A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS

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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
A Russian Odyssey
  Aboard the MS Rossia
               2021

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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
Exploration
  is a gift
 D     iscover the best of Russia on this
       fascinating cruise for 2021. We believe
that exploring the world is one of life’s gifts.
A holiday is not just about the destination,
it’s about new experiences and the bonds that
are made along the way. We bring people,
places and culture together to create lasting
memories.

Whether it’s retracing the footsteps of history
in Moscow’s grand Cathedral Square or
sampling a Russian cookery class on board,
the MS Rossia promises new opportunities for
discovery.

The MS Rossia cruise is a blend of the classic
Riviera Travel tours you’ve come to love,
thoughtfully balanced with on board activities
and inspiring visits, accompanied by specialist
guides to enrich your experience.

Since 1984 Riviera Travel has been creating
exceptional holidays that offer the very best
value. Our commitment to outstanding quality
and our passion for our customers have made us
a UK’s leader in European tours.

At a time when we can’t wait to see the world
again, we look forward to welcoming you.

       Phil Hullah                            Chief Executive Officer

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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
R E A S S U R I N G LY
                         Change your booking                  COVID Cancellation                 Happy by day two or
                         for free up to 45 days               Protection included                we’ll bring you home
                           before departure                       as standard                        with a refund

        A SENSE OF WONDER                                                       A SENSE OF WELLBEING
  We believe that exploring the world is one of life’s gifts                          Your health and safety is our top priority

More people recommend Riviera Travel than any other                        No matter how well travelled you are, it’s comforting to
operator. As you start to make plans for your next travel                  know you’re in safe hands. We’ll be with you every step of
adventure our experienced and knowledgeable team are                       the way.
here, ready and waiting to turn your dreams into reality.
                                                                           NEW improved Travel Insurance - We’re one of the few travel
The very best hand-crafted holidays - For over 36 years we have            providers that offers enhanced cover for COVID-19 disruption
personally selected every aspect of your holiday and every detail of       whether before you go or whilst you’re on holiday. Our travel
your itinerary is thoughtfully planned.                                    insurance offers a great range of cover so you’ll be in safe hands.

Truly authentic travel experiences - An independent survey                 Exceptional customer service is in our DNA - For seven years
rated Riviera Travel tour managers and cruise directors as the             Which? has awarded us the highly coveted Recommended Provider
best in the business. These talented individuals, chosen for their         status. Our friendly and experienced reservations team are not
experience and wealth of knowledge, will take you under the skin           restrained by targets, they just offer superb service, the way it
of a destination.                                                          should be.

Your holiday, your way - Enjoy the convenience of door-to-door
service to your choice of regional airport, upgrade your flight or
travel by Eurostar. You may wish to personalise your holiday further
                                                                                                                   Ri
with a thoughtfully crafted experience.                                                                                 ve
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                                                                           24/7 access to the UK team - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and
                                                                           365 days a year, no matter when or where you choose to travel,
                                                                           you’ll always have direct access to our UK team.

           A SENSE OF CALM                                                 For more information, plus full terms and conditions,
                                                                           visit rivieratravel.co.uk
          Book with us for complete peace of mind

We include COVID-19 Cancellation Protection as standard
- If you’re not able to travel as a result of the pandemic,
you can transfer your holiday for free, right up to 24 hours
before departure.                                                                           And of course
Best price promise - If the price of your holiday is reduced after
you book, we’ll automatically reduce the cost for you too. There’s
                                                                           We are fully bonded by ABTA and ATOL for your complete
no benefit for booking late, but by booking early, you can secure          peace of mind. Your money is fully protected.
your preferred dates and options.

No hidden extras - Our holiday prices are clear and transparent
and we never compromise on quality. There are no surcharges and                     ABTA No. V4744
no hidden extras. The price you see is the price you’ll pay.
                                                                             We’re so proud of our independent review scores from customers.
Happy in every sense or your money back - If you’re not happy
or comfortable in your new surroundings by Day Two, we’ll bring
you home at no extra charge and offer you a full refund. Terms and                                            99%                    would buy again
                                                                                                                                     from Riviera Travel

conditions apply - see website for more details.

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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
Connecting you
                                 to the world
Unrivalled knowledge and experience
                                                                     Every Riviera Travel river cruise has been thoughtfully
 Myself and my team are                                              planned and crafted by our river cruise specialists.
 always looking to further
 enhance our customers’                                              They draw on their own extensive travel experience and
 experience, we aim to                                               the guidance and expertise of our local partners to create
                                                                     superb holidays and cruises.
 make our river cruises
 extra special for each                                              Our specialists are committed to making every aspect
 and every guest.                                                    smooth and enjoyable; they genuinely want to ensure
                          Katja                                      that the holidays they create leave you with wonderful
               Head of Product Cruise                                lasting memories.

 We know how much our                                                   Don't just take our word for it
 customers look forward to
 their holiday and that is why                                       We were so impressed with our first experience of a
                                                                     Riviera Travel river cruise that we have already made up
 we check every single detail.                                       our minds that we will definitely book again.
 We want everything to be                                                 Mr & Mrs Jones – Budapest to the Black Sea
 just right.
                                                                     From the time we booked to the time we sadly left the
                                                                     ship the organisation was faultless!
      PaigeRiver Cruise Operations                                        Mr Collins – Douro, Porto & Salamanca

Exceptional customer service                                         We see our customers as
                                                                     extended members of our
Your Riviera Travel experience starts from the moment you            Riviera Travel family. We
speak to our friendly reservations team. Our experts have            care about their holiday
first-hand experience of our river cruise holidays and will          and make sure everything
help you at every stage of your booking.
                                                                     is right for them.
They are available seven days a week to answer
your questions, give personal recommendations                                            r
                                                                                   HadheTeam
and provide reassurance.                                                                     Leader

              Our customers say                                      I have been lucky enough
                                                                     to travel on a number of
Superb food and hospitality, surprisingly spacious cabins, space
                                                                     our holidays, I always enjoy
to cool off or to take the sun, a wonderful itinerary of tours and
the beautiful Dalmatian coast to enjoy at our leisure. Fabulous!     sharing my knowledge with
     Mrs J Shore - Dubrovnik, Split & Jewels of the                  customers and giving helpful
     Dalmatian Coast                                                 advice and guidance too.
Could you please say a great big THANK YOU to everyone
involved that made this our best river cruise ever.
                                                                                       e
                                                                                   JanTravel Consultant
    Mr and Mrs Allsop - Rhine Cruise to Switzerland

                                            Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262                                          5
A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
Russia’s captivating
         waterways
        Every detail is planned with you in mind

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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
Hermitage museum

      ussia, the world’s largest country, is a land                 Our final port of call is often described as Europe’s most
R of superlatives matched by its epic history,                      beautiful city: St Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great
                                                                    in 1703, was designed to be a showpiece of the Empire,
monumental architecture, incredible culture and                     with majestic architecture and breathtaking vistas that
sweeping landscapes of immense beauty.                              have inspired artists and writers throughout the ages. Our
Perhaps the best way to cover the breadth of its                    cruise includes a visit to the world-renowned Hermitage,
myriad gems and feel the might of empires past                      which features an exceptional collection of priceless
is on a relaxing river cruise, where every turn                     artworks housed in some of the city’s finest buildings,
                                                                    including the Tsars’ beautiful Baroque-style Winter Palace.
reveals a fascinating new view.
                                                                    Let our experienced tour managers and insightful guides
Our 11-night cruise begins in Moscow, the enigmatic
                                                                    lift the alluring veil of mystery over this fascinating
capital and a dazzling metropolis, with a glittering array
                                                                    country and its culture on a truly unforgettable cruise.
of Unesco-listed monuments: the magnificent 70-acre
Kremlin fortress and historic Red Square, with the
strikingly colourful onion-domed cathedral of St Basil               Moscow
taking centre stage.

