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Below Deck  Recap: Everybody Talks

Gossip travels aboard this season’s boat like none other. Sure, crew members have their go-to confidants, like Heather with Fraser or Rayna with Jess and Wes. But with no true factions having formed on board (yet), everyone feels comfortable complaining to just about anyone else on this boat. That’s part of what makes this episode work so well: Just about everyone is talking about everyone to everyone else.

First, though, Rayna and Jake are talking about each other, directly to each other — and everyone else can hear. I’ve lost track of the stakes of this argument: something about a coffee cup and wet clothes? But the guests can hear it, and it’s embarrassing. Eddie jumps in to try to tone things down, but as he’s trying to get Rayna and Jake to high-five and make up, Rayna is still arguing. Later, Jake goes to Eddie about his difficulties with Rayna, while Rayna commiserates with Wes about Jake’s tone and leadership. In a confessional, Wes admits that even though he’s had his problems with Jake, Rayna may be in the wrong here. Not that it matters if Wes isn’t quite on her side here, because Rayna also later calls her dad about the whole thing.

We may be in the Caribbean, but dinner is a Greek feast, because why the hell not? Rachel makes lamb, fish, octopus, moussaka, tzatziki, the works. The guests, clad in togas (“This is a Greek night, you’re not supposed to have no pants on!”) love it all. Contrary to what you may expect from the togas, they’re not a rowdy bunch unless you count Nichole getting into the hot tub topless — she insists she forgot her swimsuit — and telling her dad to avert his eyes.

Later that night, Jake relays the same complaints about Rayna to Heather. Meanwhile, Rayna talks to Eddie about the whole thing, who tells her he heard her (again, loud ) conversation with her dad about Jake earlier. He gives her a bit of good advice about listening more, but otherwise, he’s not very helpful. And it wouldn’t be a night of gossiping without Fraser and Heather talking about Jess! Over a smoke, the two agree that she hasn’t been delivering on service this charter, and Fraser point-blank tells Heather that they need a replacement stew. Again, I still don’t know if Jess has done anything fireable at this point, but after seeing her in “action” last episode, I won’t protest a firing either.

The last day of charter begins with a crazed Rachel, awake since 5 a.m., playing with biscuit dough. “One of those days,” Heather observes. On the menu for breakfast are biscuits and gravy, Rachel’s signature French toast, and a reality check for Jess. She’s in a bit of a funk as she’s turning down cabins with Fraser, talking about how this will be her last stew gig, and she’s the only one on staff who gets spoken to badly (and this is coming from Rayna’s roommate!). Fraser says something to her about being positive, which he thinks takes things in a good direction — so much that he tells Heather about the exchange afterward. But Jess walks in on Fraser talking to Heather, which can’t be good for her feeling that everyone is talking badly about her (and only her). To her, it’s evidence of Fraser trying to climb the ranks. “Heather needs a minion,” she says.

On their way out, the guests make specific mention of the crew’s slide woes, with Michael calling it “the funniest damn thing I ever saw.” So, uh, we know this tip meeting isn’t going to go well. That’s all the crew can talk about before the tip meeting, when Lee is, as expected, pissed. He says they still can’t get another charter right, he’s disappointed in the $19,000 tip, and he asks to talk to the deck crew separately afterward. “Don’t bring your smiles,” he warns, “you won’t be needing them.” In the bridge, he pretty much reiterates his anger to the deck crew in harsher terms, explicitly calling out their issues with the slide and warning that he’s not afraid to fire all of them if he has to. When Eddie says he hasn’t seen Captain Lee this mad, you know it’s bad. At least Rayna has a good attitude afterward, which she chalks up to having Black parents: “If I were to dwell on all the ass whoppings I’ve gotten in my life, I’d fucking be dwelling till I’m dead.”

Wherever the crew is going for their night out, they’re taking a tender boat there, which feels pretty fancy to me (I think because they were doing it on Succession in Italy). Heather has decided she will have a good time despite her issues with Jess, which means ordering a well-done steak and doing some friendly flirting with Jake, even if she is taken. She still may have gotten further with Jake than Jess did with Wes, who, despite getting awfully close, did not kiss her the whole night! She ends the night by giving him a peck on a cheek, which she tells the producers was “hardly a kiss,” and mentally writing Wes off.

