APT is offering a new itinerary and new Signature Experiences in response to increased interest amongst Australian guests in Russia as a destination.
Debra Fox, General Manager Marketing, says, “We’ve been operating in Russia for four years now and each year our product has sold faster than the last. Australians are intrigued by Russia, with its grandeur, colourful history and culture, and they want to see all the icons in one trip. We’ve delivered this with our new itinerary which joins our popular Russia River cruising with our highly sought after Trans Siberian Golden Eagle rail journey and land tour, delivering the ultimate Russian adventure.”
The new APT Russian River Cruising Featuring Grand Private Rail & Small Group Land Journeys 2014 brochure features 12 itineraries ranging from 10 to 41 days in length. All include the services of an APT Tour or Cruise Director, a comprehensive range of sightseeing and touring, including APT’s Freedom of Choice™ touring, all beer, wine and soft drinks included with dinner onboard the Russia river cruises and all gratuities and airport transfers.
New for 2014 is the 35 day Baltic Treasures & Cruising with Trans Siberian which takes in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Russia and Mongolia.
New Signature Experiences include: a chocolate workshop in Old Riga, Latvia, where guests will learn about how Latvians use herbs and other natural influences to enhance chocolate; a visit to a famous goats cheese farm in Ukmerge, Lithuania; a visit to a beautiful fjordside fruit farm in Lofthus, Norway, including morning tea with local farm owners; and a tour of the museum of famous composer Edvard Grieg in Bergen, Norway, including a private piano concert.
Eight of the itineraries in the new brochure feature a Russia river cruise component which covers the Neva, Svir and Volga rivers, Volga-Baltic Waterway and Moscow Canal. Sailing exclusively onboard the Amakatarina, APT guests experience the intimacy of a small cruise ship, travelling on board a vessel which is large enough to cross the great lakes of Russia.
The first ship of its kind to introduce outside balconies in over 70 percent of staterooms, the Amakatarina features two restaurants, an alfresco Viennese Cafe, spacious sun deck, conference hall, first class panorama lounge, fully stocked bar, gift shop, 24 hour reception, infirmary with doctor onboard, elevator access to all floors and Wi-Fi access.
Most popular lead in tour is the 13 Day Russian Waterways from Moscow to St Petersburg. Priced from $6,995, the tour commences with a night at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski, followed by a tour of Red Square and Moscow sightseeing. Then follows an 11 night river cruise, including visits to the Golden Ring cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl, as well as Goritsy. Other features include Lake Onega, Svir River and Europe’s largest Lake, Ladoga. In St Petersburg visits to the Catherine and Peterhof Palaces, along with a folklore show and hydrofoil ride over the Neva Riva, complete the tour.
APT ‘Signature Experiences’ include a visit to a local home for traditional Russian pastries; the open air museum of wooden architecture on Kizhi Island, where guests will see the World Heritage-listed Church of the Transfiguration; and a ballet performance in St Petersburg at the Hermitage Theatre. Also included in the price are 33 meals, the widest choice of staterooms and suites in Russia, all Freedom of Choice™ sightseeing and Signature Experiences, tipping, airport transfers and porterage, all wine and local beer with dinner onboard the cruise.
There are a range of deals available on bookings made by the 30 November 2013, including free flights including taxes on selected cabins across 11 of the itineraries, a saving of up to $5,300 per couple. This deal includes the 13 Day Russian Waterways, 41 day Scandinavian & Cruising with Trans Siberian and 35 day Baltic Treasures & Cruising with Trans Siberian.
Five of the itineraries in the new brochure also feature Trans Siberian Journeys aboard APT’s luxury Golden Eagle Train. Covering 10,000 kilometres from Moscow to Vladivostok, on the pacific coast, the journey takes guests to remote and hard-to-access destinations such as Novosibirsk and Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. All meals, drinks with lunch and dinner, excursions and gratuities, and airport transfers are included on every APT Golden Eagle rail journey.
To book call 1300 278 278, visit www.aptouring.com.au or contact your local business development manager.