Beyond Moscow’s glitz and glamour, we discover
another side to this intriguing country. The mighty
‘Mother Volga’, Europe’s longest river, entices us with a
different landscape: swathes of ancient silver-birch forests,
centuries-old churches and brightly painted timber houses
in quintessential villages lost in time. We’ll visit the
medieval Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and the historic
cities of Yaroslavl and Uglich on Russia’s famous
Golden Ring.

Cruise the waters of the stunning River Svir, which flows
between the rocky fissured shores and tranquil bays of
Lake Onega to the wild marshlands of Lake Ladoga, two
of Europe’s largest lakes. We call at the fairy-tale village
of Mandrogi and also Kizhi Island to see the outstanding
Church of the Transfiguration with its 22 shimmering
domes – a wooden masterpiece built without a single nail!

                                         Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262                                           7
A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
Life on board
     the MS Rossia
     Stylish, informal and all at a leisurely pace

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A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
Top deck

         ith a thoughtful programme of included
W shore excursions and guided tours, no two
days are alike on board the MS Rossia. Built to
navigate the waterways of Russia, your
traditional river cruise ship comprises four
generously sized decks with plenty of space for
relaxing, dining and enjoying the views.
                                                                     Library
Admire the spectacular sunsets and ever-changing
riverside scenery from the Sun Deck, where there are
plenty of outdoor chairs and sun loungers for you to
unwind in comfort. After a day’s sightseeing, why not
enjoy an aperitif before dinner in the terrace area of the
Tsar Bar or at the President Bar, with its magnificent
panoramic windows, plush armchairs and relaxed,
welcoming ambience.

Dining on board
Your days begin with a buffet-style breakfast of hot and
cold options, including some Russian specialities. Lunch             Souvenir shop
(buffet starter) and three-course dinner menus feature a
mix of international and locally inspired dishes with vege-
tables and simple salads, hearty stews and sweet desserts,          On-board activities
served with charming hospitality by your friendly and pro-          To complement your great Russian odyssey, why not
fessional English-speaking crew. Tables are set for four to         join our exciting programme of included activities?
eight in a comfortable and traditional setting at the ship’s        Enjoy a lecture on Russian history and introductions to
main restaurant located on the Upper Deck.                          Russian culture, such as tea-tasting, cooking lessons or
                                                                    language classes. The vibrant folklore concerts and live
                                                                    music performances in the President Bar will keep you
                                                                    entertained at night.

                                                                    Retreat to a quiet corner of the ship’s library, located
                                                                    on the Main Deck, to catch up on some reading. This is
                                                                    where you’ll also find the main reception desk and a small
                                                                    souvenir shop. For the more energetic, there’s an on-board
                                                                    fitness room.

                                                                    A lift operates to all decks to help you get around
                                                                    conveniently. Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available in
                                                                    public areas. To put your mind at ease, there is a doctor
  Restaurant                                                        on board to provide free first-aid assistance, while further
                                                                    medical assistance can be provided at an additional cost.

                                         Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262                                              9
A Russian Odyssey Aboard the MS Rossia 2021 - AWS
St. Basil’s Cathedral

   A Russian Odyssey                                                                                 12 DAYS
                                                                                                     from only      £2,199
  Aboard the MS Rossia                                                                                         May to August 2021
       ussia, the world’s largest country, is a land of superlatives
  R    matched by its epic history, monumental architecture,
incredible culture and sweeping landscapes of immense beauty.
Perhaps the best way to cover the breadth of its myriad gems and
feel the might of empires past is on a relaxing river cruise, where
every turn reveals a fascinating new view.

Your cruise at a glance                             DAY 4 – Uglich                                    St. Isaac’s Cathedral
                                                    This morning cruise the mighty Volga, Europe’s
DAY 1 – Arrival in Moscow                           longest river, before visiting picturesque
Fly to Moscow and transfer by coach to the          Uglich, one of the loveliest cities of the
ship.                                               ‘Golden Ring’.
DAY 2 – Moscow                                      DAY 5 – Yaroslavl
Enjoy a guided tour of this fascinating city,       Visit Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Golden
seeing the main sights such as the iconic Red       Ring and a Unesco World Heritage Site,
Square, the extraordinary St Basil’s Cathedral      spectacularly sited at the confluence of the
and Lenin’s Mausoleum.                              Volga and Kotorosl Rivers.
DAY 3 – Moscow                                      DAY 6 – Goritsy
Today we’ll return to the Kremlin for a guided      This morning we dock in charming Goritsy,
tour, seeing the majestic Cathedral Square          from where a coach will take you to the
with its trio of magnificent buildings and          famous Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, where
historic gems, the Tsar’s Canon and Tsar’s Bell.    we enjoy a tour of its historic grounds.

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KEY                       So much is included
    F I NL A ND                                                                        River Cruise
                                          Kizhi
                                                                                                                 ● 9 visits and tours including guided
                                                                                       Arrive
                                                                                                                     tours in Moscow, St Petersburg,
                                                                                       Depart                        Uglich, Yaroslavl and a walking tour
                                                                                                                     through the Open-Air Museum
                                                   Lake Onega
                                                                                                                     of Architecture in Kizhi; and visits
                          Mandrogi     Svir                                                                          to the Kremlin, the Hermitage
                  Lake Ladoga                                                                                        Museum, Mandrogi and the Kirillo-
                                                              Lake Beloye
                                                                                                                     Belozersky Monastery in Goritsy
                   va

