less enamored with GCT as time goes on. I sent my Russian visa application to the agency GCT recommended the middle of January, after I called them and asked if I could send it early because I have a 31 day cruise on Orient Lines beginning 3/11. They said yes. Weekly calls and e-mails with promises to get it to me have not been much help. Finally, this week they said it would not be approved until the middle of March because GCT Russia is holding them up, I told them I had sent it to them early because I had an earlier cruise. So, for USD$100 they say I can get it back by March 1. When I e-mailed GCT they said that is why they sent out the Visa application so early. It looks to me like it doesn’t matter when they sent it out but GCT Russia is not going to send the applications in until the middle of March. I was also told by the agency that once the application is approved it would take two weeks for the Embassy in DC to put the Visa in the passport. If I miss my 31 day cruise I will not be happy and it is off to an attorney as I have done everything I can possibly do.

You may want to read the thread on the Frommers site about Grand Circle and their loss of Better Business Bureau Certification.

We have had both good and bad expeiences with GCT. Better to be informed.

http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX...2Ft^[email protected]

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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.

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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

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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.

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Lithuanians vote in a presidential election as anxieties rise over Russia and the war in Ukraine

Lithuanians are casting votes in a presidential election on Sunday at a time when Russian gains on the battlefield in Ukraine are fueling greater fears about Moscow’s intentions

VILNIUS, Lithuania -- Lithuanians are casting votes in a presidential election on Sunday at a time when Russian gains on the battlefield in Ukraine are fueling greater fears about Moscow’s intentions, particularly in the strategically important Baltic region.

The popular incumbent, Gitanas Nausėda, is favored to win another five-year term in office. But there are eight candidates running in all, making it difficult for him or any other candidate to muster the 50% of the votes needed to win outright on Sunday. In that case, a runoff will be held on May 26.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close 8 p.m. (1700 GMT). Results are expected late Sunday night.

The president’s main tasks in Lithuania’s political system are overseeing foreign and security policy, and acting as the supreme commander of the armed forces. That adds importance to the position in the relatively small nation given that it is located strategically on NATO’s eastern flank as tensions rise between Russia and the West over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea is sandwiched between Lithuania to the north and east, and Poland to the south. There is great concern in Lithuania, and in neighboring Latvia and Estonia, about Russian troops' latest gains in northeastern Ukraine.

All three Baltic states declared independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union and took a determined westward course, joining both the European Union and NATO.

Nausėda is a moderate conservative who turns 60 a week after Sunday’s election. One of his main challengers is Ingrida Šimonytė, 49, the current prime minister and former finance minister, whom he beat in a runoff in 2019 with 66% of the votes.

Another contender is Ignas Vėgėlė, a populist lawyer who gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic opposing restrictions and vaccines .

A referendum is also on the ballot Sunday. It asks whether the constitution should be amended to allow dual citizenship for hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians living abroad.

Lithuanian citizens who adopt another nationality currently must give up their Lithuanian citizenship, which doesn't bode well for the Baltic nation whose population has fallen from 3.5 million in 1990 to 2.8 million today.

For the first time, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe turned down an invitation by Lithuania to observe the election.

The Lithuanian government wanted to exclude monitors from Russia and Belarus, accusing the two nations — both members of the 57-member organization — of being threats to its political and electoral processes.

The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said Lithuania was breaking the rules it signed up to when it joined the organization. It said observers don’t represent their countries’ governments, that they must sign a code of conduct pledging political neutrality and if they break the rules they are no longer allowed to continue as observers.

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