But back to Heather for a second. I didn’t quite catch this at first, due to the bleeping, but when Rayna used the N-word to describe Jake at the bar, Heather parroted the line back, saying the word right on camera. Rayna lets it slide in the moment but brings it up to Heather later while they’re hanging out in the crew mess, warning her about getting canceled. “2021, it’s not 2002 anymore, you know?” she says. Heather is insistent that she didn’t say it, but rewind the footage and it’s right there. She’s since apologized on Instagram , noting she “apologized to Rayna throughout the season” and has since “learned how my words and actions can affect others.”

But that doesn’t, of course, negate what she said. It’s not just a bad look, like Rayna brushed it off as that night. The next day, it clearly weighs on Rayna’s mind. She tells Wes, Fraser, and Eddie about it, all separately. They’re all shocked, but Eddie also tells Rayna to “stand up for” herself and not let it get in the way of her work on deck. Yes, Rayna telling Eddie comes after a larger apology from Rayna about her attitude toward Eddie (after Eddie previously relayed a complaint from Captain Lee on deck about some watermarks on the stainless steel). And yes, in general, Rayna does need to find a way to focus on her deck work a bit more when conflicts come up. But separate from all that, telling Rayna to stand up for herself after a white colleague says the N-word rings a bit hollow from another white colleague, especially another leader on the boat. Rayna isn’t pleased about her conversation with Eddie either. That’s the note we’re left on, and I’m left hoping someone (maybe Fraser, who’s closer to Heather) will stick up for Rayna. Unlike so much of the racism we’ve seen and heard about from Bravolebrities, which happens off-camera or in tabloid reports, this is now a plot point of this season — which means Heather’s other colleagues who hear about it, particularly her white ones, have little excuse not to call her out on it.

Anyway, also up next, we have a primary with her jaw wired shut from a biking accident, a guest who’s brought a broom along as a friend (really), and Jess pulling Heather aside for an important chat. Presumably not about her casual racism, but you never know!

• Rachel, overheard: “I’d rather drag my labia through a bunch of broken tequila bottles in Tijuana like I’ve done before.”

• Our Captain Lee-ism of the week is, of course, about the slide: “Y’all looked like three cub bears trying to fuck a football.”

• While working, Rachel makes a joke about her “sweater puppets.” “What are sweater puppets?” Fraser, an innocent gay, asks. “Those are tits.”

• Heather’s casual use of the N-word does make me wonder about the way she’s spoken of her childhood, about being beaten up for being the only white kid at her Hawaiian school. Not to get into too much empty speculation, but that comment does sound a bit off now.

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Compliments of Captain Lee's Travel Agency

Jessica is unmotivated by service but welcomes a budding romance with Wes as a happy distraction while Captain Lee and Eddie grow weary by the deck crew's performance. A meat and potatoes family vacation takes an awkward turn when a late night hot tub session becomes too close for comfort. A night out proves to be a critical turning point for the crew of My Seanna.

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Below Deck (TV Series)

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Ginges Be Cray

Watching rad tv and talkin' shite, below deck s9:e08 compliments of captain lee’s travel agency recap.

Hiya! Below Deck is getting messy, just how we like it. Let’s roll into Below Deck S9:E08 Compliments of Captain Lee’s Travel Agency after the break and find out HOW messy!

You know we’re struggling with sufficiently compelling content when we open with chief steward  Heather Chase complaining about third steward Jessica Albert not opening up cupboards, so buckle up!

For the first time in awhile, I quite like the charter guests, we’ve got Primary Michael Cadez and his girlfriend Jennipher LastNameUnknownSoFar. They’re celebrating his beating breast cancer with his family, they’re just lovely.

The real dramz is not in the cupboards inside anyway, it’s below deck with deckhand Rayna Lindsey fighting with her lead deckhand Jake Fougler right where the guests can hear them. First Officer / Bosun  Eddie Lucas  has to intervene, maaan, lock that shite down. It’s entertaining for the guests but nobody expects that level of crappy service on a superyacht they’re paying 6 figures for.