                                                                                                                 ●   11 nights on board in your choice of
                  Ne

                                                                                                                     cabin or suite, with river views

                                                                     Sheksna
                St Petersburg                              Goritsy
                                                                                                                 ●   All meals on board from dinner
                                                                                                                     on your day of arrival through to
                                                                                                                     breakfast on your day of departure
                                 RU S S I A
                                                                                                                     (two lunches in local restaurants
                                                                           Volga                                     included), welcome cocktails and
                                                                                                                     the Captain’s farewell dinner
                                                           Uglich                    Yaroslavl
                                                                                                                 ●   Live entertainment every night
                                                       a
                                                                                                                     including concerts presenting
                                                  Volg                                                               international favourites and
                                                                                                                     traditional Russian music
                                                                                                                 ●   On-board lecture on Russian history
                                                              MOSCOW                                                 and other demonstrations including
                                                                                                                     Russian cooking, language and
  B E LA RU S                                                                  Oka
                                                                                                                     handicrafts
                                                                                                                 ●   Complimentary on-board tea and
                                                                                                                     coffee
                                                                                                                 ●   Complimentary on-board
DAY 7 – Kizhi                                                                                                        Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary)
Cruise the tranquil waters of Lake Onega
before arriving at the tiny island of Kizhi for a                                                                Plus, of course...
walking tour through its fascinating collection                                                                  ● Return scheduled flights from 4
of restored 18th-century wooden buildings.                                                                         regional airports)
DAY 8 – Mandrogi                                                                                                 ● Attentive service from an English-
Today enjoy cruising along the stunning                                                                            speaking crew and knowledgeable
River Svir, then visit the delightful village of                                                                   local guides
Mandrogi with its typically colourful wooden                                                                     ● Services of a Riviera Travel tour
houses. Tonight, the Captain hosts the
                                                                                                                   manager
farewell dinner.
                                                                                                                 ● All port charges, airport taxes and
DAY 9 – St Petersburg                                                                                              overseas transfers
We enjoy a guided tour of enchanting St
                                                                                                                 ● No surcharges guaranteed
Petersburg, seeing the main sights including
the spectacular Church of the Saviour on the                                                                     ● ABTA, ATOL and IATA protection
Spilled Blood and Nevsky Prospect, the city’s                                                                    * a supplement may apply
elegant main thoroughfare.                                                                                       † available in one public area
DAY 10 – St Petersburg                                                                                                 B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner
Today you’ll enjoy a visit to the exceptional                                                                    Prices are per person. Departure dates, prices and
Hermitage Museum, former winter palace                                                                                ship information - see page 15 or go online
of the Russian Tsars, with one of the world’s                                                         Mandrogi
greatest collections of art, antiquities,
jewellery and sculpture.
                                                             Uglich
DAY 11 – St Petersburg
Enjoy a free day exploring this magnificent city
with its host of exquisite palaces and churches,
and wealth of museums.
DAY 12 – Return home
Transfer to the airport for your return journey.

Please note: On some dates, this cruise
operates in reverse order. You will experience
the same tours and visits. See the Pricing &
Departures page for details.

                                                    Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262                                                                  11
behind its vast walls. See the Tsar’s Bell
 St. Isaac’s Cathedral
                                                                                                       and Cannon and the mighty Ivan the Great
                                                                                                       Bell Tower, once the tallest structure in
                                                                                                       the country, its gold, onion-shaped domes
                                                                                                       piercing the sky. You’ll learn more about the
                                                                                                       history of this immense complex and enjoy a
                                                                                                       stroll around its grounds, seeing the Cathedral
                                                                                                       Square lined by three magnificent, gold-
                                                                                                       topped cathedrals. After lunch back on board,
                                                                                                       the rest of the day is at leisure, so why not take
                                                                                                       a trip on the famous marble-clad metro with
                                                                                                       its spectacular stations, or see the impressive
                                                                                                       university and the stunning Bolshoi, home to
                                                                                                       one of the world’s finest ballet companies.
                                                                                                       Perhaps visit Stalin’s bunker or the thought-
                                                                                                       provoking Gulag Museum, dedicated to the
                                                                                                       history of the labour camps that once existed
                                                                                                       in the Soviet Union, or Tolstoy’s house and
                                                                                                       museum, which provides a fascinating insight
                                                                                                       into the writer’s life. Or simply wander the
                                                                                                       grand arcades of Tverskaya Street and soak up
                                                                                                       the atmosphere.
                                                                                                       As we set sail along the Moscow Canal, which
                                                                                                       connects the Moskva and Volga rivers, the
                                                                                                       Captain’s welcome cocktail reception is served
                                                                                                       before dinner, so relax in the lounge and take
                                                                                                       in the changing views through the ship’s
                                                                                                       panoramic windows.

Your itinerary                                    Communists imposed a totalitarian regime             DAY 4 – Uglich
                                                  in 1917 and Lenin moved his government to            There’s something special about waking on
DAY 1 – Arrival in Moscow                         Moscow. Then came Stalin’s regime of terror,         board a river cruiser and finding yourself
You fly to Moscow, where a coach will transfer    which lasted for a quarter of a century; he          transported somewhere new. Draw back
you to the ship, moored in this unique city.      oversaw the war machine that helped to defeat        the curtains to reveal a hilly landscape with
The professional crew welcomes you on board       Nazism, but also caused the death of tens of         a scattering of wooden houses and quaint
and there’s time to settle in and familiarise     millions and the destruction of many historic        churches amidst the green slopes. Roughly
yourself with the layout of the ship before       buildings. A failed coup against Gorbachev in        three quarters of Russia’s population lives
dinner is served.                                 1991 marked the end of the USSR, and Moscow          in its towns and cities, so much of the rural
                                                  is now Russia’s richest city. On this morning’s      landscape seems deserted and almost
DAY 2 – Moscow                                    tour you will learn more about its fascinating       unchanged since the days of the USSR. Head
Our adventure has truly begun and there’s         story.                                               up on deck to watch some of this tranquil
a real sense of excitement on board. Set          At the centre of it all lies the iconic Red Square   scenery slipping by as our ship glides through
yourself up for this morning’s tour with          with its wealth of instantly recognisable            the calm waters of the Volga.
breakfast from the buffet, whilst chatting        buildings: St Basil’s Cathedral, the glorious        Enjoy a leisurely lunch in the restaurant
with your fellow passengers about what lies       colours of its cluster of onion-shaped domes,        before we arrive in picturesque Uglich. Its
in store.                                         topped with glinting golden crucifixes, and the      name coming from the word for ‘corner’, this
Churchill famously described Russia as ‘a         turrets and spires of the vast Kremlin fortress      attractive city on a sharp bend of the Volga
riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’     soaring high above its huge ornate walls. See        forms part of Russia’s Golden Ring, a group
and this still seems apt. Formerly a powerful     the austere granite slabs of Lenin’s mausoleum       of ancient towns that played an important
tsarist empire and a Communist superpower,        and the mighty State Historical Museum,              part in the formation of the Russian Orthodox
yet today having very much a cosmopolitan         housing vast, priceless collections. Visit the       Church and are now open-air museums, with
feel, it holds a real fascination. European       famous GUM State Department Store, with its          a wealth of unique monuments and colourful
Russia, which stretches                           immense glass roof reminiscent of London’s           architecture. We will enjoy a walking tour
from the borders of Belarus and Ukraine to        19th-century railway stations, see the dazzling      of the city’s Kremlin, once surrounded by
the Urals over 600 miles east of Moscow,          white façades and shining domes of the               water and now perched high on the river
even without the vast Russian Federation, is      Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and enjoy           bank. It’s an impressive ensemble of seven
the largest country in Europe.                    panoramic views of this intriguing city from
From humble beginnings as a small wooden          Sparrow Hills overlooking the mighty Moskva           Church of Elijah the Prophet, Yaroslavl
settlement in the 12th century, despite           River.
invasions from the Mongols and Crimean            We will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, after
Tatars over the following centuries, the city     which you’ll have free time to further explore.
continued to grow and, by the 17th century,       Share your stories with fellow passengers over
had a population approaching a quarter of a       dinner, before retiring to the bar for a nightcap.
million. In 1712, Tsar Peter the Great moved
the capital to St Petersburg and Moscow           DAY 3 – Moscow
entered a period of decline, but by the           Rise refreshed and ready to discover more
19th century the city was flourishing again       of this historic city. On our guided tour this
until Napoleon’s invasion. The Industrial         morning we return to the Kremlin, which
Revolution in the late 19th century once          formerly housed the Russian government,
more began to transform the city until the        with stunning palaces and cathedrals enclosed

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buildings, including the renowned green-            Church. Beautifully sited on the edge of a
domed Cathedral of Transfiguration and the          glistening lake, a cluster of soaring spires and
striking Church of St Dmitry on the Blood, a        onion-domed roofs nestle behind its austere,
blaze of red-and-white façades and royal-           white walls. On our guided walk of its historic
blue domes. The latter marks the spot where         grounds, you will learn about its history and
the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible died in       wealthy patrons, including Ivan the Terrible
suspicious circumstances, an unsolved crime         and the Romanovs.
that changed the course of Russian history and      After lunch, relax on board as we cruise the
precipitated the Time of Troubles, a dynastic       Volga-Baltic Waterway, part of an impressive
and political crisis, which ended with the          229-mile network of rivers and a canal
establishment of the Romanov dynasty in             linking the Volga to the Baltic Sea. As we pass
1613.                                               through the ever-fascinating locks, the rugged
We return to the ship with time to relax            yet majestic landscape drifts seamlessly
before dinner.                                      by: thickly forested riverbanks cling to the
                                                    water’s edge, punctuated by picturesque
DAY 5 – Yaroslavl
                                                    villages of colourful wooden houses in a scene
During this morning’s breakfast, our ship           unchanged for centuries.
arrives in the ancient city of Yaroslavl, the
                                                    Dinner is served by your crew, after which
largest and oldest city of the Golden Ring.
                                                    take a digestif in the bar with newly made
Spectacularly sited at the confluence of
                                                    friends, or head up on deck to enjoy the views
the mighty Volga and Kotorosl Rivers, this
                                                    as evening descends.
UNESCO Heritage site developed into a major
commercial centre from the 11th century.            DAY 7 –Kizhi
During the 18th century, Empress Catherine          Overnight the MS Rossia has made steady
the Great ordered urban planning reforms            progress northwards and today you will enjoy
for the whole of Russia, and the city was           another wonderful morning’s cruising as we
sympathetically renovated in the neoclassical       enter the waters of Lake Onega, Europe’s
style of the time, fortunately sparing some         second-largest lake. More than 50 rivers feed
fine historic churches. We will wander the          into it yet only one originates from it. Its
charming old town, admiring the elegant             waters appear murky due to its high mineral
façades of merchants’ houses, each more             content but are, in fact, very clean, and home
impressive than the next. See the exquisite         to more than 40 types of fish. The lake has
17th-century church of Elijah the Prophet,          more than 1,300 islands, some with fragrant
known for its vibrant frescoes, and stroll the      pines clinging to the rocky shores, and others
grounds of an ancient monastery with its            where sandy bays are fringed by lime and elm
medieval holy gate. The more energetic may
fancy climbing the cathedral’s bell tower for
wonderful views of the rivers and city below.
The first woman to orbit Earth came from
Yaroslavl – a result of Russia’s involvement
in the ‘Space Race’, the Cold War rivalry
between the US and the USSR for dominance
in spaceflight capability – and a plaque
commemorating her achievement can be seen
in the old town.
We return to the ship for lunch and enjoy
a relaxed afternoon’s cruising through the
Rybinsk Reservoir. Construction began in
1935 under Stalin, with historic towns and
hundreds of villages submerged in the process,
necessitating the resettlement of more than
150,000 people. At the time, it was the largest
man-made body of water on earth and, on
completion, it took three years to fill! As
evening falls, enjoy another delicious
dinner in the ship’s restaurant and live music in
the bar afterwards.
DAY 6 – Goritsy
As the morning sun edges its way above the
gentle slopes of this idyllic landscape, head
to the ship’s restaurant for breakfast. Admire
the Captain’s skilful handling of our vessel
as we dock at the pretty medieval village
of Goritsy, the centre of one of the largest
accumulations of monasteries in Russia. From
here a coach will take us to the magnificent
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, which was
founded in the 14th century by one of the
most revered saints in the Russian Orthodox

                                                 Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262          13
Kizhi

sided riverbanks splice the depths beneath,         gastronomic specialities of the region during       and the monument to Catherine the Great.
emerald-green marshes alternate with red            the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.                      See the spectacular Church of the Saviour
rock faces and isolated villages, with their                                                            on the Spilled Blood with its exquisitely
                                                    DAY 9 – St Petersburg
scattering of timber houses seemingly frozen                                                            colourful domes and glorious frescoes, and
in time. Before long, we moor in picturesque        This morning as we reach our journey’s end,         the glistening golden domes of Saint Isaac’s
Mandrogi. This quintessential Karelian village,     early risers will enjoy our stately arrival along   Cathedral, the fourth largest in the world.
reliant on its fishing and mills, was a place       the River Neva into spectacular St Petersburg.
                                                                                                        We return to the ship for lunch with free time
unchanged for decades until it was completely       With a history dating back 300 years and
                                                                                                        after to explore. Perhaps return to the historic
destroyed during the Second World War. After        today a UNESCO World Heritage site, this
                                                                                                        heart of St Petersburg to see the Russian
the fall of the Soviet Union, a group of Russian    grand imperial city will enchant you with its
                                                                                                        Museum’s extensive collection, shop at the
investors bought the land and employed the          gilded domes, glittering spires and magnificent
                                                                                                        historic Gostiny Dvor arcade, or stroll through
region’s most skilled craftsmen to restore          architecture. Founded by Peter the Great, who
                                                                                                        one of the many lovely parks to absorb the
the town to its former glory. By 1999 the           moved the capital here from Moscow in 1712,
                                                                                                        cosmopolitan ambience. By evening you’ll
transformation was complete, and today it is        Russia’s second city is his successful attempt
                                                                                                        have worked up an appetite, so why not relax
a joy to wander the cobbled streets, admiring       to emulate the great Western European cities
                                                                                                        in the ship’s lounge with your favourite aperitif
the traditional woodwork of the colourful           of the time. The most skilled architects were
                                                                                                        before dinner is served.
‘izbas’, gingerbread-like buildings with            drafted from all over Europe, creating a diverse
masterfully carved roofs and window frames.         mix of architectural styles and stunning            DAY 10 – St Petersburg
Stroll through the artisans’ quarter and            vistas that have inspired countless artists,        Today brings another highlight with our
browse the traditional handicraft: paintings,       such as Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Rachmaninov,          guided visit to the world-renowned Hermitage
embroidery, pottery and, of course, the             Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Following             Museum. Open to the public since 1852,
beautifully painted ‘matryoshka’ dolls – the        Lenin’s death and the Revolution, which             it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the
famous wooden stacking dolls in colours of          changed the course of 20th-century world            Great and its vast collection of over three
every hue. Enjoy time at leisure absorbing the      history, the city was renamed Leningrad.            million items, including the world’s largest
ambience; why not take a ride in a horse-           During the Second World War, Hitler besieged        collection of paintings, occupies an impressive
drawn carriage and stop for a ‘piroshka’, a         the city in an event that defined its history;      complex of six historic buildings along the
delicious puff pastry, or perhaps a shot of         one million people died from shelling,              river embankment, including the spectacular
vodka. The most popular museum here is              starvation and disease during the ‘900 days’        Winter Palace with it pastel colonnaded
dedicated to this quintessential Russian spirit,    of the prolonged military blockade. The city        façade, the former residence of the Tsars.
the classic recipe patented in the late 19th        survived and as the USSR crumbled during            See the ornate Great Church, the Romanovs’
century by the inventor of the periodic table.      the 1990s, the city’s name was restored to St       private place of worship, and the opulent
                                                    Petersburg. We enjoy a panoramic tour seeing        Pavilion Hall with its exquisite mosaic tables
After a barbecue lunch on shore (weather
                                                    the main sights, including bustling Nevsky          and extraordinary golden Peacock Clock,
permitting), we’ll spend the afternoon
                                                    Prospekt, the city’s most famous avenue, its        created by an English clock maker. There’s
relaxing on board. Tonight we’ll sample the
                                                    largest department store, the National Library