Rayna feels that Jake is disrespectful to her in tone. He absolutely is. Is she slow? She absolutely is. Could he manage her a little more respectfully? 100 percent. Make it work!

Eddie is not really listening to Rayna but I think Jake is, finally, or maybe he’s just tired and doesn’t want to argue any more after picking up alllllll of her slack every charter.

Chef Rachel Hargrove is up to her elbows in lamb racks; she’s making a Greek dinner for everyone, family-style.

I HATE family style for this type of situation, I think everything should be plated. Literally nobody asked me.

Rachel talks and talks, not noticing that Heather and Jessica are not speaking at all. Just like Jake and Rayna.

Did I mention that Jake and Rayna have almost banged? I’m sure that has nothing to do with this weird dynamic where she’ll listen to anyone else’s direction but his. Rayna complains to fellow deckhand Wes O’Dell, who sympathizes but thinks she’s blowing everything way out of proportion.

The guests dress for dinner, awww it’s a toga party! Toga! Toga! One of the best parties I’ve ever been to was a toga party, highly recommend.

I don’t remember this happening before, but Jessica is doing guest Nichole’s hair. Huh. I would for sure go on a expensive cruise so someone could just braid my hair over and over for hours.

*not joking

Rayna calls her dad to complain that her boss isn’t listening to her, she says it’s because Eddie and Jake are ‘best friends or something.” Which…they’re not? She’s doubling down on her bs, girl, you need some sleep, you and I both agree on that.

Primary Michael’s daughter Nichole couldn’t find her swimsuit so she’s getting into the hot tub topless in bicycle shorts??

There are half a dozen people in that Jacuzzi, all in swimsuits, it’s not that kind of party, Nichole! If you say “Daddy” and ‘boobies” in the same sentence again I am not responsible for my actions.

Super super gross.

The deck crew keeps working, everyone worn out and emotionally drained. Except Eddie, who lets Rayna know right away that he heard her talking shite about him on the phone to her dad.

I’m trying so hard not to hate on Rayna because she’s not wrong; Jake could manage her a little better. She doesn’t have to suck it up, she’s entitled to a respectful workplace. When she starts pulling these really immature moves like saying to Eddie that she AND Wes have big issues with Jake, it makes it that much harder. As well as classifying Eddie as biased based on exactly nothing.

Rayna backpedals somewhat, I’m just worried that this issue is not going to go away. Eddie tells her she’s doing a good job (is she?) and reiterates that she can come speak to him anytime, he is unbiased. Hm.

Neither is Jessica’s service level problem. I can’t even tell if she’s a bad stew or not because she’s on service so little. Yes, she’s kind of slow in cleaning and not super detail-oriented but that’s not uncommon in third stews. That’s why you have two others. The fact that she’s depressed; I just can’t see that as a professional defect. I mean, you’re dealing with people here, not robots.

It’s an early night after that weird hot tub experience for the guests, everyone heads to bed with very little fanfare.

I think the charter is over today, did we have a beach picnic in there? Usually there’s a beach picnic where we get hours and hours of Bravo replaying someone forgetting to bring forks of something.

Breakfast goes well, Heather calls Jessica down to the stew pantry to show Jessica her expectation for clearing after service.

Yes, Heather calls Jessica off actual work to see how she has stacked plates. We are all Jessica.

Jessica goes back to cleaning the cabins where second steward Fraser Olender is waiting with more helpful advice; she doesn’t want it, thanks. This is the last stew job she’s ever doing.

Okay. I get it now, Fraser, she is a huge downer and how do you work with someone who is not listening and doesn’t care? Especially if YOU  care and want to do a good job. Fraser gets busted by Jessica five minutes later telling a bitchy version of this to Heather.

Hahahaha Captain Lee Rosbach blowing the horn to freak out Eddie is kind of awesome.

A smooth docking finally, yay! They needed that! Guest departure is smooth but the crew seems down, especially the deck crew that Primary Michael makes fun of during his farewell speech.

Captain Lee is not happy at all. This Tip Meeting its going to be fraught.