14                                                 Get inspired facebook • twitter • instagram
the Gold Rooms of the Treasure Gallery,
containing a dazzling array of ornaments and
jewellery plus a whole host of further galleries
with jaw-dropping collections of artworks by
                                                              aficionados may wish to visit the Museum of
                                                              Contemporary Art or return to the Hermitage
                                                              to visit the General Staff Building, one of the
                                                              most famous architectural monuments in
                                                                                                                            My view
                                                                                                                               Meknes

Rembrandt, Da Vinci and Caravaggio – you’ll                   St Petersburg, with its impressive collection
be spoilt for choice.                                         of works by Monet and Renoir amongst
After lunch in a local restaurant, you may wish               others. For lovers of history there is a host of                 Insider
to return to the ship or remain in St Petersburg              palaces, such as the Stroganov Palace with                       knowledge
                                                              its salmon-pink façade or the superb Marble                      Walk amongst the
to further explore the historic centre. Perhaps
                                                              Palace, constructed from 36 different kinds of                   18th-century marble statues, fountains
stroll the fine boulevards admiring the city’s
                                                              marble. Or simply wander the city’s parks and                    and tree lined alleys in Letny Sad. Dating back
elegant architecture, or visit the Fabergé                                                                                     to 1704, this is St Petersburg’s oldest park.
Museum, located in a superbly restored palace                 stroll along the network of canals, stopping to
                                                              admire some of the city’s countless bridges.                     Read
and home to the world’s largest collection of                                                                                  Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith. Set in the
pieces by the famous jeweller, which includes                 As evening falls, enjoy your final dinner on                     Soviet Union during the Cold War, this well-
nine imperial Easter eggs.                                    board and reflect on what has been a truly                       crafted thriller was also made into a film
When dinner is served, you’ll no doubt have                   memorable cruise.                                                starring Lee Marvin and William Hurt.
stories to recount with newly made friends                    DAY 12 – Return home                                             Taste
before returning to the bar to unwind and                                                                                      Blinis are small buckwheat pancakes which
                                                              Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
enjoy tonight’s live entertainment.                                                                                            can be eaten at any time of day. Often served
                                                              Please note: Throughout your visit to                            at breakfast, with jam and sour cream.
DAY 11 – St Petersburg
The day is at leisure so you may wish to
                                                              St Petersburg and Moscow, the order of                           Drink
                                                              sightseeing is subject to change, depending                      After vodka, tea is Russia’s most popular
further explore or relax on board. So what
                                                              on traffic, opening hours, closures for holidays                 beverage. Typical additions to tea, which is
is it to be? Perhaps visit the Peter and Paul                                                                                  still served from a samovar, include lemon,
                                                              and unannounced government functions.
Fortress, a former prison founded in 1703.                                                                                     honey, jam and even marmalade.
Its ornate cathedral, with beautiful marble                   On some dates, this cruise operates in reverse
columns and chandeliers, is the final resting
place of many of the country’s rulers, including
                                                              order. You will experience the same tours and
                                                              visits. See the Pricing & Departure page for
                                                                                                                                                              Bernie
                                                                                                                                                                       Tour Manager
Catherine the Great and the Romanovs. Art                     details.

Pricing & departures
The prices are per person, based on two people sharing and travelling from London Heathrow. Flights from other airports carry a supplement -
please see below. Dates marked with an asterisk * operate a reverse itinerary.

A Russian Odyssey aboard the MS Rossia - 12 days
                                          Main Deck                                       Upper Deck                                                       Boat Deck
           Departure Dates
                                         Comfort Cabin            Balcony Cabin     Superior Balcony Suite    Panorama Balcony Suite       Balcony Cabin           Superior Balcony Suite
              15/05/2021                    £2,199                   £2,699                £2,749                    £3,049                   £2,799                      £2,949
 05/06/2021, 16/06/2021*, 27/06/2021        £2,499                   £2,999                £3,049                    £3,349                   £3,099                      £3,249
   18/07/2021, 29/07/21*, 09/08/21          £2,399                   £2,899                £2,949                    £3,249                   £2,999                      £3,149
             30/08/2021                     £2,499                   £2,999                £3,049                    £3,349                   £3,099                      £3,249

DEPOSIT – The deposit for this river cruise is £250 per person.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY – Comfort Cabins (Main Deck) are available for sole occupancy at a supplement of £1349. For any other cabin categories, the price would be twice the per
person rate for the relevant cabin category, less £780. Cabins for sole occupancy are on request and subject to availability.

           Departure point                   Carrier               Supplement                       Arrival Point (Resort)                                 Departure Point (Resort)
            Birmingham                   Swiss/Lufthansa              £80           Moscow Domodedovo Airport/Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport                   St Petersburg Airport
             Edinburgh                       FinnAir                  £90           Moscow Domodedovo Airport/Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport                   St Petersburg Airport
          London Heathrow                Swiss/Lufthansa               Nil          Moscow Domodedovo Airport/Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport                   St Petersburg Airport
             Manchester                  Swiss/Lufthansa              £80           Moscow Domodedovo Airport/Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport                   St Petersburg Airport

All flights will connect in a European airport on both outbound and inbound journey. Please contact us if you would like timings and/or further information on the connecting
flights. All details will be listed in your booking confirmation.
*Not all airports are available for every departure. For availability from your preferred departure point and timings please call or check on our website.
Transfer Times: Between Moscow Domodedovo Airport and the ship - approx. 2 hours. Between Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport and the ship - approx. 1 hour 30. Between
St Petersburg Airport and the ship - approx. 45 minutes.
Please Note: On reverse order itineraries, arrival and departure points are the opposite way round.
The captain reserves the right to make the appropriate changes in the itinerary including deleting and adding destinations, and changing the sequence of the itinerary as required.
Russia Visa Application forms must initially be completed electronically at http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk then printed and be signed by the applicants. All applications for UK citizens
must then made in person at the Application Centres in London or Edinburgh in order for biometric data (fingerprints – a simple process taking 5 – 10 minutes) to be collected.
Visa costs are from £50.00 plus a service charge of £38.40 and the option to return by post at a cost of £9.80 (total of £98.20 per person). Should you require additional help
through an agency please contact us for a recommendation. The granting of a visa is at the discretion of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in London and its Consulates.
All payments made towards visa fees and service charges are non-refundable and do not guarantee the issuance of a visa should your application be declined. Please ensure
you have at least two empty pages in your passport, and that it is valid for a minimum of six months after the visa’s expiration. You will also need one recent passport photo,
‘Tourist Vouchers’ which will be obtained from the shipping company through Riviera Travel - no charge applies for these vouchers. Please apply for you visa no more than six
weeks prior to travel. Your tourist vouchers will reach you 4 – 6 weeks before departure. As requirements and prices may differ non UK passport holders should refer to:
http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk.
Whilst care has been taken to ensure that the information provided relating to visa requirements is true and correct at time of publication, changes in requirements after the
time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information. Therefore, whilst we strive to provide the most up-to-date information, we strongly suggest that you
re-confirm requirements with the relevant embassy prior to application.

                                                           Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262                                                                                 15
MS Rossia
  Length: 125m • Crew: 100 • Guests: 224* • Decks: 4 • CABINS/SUITES: 114

 A      ll cabins and suites are well-
        appointed, tastefully furnished
                                               Superior balcony suite
                                               Measuring approximately 16.3 square
and amongst the largest on Russian             metres (175 square feet) on the Boat
river cruise ships. Every suite features a     and Upper Decks, offer additional living
hotel-style bed that can be configured         space, plus an additional window and
as a double or twin, as well as a              fully glazed French doors that open on
wardrobe, table and two chairs. Your           to a private balcony with a table and
en-suite bathroom features a glazed            two chairs.
shower cubicle, washbasin and WC.
                                               Balcony cabins
And as you’d expect, all cabins and            Measuring approximately 14.6 square
suites come with individually controlled       metres (157 square feet) on the Boat         Balcony cabin
air-conditioning, a hairdryer, safe, small     and Upper Decks, feature fully glazed
fridge, telephone, flat-screen TV and          French doors that open on to a private
radio. A laundry service is also available.    balcony with a table and two chairs.

Panorama balcony suite                         Comfort cabins
Measuring approximately 16.5 square            Measuring approximately 12.4 square
metres (178 square feet) on the Upper          metres (133 square feet) on the Main
Deck features two panoramic windows            Deck, come with a fixed window.
to enjoy the spectacular scenery plus
fully glazed French doors that open on
to a private balcony where you can sit
and enjoy a drink.                                                                          Balcony cabin bathroom

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MS Rossia deck plan
                                                                                   SUN DECK

                                                       Sun Deck                 President Bar

                                                                                  BOAT DECK

                                                                                                                                302
                                            336
                                            334
                                            332
                                            330
                                            328
                                            326

                                                                                 324
                                                                                 322
                                                                                 320
                                                                                 318
                                                                                 316
                                                                                 314
                                                                                 312
                                                                                 310
                                                                                 308
                                                                                 306
                                                                                 304

                                                                                                                               300
                                            339                                                                               Lift    Tsar Bar
                                            337
                                            335
                                            333
                                            331
                                            329

                                                                                 327
                                                                                 325
                                                                                 323
                                                                                 321
                                                                                 319
                                                                                 317
                                                                                 315
                                                                                 311
                                                                                 309
                                                                                 307
                                                                                 305

                                                                                                                                301
                                                                                                                               303
                                                                                 UPPER DECK
                                                              238

                                                                             236
                                                                             234
                                                                             232
                                                                             230
                                                                             228
                                                                             226
                                                                             224
                                                                             222
                                                                             220
                                                                             218
                                                                             216
                                                                             214
                                                                             212

                                                                                                                                     210
                                                                                                                                     208
                                                                                                                                     206
                                                                                                                                     204
                                                                                                                                     202
                                                                                                                                     200
                                                Restaurant                                                                    Lift
                                                                            239
                                                                            237
                                                                            235
                                                                            233
                                                                            231
                                                                            229
                                                                            227
                                                                            225
                                                                            223
                                                                            221
                                                                            219
                                                                            217
                                                                            215

                                                                                                                                     211
                                                                                                                                     209
                                                                                                                                     207
                                                                                                                                     205
                                                                                                                                     203
                                                                                                                                     201
                                                              241

                                                                                 MAIN DECK
                                                                             132
                                                                             130
                                                                             128
                                                                             126
                                                                             124
                                                                             122
                                                                             120
                                                                             118
                                                                             116
                                                                             114
                                                                             112
                                                                             110
                                                                             108

                                                                                                                                     106
                                                                                                                                     104
                                                                                                                                     102
                                                                                                                                     100
                                                          Coffee Bar                   Kiosk    Library           Reception   Lift

                                                                                                                                     107
                                                                                                                                     105
                                                                                                                                     103
                                                                                                                                     101
                                                      Medical Centre
                                                                             135
                                                                             133
                                                                             131
                                                                             129
                                                                             127
                                                                             125
                                                                             123
                                                                             121
                                                                             119
                                                                             117
                                                                             115
                                                                             111
                                                                             109

    SUPERIOR BALCONY SUITE       BALCONY CABIN                         BALCONY CABIN                      COMFORT CABIN                 PANORAMA BALCONY    NOT
    BOAT & UPPER DECKS           BOAT DECK                             UPPER DECK                         MAIN DECK                     SUITE UPPER DECK    AVAILABLE
    16.3sq.m/175sq.ft            14.6sq.m/157sq.ft                     14.6sq.m/157sq.ft                  12.4sq.m/133sq.ft             16.5sq.m/178sq.ft

*A dedicated Riviera Travel tour manager will be on board MS Rossia throughout the cruise with our group of approximately 70 guests.
Whilst specific suite numbers cannot be guaranteed, we will do our utmost to secure any request you make at the time of booking.