I even almost forgot to guess the tip. Pshaw! I will guess…$18,000 USD based on relatively happy charter guests who were very aware that they didn’t get nearly enough slide time because of deck crew incompetence.

I was close! The tip is $19km, which is kind of low but warranted. The deck crew is called to the deck, they don’t need to bring their smiles.

I would have had a hard time not bringing mine out for this particular old-timey saying:

Is that…what baby bears…do?

He threatens to fire everyone, including Eddie, this is their final wake-up call.

I cannot believe that Rayna goes up on deck to slowly work and complain about being given a final warning.

What do you do with that?

Eddie’s not super happy to hear Rayna and Wes laughing on deck, I just don’t think anything is getting through to Rayna in particular.

Everyone dresses for dinner but it’s muted; I wonder how wild and crazy it will get tonight. Did I mention that one half of the deck crew has less than a year’s experience on a yacht, combined?

The gang heads to the Carambola Beach Club. Jessica and Wes sort of splitting off from the group to discuss her Resting Sad Face. Man. I bet she can’t wait until everyone stops judging her every single expression that ever crosses her face!

Eddie and Jake watch from a nearby table, lamenting Wes’s lack of game. I mean, he’s being a human right now, he’s listening to her and not being all creepy with his ‘game’ so, yay!

Rayna watches Jake and Eddie all through supper; they do seem extra close tonight. Jake’s already drunk and bragging on about sexual hijinks on other boats, he’s a bit of a one-trick-pony, isn’t he? He’s after Heather now, who has a boyfriend but.

I am starting to join everyone else (including Jess) in wishing Wes would just make a move already.

Such an awkward night, nobody is speaking and Jessica and Wes are in their own cab with her whining gently over and over that she’s tiiiiired.

Jessica kiiind of kisses Wes goodnight, she’s just not feeling it. A girl can’t wait all night for a guy to make a move, y’all. Dunzo.

Everyone else gathers in the crew mess after supper, Heather and Jake rapping? Some thing? Rayna comes in and tells Heather she can’t say the ‘N’ word, she’s ‘white AF.” I mean, Heather’s the only person I’ve ever seen whiter than me, she’s practically transparent. I didn’t see that she said the ‘N’ word and there were captions on the whole time; she and Jake were just saying ‘real sh*t’ over and over.

Heather apologizes, she didn’t think she said it but if she did, she didn’t mean to.

Oh Heather DID say it! Twice! Walking from the bathroom with Rayna and that’s why it got so weird! Girl, you can’t do that, you’re white AF.

The night is over for Heather, right then. She runs off to bed, no more flirting with Jake, nothing. She still doesn’t remember it but is hella worried. And she’s right to be worried, somewhat, but Rayna brings up cancel culture…I dunno man. Remember Morgan Wallen cancel-cultured himself right into a Number 1 album, so.

The next morning is all slide practice all the time for the deck crew, boom. They’re ridiculously clueless given they’re four charters in.

Fraser’s already back in the laundry room, he gets more props from Captain Lee, who likes an organized ship.

Woooooo time for the next Preference Sheet Meeting in the crew mess already! Captain Lee calls Rachel, Heather and Eddie down to see what’s up, who’s coming on board, coach??

Co-Primaries Chelsea Gonella and Michael Gonella, oooooh Chelsea’s sister Tiffany is coming and she’s a TV anchor! Let me see the hair! Oh no, Primary Chelsea was just in a cycling accident and her jaw is wired shut.

*All eyes turn to Rachel.

Below deck and on deck, the conversation is all about Wes’ lack of game and I see it now! I see it! Captain Lee doesn’t care about any of that, he wants to know why everything is still dirty while everyone is standing around together. Captain Lee is starting to lose patience with Eddie, who should have double checked Wes and Rayna’s work, I gather.

Captain Lee is ready to start handing out one-way plane tickets home.

Eddie is too lax, there is that, and always has been. Rayna has attitude as soon as he pulls her and Wes aside.

I understand that sometimes when you’re young and unsure of yourself, it can come off more as attitude than it needs to, but she really needs to understand that not everything is a personal attack on her person, it’s about the not-awesome work she’s been doing and this is constructive criticism.