 Tsar Bar

                                                     Book now rivieratravel.co.uk • 01283 245 262                                                                       17
Booking conditions
These booking conditions set out the terms of your contract with Riviera             8. Insurance                                                                          (6) Our liability to you will never exceed that of any transport carrier or
Tours Limited trading as Riviera Travel (Riviera). Please read them                  It is a requirement of booking that you have valid and appropriate travel             supplier and we shall have the benefit of all and any applicable international
carefully as you will be bound by them. References to “you” and “your”               insurance for the full duration of your trip. You should ensure that your policy      conventions, rules and regulations. In respect of carriage by air the Warsaw
and “passenger(s)” means all persons named on the booking (Booking                   provides at least comparable cover to that provided by the policy we offer as         Convention as amended or unamended and the Montreal Convention
Party) (including those added at a later date) “We”, “us”, “our” means               shown on our website and brochures.                                                   for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence
Riviera.                                                                                                                                                                   granted by an EU country, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No
For cruises, we will be the contracting carrier.                                     9. Changes or cancellations by us                                                     889/2002 for national and international travel by air and COTIF, the
                                                                                     (1) Changes to confirmed holiday arrangements sometimes have to be made               Convention on International Travel by Rail as amended. Copies of the
1. Making your booking                                                               and we reserve the right to do so in accordance with this clause 9. Most              applicable international conventions and EU regulations are available from
Subject to availability, we will confirm your holiday by issuing a confirmation      changes will be insignificant and we have the right to make these. Where an           us on request.
invoice to the party leader who confirms they have authority on behalf of            insignificant change is made before departure, we will notify you in writing.         (7) Where carriage is performed on inland waterways the liability of
the Booking Party including minors (under the age of 18) and are responsible         No compensation is payable for insignificant changes. Occasionally, before            the carrier to all passengers shall be determined in accordance with the
for obtaining and providing all information and payments required by us in           departure, we may be constrained by circumstances beyond our control                  Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims. The limit for claims
accordance with these booking conditions.                                            to make a significant alteration to any of the main characteristics of the            involving death or personal injury is 175,000 SDR per passenger per carriage.
Please check your documents carefully and contact us immediately if any              travel services which form part of your confirmed booking or to any special           The Strasbourg Convention as amended applies to vessels navigating on
information on any document is incorrect. We cannot accept any liability if          requirements which we have accepted as referred to in clause 5. Where we              waterways located in the territory of a state party which limits passenger
we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within 10 days of            have to do so, clauses 9(4) and 9(5) will apply.                                      claims involving death or personal injury to 60,000 SDR per person subject
our sending it out (5 days for tickets). You may contact us by e-mail at info@       (2) All alterations which are not significant in accordance with Clause 9(1)          to a maximum of 6,000,000 SDR.
rivieratravel.co.uk or call us on 01283 880 177.                                     will be treated as insignificant changes. A change of flight time of less than        (8) In the event of international carriage by sea the provisions of EC
                                                                                     12 hours, airline, departure airport between London airports (Gatwick,                Regulation 392/2009 on the liability of carriers of passengers in the event of
2. Payment                                                                           Heathrow, Luton, Stansted or London City), type of aircraft (if advised) or           accidents (“Regulation“) will apply. The Regulation limits the liability of the
The relevant deposit and insurance premium (if purchased) must be paid to            destination airport will all be treated as insignificant changes.                     carrier in respect of passengers and their luggage in the event of accidents. A
confirm your booking. The balance of the holiday cost is due 8 weeks* prior          (3) Our holidays require a minimum number of 35 passengers to enable                  summary of the Regulation may be found at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
to the departure. If full payment is not made on time, we will cancel your           us to operate them and we reserve the right to cancel any holiday where               content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=URISERV:tr0018&from=EN. This applies strict
booking and keep all payments paid at that date and levy the cancellation            this minimum number is not achieved by notifying you not less than 20                 liability for shipping incidents as defined and requires compulsory insurance.
charges shown in clause 7. If booking within 8 weeks* of departure, full             days prior to departure. Failure to achieve this minimum number does not,             The Regulation limits the maximum amount we may have to pay if found
payment must be made at the time of booking. *13 weeks for all European              however, oblige us to cancel.                                                         liable in the event of death or personal injury occurring during the course
River Cruises, Yacht & Tall Ship Cruises and 14 weeks for Oberammergau               (4) In the event we have to significantly alter any of the main characteristics       of carriage to a maximum of 400,000 SDR or in the event of terrorism
Passion Play, Salzburg & Lake Constance..                                            of your confirmed arrangements or accepted special requirements, we will              250,000 SDR. Damages can be reduced for any contributory negligence of
                                                                                     provide you with the following information in writing as soon as possible:            the passenger.
3. Your contract                                                                     (i) the proposed alteration and any impact this has on the price; (ii) in the         The maximum amount payable for loss or damage to luggage is 2,250 SDR
A binding contract comes into existence when we issue the confirmation invoice.      event that you do not wish to accept the alteration, details of any substitute        subject to a deductible of 149 SDR per person. There is no liability for money
                                                                                     package we are able to offer (and any price reduction where this is of a lower        or valuables except when deposited with the ship in which case the liability
4. The cost of your holiday                                                          quality or cost); (iii) your entitlement to cancel your booking and receive a full    is limited to 3,375 SDR. Provision of safes in cabins is not a deposit with the
Please note, advertised prices may have changed by the time you book                 refund if you do not want to accept the alteration or any substitute package          ship whether a charge is levied or not.
your holiday and errors occasionally occur. You must check the price of your         offered; and (iv) the period within which you must inform us of your decision         The daily conversion rates for Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) can be found on
chosen holiday at the time of booking.                                               and what will happen if you don’t do so.                                              the International Monetary Fund website at www.imf.org .
We reserve the right to change prices and correct errors in advertised prices        (5) If you choose to cancel your booking in accordance with clause 9(4), we           (9) We will not be liable for consequential losses including loss of profits.
at any time before or after your holiday is confirmed.                               will refund all payments you have made to us within 14 days of the date
Subject to the correction of errors or amendment costs, once your booking is         we receive your written cancellation. If we don’t hear from you with your             12. Complaints and problems
confirmed we guarantee the price will not change.                                    decision within the specified period (having provided you with the above              Happy in every sense or your money back
                                                                                     mentioned information for a second time), we will cancel your booking                 To qualify you must raise your concerns with the Riviera Travel tour
5. Special requests                                                                  and refund all payments made to us within 14 days of our doing so. No                 manager or cruise director and state your intention to take advantage of this
Special requests, must be advised at the time of booking. Unless specifically        compensation will be payable or other liability accepted where a change               guarantee within the first 24 hours of your holiday, and they will endeavour
confirmed by us in writing, all special requests are subject to availability. Any    results from unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (see clause 10).             to resolve any issues. If by the end of Day Two a solution cannot be reached,
special requirement which we have accepted will be specifically confirmed as         (6) Occasionally, it may be necessary to cancel confirmed holiday                     Riviera Travel will arrange and cover the cost for you to return to the starting
accepted on your confirmation invoice.                                               arrangements. We have the right to terminate your contract in the event (i)           point of your holiday arrangements with us from the next available location.
‘No flight’ option                                                                   we are prevented from performing your contracted holiday arrangements as              We will also refund the total cost of your Riviera Travel holiday, although
Tour or cruise-only options are offered subject to availability. Please call         a result of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (see clause 10) and           no refunds will be made for any additional costs incurred such as overnight
for details. Your tour or cruise will begin at the hotel or ship as stated in        we notify you of this as soon as reasonably possible or (ii) we have to cancel        hotels, airport travel, insurance etc. The guarantee does not affect standard
the itinerary. You must make your own travel arrangements, including any             because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your               booking conditions or pre-departure cancellation policy. Valid on holidays of
flight or rail travel, plus transfers to the first hotel or ship, and onwards from   holiday has not been achieved and we notify you of cancellation for this              8 days or more.
the final hotel or ship. Riviera Travel is not liable for the cost of any travel     reason as referred to in clause 9(3). Where we have to cancel your holiday in         All complaints and any problems must be made at the time in resort and
arrangements you put in place if the tour or cruise is cancelled or the mooring      these circumstances, we will refund all monies you have paid to us within 14          confirmed in writing. If you remain dissatisfied you must write to us within
point changed. You must send us details of your travel arrangements at least         days of the date we inform you of the cancellation but will have no further           28 days of your return to the UK with booking reference and full details of
eight weeks prior to your departure.                                                 or other liability to you including in respect of compensation or any costs or        your complaint. In respect of cruises which commence in the EU complaints