Eddie comments on her rolling her eyes (disrespect) and leaves; she brings up Heather saying the ‘N’ word the night before to Wes.

Like…what…does that have to do with her and Wes messing up their work?

I mean, I guess if it’s a toxic workspace? Maybe she felt compelled to tell Heather it was okay when really it wasn’t and I definitely understand that.

Wes didn’t hear ANY of this, when was this?? Why? Rayna now doesn’t want to talk about it.

Jessica wants to go home. She’s tired and it’s too much work.

Rayna tells Fraser about he being immature with Eddie, and I think blaming it on Heather saying the ‘N’ word; he has good counsel. He tells her Heather’s actions are something she should voice a concern about but she needs to apologize and explain to Eddie that she didn’t mean any disrespect.

Rayna does a great apology to Eddie.He thanks her for taking ownership of how she reacted. She says this is a lifelong problem for her but they seem to come to an agreement and part on good terms. They’re both drinking, which may end up being a problem given how lovingly Bravo zoomed in on both their drinks.

Rayna goes back to her bunk to complain that Eddie does not understand.

Now I don’t understand.

Maybe we’ll find out next week. See you soon for the next episode! Cheers

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10 Things You Didn't Know About Captain Lee Rosbach's Life on the High Seas

There's a lot more to the fearless leader of the #BelowDeck crew than meets the eye. 

"Stud of the Sea" Captain Lee Rosbach has stolen our hearts with his no-nonsense leadership style, fatherly advice, and wry sense of humor in every episode of Below Deck . However, you'd think we'd know more about the man in charge of keeping the ship afloat by now. The things that make Captain Lee so lovable also make him as mysterious as the deepest parts of the ocean.

How to Watch

Watch  Below Deck on Bravo Mondays at 9/8c and next day on  Peacock . Catch up on the Bravo App .

But when you're busy catering to finicky charter guests, managing a young and energetic crew, and handing out the occasional plane ticket home, there really isn't much time to tell your life story. Luckily, you can get to know Captain Lee by diving into these 10 illuminating facts about the fan-fave Bravoleb right here, right now. So go ahead. The water's fine.

1 . We've been calling him by the wrong name this whole time

Though the captain title sounds pretty official, we've actually been referring to Captain Lee by a nickname of sorts. Captain Lee's real full name is Harold Lee Rosbach , but, as he would probably say, what's in a name as long as you can get the job done?

2 . He's a Michigander

Captain Lee may work in the Caribbean and live in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. these days, but growing up, his surroundings were a lot less tropical. Captain Lee was born and raised in Saginaw, Mich. , a city located in the middle of the index finger and thumb on the state's "hand." He lived in Saginaw until he was 25 years old and then soon enough made his way to warmer climates.

See the full Below Deck cast in their younger days, below.  

Before They Went Below Deck

3 . this captain found his first mate for life.

Though the Below Deck crew is filled with young and attractive men, charter guests and Bravo fans alike are particularly smitten with Captain Lee. But don't get too excited. This silver fox is taken. Captain Lee is happily married to his wife Mary Anne, and she's been his anchor throughout his yachting career. "God bless my wife, Mary Anne, for putting up with my dragging her all over the world to finally find out what it was that I wanted to be when I grew up," Captain Lee wrote in a blog post on his website. It sounds like their marriage has been quite the pleasure cruise.

4 . Captain Lee used to be a restaurateur

Long before Captain Lee took to the high seas, he was a landlubber who owned and operated several restaurants in Indiana, Georgia, Florida , and eventually Turks and Caicos . You can still tell that Captain Lee is a foodie just by looking at his Instagram profile , which is filled with pics of yummy-looking cakes and steaks. Eat your heart out, Chef Ben. 

5 . He almost missed the boat to become a yachtie

Captain Lee always says that he got into boating later in life than most yachties . He was 35 when he decided to take the plunge and give the yachting life a try by becoming a captain. We're so glad that he did. 

6 . Captain Lee got seasick during his first time on a yacht

Do you think Captain Lee would have given himself a plane ticket home for that kind of behavior ?

7 . Yachting runs in the Rosbach family

Rosbachs are apparently born for a life at sea. Captain Lee's son Sean is currently a chef on a private yacht that has been doing a circumnavigation for two years, Captain Lee posted on Twitter in June. The only thing better than having one Rosbach on Below Deck would be having two, duh.

8 . He has a big heart

When Captain Lee isn't looking after the crew and charter guests on the  Below Deck  yacht, he's looking out for others. Captain Lee has helped the  Marine Industry Cares Foundation  support local charities for children and families in need for the past couple of years. He has  participated in the organization's annual Spin-A-Thon , a six-hour fundraising bicycle endurance event, and was one of the top fundraisers, according to the Marine Industry Cares Foundation website. We always thought Captain Lee was a class act, but now there's no doubt.

9 . You might get Captain Lee confused with a famous sports figure — or actor

Last year, the New York Daily News declared Captain Lee the doppelganger of New York Mets manager Terry Collins . While these two definitely share a resemblance — and a home state — we think Captain Lee looks a bit more like Sean Connery. Now if only the legendary Scottish actor had some more hair on his head, these two would practically be twins!

10 . He wants you to remember his name

With three seasons of Below Deck now under his belt, Captain Lee has certainly made a name for himself — and he wants to keep it that way. It looks like Captain Lee has filed to trademark "Capt. Lee" in a couple of different fonts, one of which you can see in the logo of his newly launched website . Whether the application goes through or not, Captain Lee has certainly made his mark on this world.

Check out a first look at Episode 2, below. 

• Lee Rosbach

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With the stud of the sea.

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After 10 seasons starring on Bravo's Below Deck,

CAPTAIN LEE  ROSBACH  sailed his way into viewer's hearts, becoming a beloved fan favorite. While the ‘stud of the sea' never saw the ocean until moving to Turks & Caicos at the age of 35, the 'Running Against the Tide' author has spent the past three decades circling the globe as a mega yacht captain. known for his witty one-liners and no-nonsense attitude. Whether he's appearing before Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live or lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Captain Lee always brings his signature swagger. 

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RUNNING AGAINST THE TIDE

From the star of Bravo’s hit reality show Below Deck comes Running Against the Tide, the “Stud of the Sea’s” first-ever memoir recounting his journey from landlocked Saginaw, Michigan to the high seas, where he has spent more than twenty-five years as a superyacht captain.

We anchor our efforts in education, awareness, and community engagement, reaching out to society at large to dispel stigmas and advocate for empathy in the face of addiction's relentless storm. With resilience forged from personal tragedy, we aspire to ignite a beacon of hope for those who have lost their way, proving that even amidst the darkest tempests, there is always a path to recovery.

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Are you ready to set sail on an unforgettable journey with Captain Lee and his crew? Well, hold onto your sailor hats, because we've got some exciting upcoming events for you! Whether you want to support positive changes or enjoy captivating sea stories over cocktails, our upcoming events have it all! Events will be posted soon, so don't miss the boat! Sign up for our exclusive events today.

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Harold Lee Rosbach – better known to many as Captain Lee – is the breakout star of Bravo’s reality show Below Deck. Nicknamed the “Stud of the Sea” by Bravo, Captain Lee is the captain of a superyacht during charter season, and the show chronicles the lives of the various crew members on board. His no-nonsense approach to controlling his occasionally rowdy crew has been a huge hit with viewers and he’s the only cast member who has stayed on Below Deck since 2013 when it first premiered. He is the author of bestselling book “Running Against the Tide: True Tales from the Stud of the Sea”.

Hailing from Saginaw Michigan, Captain Lee was a talented boxer who reached the Michigan state finals when he was in his early 20s. He then got into the food business and managed a restaurant with his wife in Turks and Caicos, but at the age of 35 realised his true calling was the sea and began to study to become a captain. After relocating to Florida he earned his license after logging more than 720 days at sea.

He has now spent more than two decades in the industry, and has worked both charter and private – preferring the latter as he loves to see the reaction of his guests when they first view beautiful scenery. Captain Lee has sailed some of the world’s greatest superyachts including Morganstar, Mostro and 135’ and Sea Ghost and is always ready to explore new islands and adventures.