                                                                                     expenses you incur or have incurred. We will of course endeavour to offer you         pursuant to EU Regulation 1177/2010 must be sent to us as soon as possible.
6. Changes by you                                                                    comparable alternative arrangements where possible which you may choose               We will respond within 28 days. If you are not happy with our final decision
Any amendments we agree after issue of the confirmation invoice will cost            to book in place of those cancelled. We also have the right to cancel if you          you can refer your complaint to the Cruise Line International Association
£15 per person plus any costs incurred by us and or charged by our suppliers.        fail to make payment in accordance with the terms of your contract in which           which is the voluntary complaints body authorised by the Department of
A change of holiday dates is a cancellation of the original booking and the          case clause 2 will apply.                                                             Transport to deal with complaints at Passengerrights@cruising.org.
cancellation charges in clause 7 apply. Name changes are allowed 7 days or more      (7) We will, where appropriate, pay you the compensation in the table below.
prior to travel. All costs must be paid before the amendment can be effected.        This compensation will not be payable where a change is not significant               13. Arbitration
                                                                                     or we have to make a change or cancel as a result of unavoidable and                  We are a Member of ABTA, membership number V4744. We are obliged
7. Cancellation by you                                                               extraordinary circumstances or we have to cancel because the minimum                  to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct.
Subject to clause 34 below, cancellation of the booking must be requested            number of bookings has not been achieved as referred to in clause 9(6).               We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is
in writing (letter or email) to us which will be effective when received by us.      (8) In the event that unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur               approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve
Where the cancellation charge below is shown as a percentage, this is of the         in the place of destination of your holiday or its immediate vicinity and             your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure.
holiday cost. Insurance premiums and amendment charges are not included in           significantly affect the performance of the contracted arrangements or the            Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes
the holiday cost below and are not refundable.                                       carriage of passengers to that destination, you will be entitled to cancel prior      can be found on www.abta.com.
                                                                                     to departure without payment of cancellation charges. We will notify you as           Disputes arising out of, or in connection with your booking which cannot be
All European River Cruises, Yacht, Mekong, Egypt and Tall Ship Cruises:              soon as practicable in the event of this situation occurring.                         amicably settled may be referred to arbitration under a special independent
Period before departure within		              Cancellation charge                                                                                                          scheme arranged by ABTA which provides for a simple arbitration on
which written notification of 		              per person cancelling                  Period before departure a 		                        Compensation                      documents alone with restricted liability on the customer in respect of costs.
cancellation is received by us                                                       significant change or cancellation                  per person                        Full details will be provided on request or obtained from www.abta.com. Your
More than 91 days 		                          deposit                                is notified to you                                                                    application for arbitration and other required documents must be received
90 – 61 days			                               50%                                    More than 56 days 		                                Nil                               by ABTA within 18 months of your return from the holiday. For injury and
60 – 31 days			                               75%                                    56 - 15 days			                                     £10                               illness claims, you can request the ABTA mediation procedure and we have
30 – 16 days			                               85%                                    14 days or less			                                  £25                               the option to agree to this.
15 days or less			                            100%                                                                                                                         You can also access the European Commission Online Dispute (ODR)
                                                                                     Please also see clause 20.                                                            Resolution platform at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. This ODR
Oberammergau Passion Play, Salzburg & Lake Constance:                                                                                                                      platform is a means of registering your complaint with us; it will not
Period before departure within		           Cancellation charge                       We cannot guarantee that cruises will call at every port on the itinerary.            determine how your complaint should be resolved.
which written notification of 		           per person cancelling                     Cancellation of part of the itinerary, substitution of ports or unavailability of
cancellation is received by us                                                       some services will not amount to a significant alteration.                            14. Behaviour and damage
More than 98 days 		                       deposit                                                                                                                         You are responsible for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for
97 – 61 days			                            50%                                       10. Unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances                                       any such damage or loss must be made on demand as soon as possible. If in
60 - 31 days			                            75%                                       We cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance              our or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you behave
30 – 16 days			                            85%                                       of our obligations is prevented or affected as a result of unavoidable and            in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any
15 days or less			                         100%                                      extraordinary circumstances. This means a situation which is beyond our               third party or damage to property, we are entitled to terminate the holiday
                                                                                     control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even                   of the person(s) concerned and or require you to leave the accommodation
All other UK, European, mid-haul holidays and cruises                                if all reasonable measures had been taken. Such situations are likely to              or other service. We will have no further responsibility to you. No refunds
Period before departure within		              Cancellation charge                    include (whether actual or threatened) war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity,   will be made. You must not solicit other persons for commercial purposes or
which written notification of 		              per person cancelling                  industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions,          advertise goods or services without our prior written permission.
cancellation is received by us                                                       epidemics, fire, closure, restriction or congestion of airspace, airports and
More than 56 days 		                          deposit                                ports and all other events outside our control or the UK Foreign Office advice.       15. Conditions of suppliers.
56 – 31 days			                               50%                                                                                                                          You are bound by the terms and conditions and conditions of carriage
30 – 15 days			                               95%                                    11. Our liability to you                                                              of our suppliers and independent contractors which we incorporate into
14 days or less			                            100%                                   (1) Subject to clauses 11(6), 11(7) and 11(8), we promise to make sure that the       these booking conditions which may limit or exclude liability to you.
                                                                                     holiday arrangements we have agreed to provide as part of our contract with           Copies are available on request or online on www.rivieratravel.co.uk/
Long haul departures for 2021                                                        you are performed with reasonable skill and care.                                     conditionsofsuppliers.
Period before departure within		                    Cancellation charge              (2) We are not responsible for any failure in performance which is wholly
which written notification of 		                    per person cancelling            attributable to your fault or the unforeseeable or unavoidable act or omission        16.Passports, visas and health requirements
cancellation is received by us                                                       of a third party unconnected with the supply of any service to be provided            For guidance we have details on our website of passport and visa
More than 75 days 		                                deposit                          under the contract or by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.                 requirements applicable to our holidays, together with details of any
74 – 61 days			                                     50%                              (3) We are not responsible for any services which do not form part of our             compulsory health requirements. It is, however, your responsibility to ensure
60 – 31 days			                                     70%                              contract with you.                                                                    you have and comply with passport and visa requirements, and you are
30 – 15 days			                                     95%                              (4) The services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract         aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions. We cannot
14 days or less			                                  100%                             will be subject to the laws and applicable standards of the country in which          accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any
In addition, change or cancellation of flights and other transport costs can         they are provided.                                                                    country due to failure on your part to comply with these requirements.
result in 100% cancellation charges irrespective of the date of cancellation.        (5) Subject to clause 11(6), 11(7) and 11(8) or as permitted by English
Part cancellation will require recalculation of the holiday price and we will        law, we do not limit the amount of damages you are entitled to claim in               17. Foreign Office advice
re-invoice you accordingly. A single person supplement will be payable if            respect of personal injury or death which we or our employees have caused             The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel
a cabin or hotel room is occupied by only one person except where 100%               intentionally or negligently. For all other claims, the maximum amount we             information on its website www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice which we
cancellation charges have been paid by the person cancelling. See clause 6.          will pay is three times the holiday price.                                            recommend you consult before booking and in good time before departure.

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