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Moscow Travel Guide

• Guide to Russia
• Russian Destination Guide

Why travel to Moscow

Contrasts: 12th century monasteries and some of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe can be found side-by-side in this complex and captivating city. The diversity of this mega-city is astounding. Only a few steps away from the solemn red facade of the Kremlin and the sounds of righteous church bells, a buzzing night scene and alternative-fashion boutiques can be found.

Culture: In Moscow only the best goes. Be it a theatre, restaurant or gallery, the standards are certain to be world-class. The Bolshoi ballet company is reputed to be even better than the Mariinsky’s and “MMOMA” (Moscow’s museum of modern art) exhibits works of art as profound as any that could be found in the famed MOMA.

Convenience: Unlike the rest of Russia, it’s easy enough to get by with just English in Moscow and, driving excepted, it is surprisingly safe: the murder rate is lower than in some of America’s major cities.

Top Sights in Moscow

St. Basil’s

Novodevichy Convent

MORE SIGHTS

• Moscow Fact File
• History of Moscow Russia
• Arriving in Moscow
• Getting Around
• Moscow Museums
• Nightlife in Moscow
• Moscow Restaurants
• Moscow Entertainment
• Activities in Moscow
• Outside Moscow

FEATURED MOSCOW TOURS

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CLASSIC MOSCOW

A WEEK IN MOSCOW

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Why visit Moscow

It would take more than two days to walk around the perimeter of the biggest city in Europe, Moscow. Many of its inhabitants barely know what’s beyond the few blocks around their flat and there are so many attractions that it’s almost impossible to know where to start. If there is such a thing as an antidote to boredom, Moscow City is it. The mind-boggling range and diversity of things to do, places to eat, parks, historical monuments and more means that a vacation in Moscow has a wealth of activities to offer for every type of traveler, from young families to retirees.

Reasons to Vacation in Moscow in 2022

The Bolshoi theatre is familiar to almost everyone as Russia’s grandest theatre, but what people don’t know is that there are many more bolshoi (big) sites in Moscow that are worth travelling all the way to Moscow to see. For more than 100 years, the world’s biggest bell has been hidden behind the Kremlin’s walls and inside Moscow’s main park (which is bigger than some countries!) there is the world’s largest outdoor ice-rink. Travelers that visit Moscow can stay at the Izmailovo, Europe’s biggest hotel, then eat at the largest and most historic McDonald’s in Europe and after that have fun at the largest European indoor theme park!

Ancient Past & Stunning Architecture:

As those who travel to Moscow will see, just because Moscow is a city of record-breaking, glitzy high-rises doesn’t mean that there is no history. On the famous Arbat street, time-worn, wooden storehouses and century-old churches are squashed up against grey, soviet blocks which are then towered over by 21st century office-blocks. Unlike its much younger sibling, St Petersburg, Moscow’s roots stretch way back to the 12th century. Within the walls of the Kremlin, the city’s oldest building the Cathedral of Assumption can be admired in all its 500+ years of age.

Culture & Convenience

For a foreigner who has never visited Russia, Moscow is the perfect stepping stone into this great land of mystery. From the country’s best classical ballet troupes to snow-white troikas trotting through the parks, all the highlights of Russian culture can be had in Moscow without any of the complications that would be expected in other, less developed regions of Russia.

Cheap as Caviar

In Moscow, everything is bargain when with the current foreign exchange rates being what they are. Even caviar doesn’t seem so dear when the exchange rate is at 60rub to the dollar, so go on indulge yourself! Take your 2022 vacation in Moscow and have the best of both worlds, with European luxury at very affordable prices.

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

We had a great time both in Moscow and St Petersburg. Your travel agency was excellent in coordinating the whole trip. Everything worked like clockwork. The guides assigned to us were very nice and friendly. They had a great knowledge of their subjects. The cars and the drivers were great. The hotels were good and the itinerary was good. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was nice dealing with you and your company. Thank you very much for a great Russian experience. Have a great future ahead

• 31 reviews of Express to Russia Moscow Tours in Moscow

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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