Accommodation with a small child on a boat.

Typically, standard cabins on motor ships are similar to a compartment - a window, two beds on the walls and a table between them. Most major cruise lines offer free travel for children under 5 years old without a seat in the same cabin with adults. River cruises are not cheap and are a good opportunity to save money and go sailing with the whole family.
How to sleep on a boat with a child? If you have a baby, then squeezing a stroller in the aisle between the beds is probably real. Already a separate cradle - for sure. But it is possible to sleep with a larger child together on the same bed, but it is not convenient. The way out for comfort is to take a cabin of the improved category, so that instead of one single bed there is a folding sofa or the ability to put a folding bed. This time we sailed on, it is considered a luxury motor ship, and all cabins have a double bed in it - it is very comfortable to sleep with your baby.
On motor ships, a stroller in the cabin can normally be placed only when folded - there is very little space. But on the other hand, you can easily leave it in the common areas - no one will touch it.
Walking around the ship and open decks with a stroller is not very convenient, but you want and, of course, you need to - it's not in the cabin to sit for the whole voyage :). But consider the very steep deck-to-deck staircases. Although the staff of the ship is always ready to come to your aid - to lift / carry. The motor ship "Knyazhna Victoria" is the only motor ship in Russia with an elevator so far!
Do not forget to bring anti-mosquito products and warm clothes for the evening. Even if heat is predicted, it will be windy and cold on the deck on the water in the evening. On many ships, those who wish are given blankets to sit on the decks, but this is not an obligatory option.
And some who have not swam have a stereotype that they can get seasick on such cruises. So, I will say - it does not pump at all. Although when buying a tour, managers advise taking a stateroom on a higher deck, allegedly below there may be vibration from the engine compartment.

Food for a child on the boat.

Usually, when children are accommodated for free without a place, meals are also not included. This is perhaps the moment that worried me the most. How and what to feed?
The first option is that on any ship you can buy food for the child separately (it is better to check the cost when buying a tour, each ship has its own).
The second and economical option is to eat on a common table. Today, on river cruises, most often you will be offered a breakfast buffet with cereals, omelets, pancakes, etc. That is, at the buffet, the child will definitely not remain hungry. Well, lunch and dinner - this is most often à la carte - you will share "like brothers." Vacationers choose dishes from the menu themselves, usually from several first and second courses, snacks and desserts.
The restaurants have highchairs, I hope there are enough for everyone.
From my own I recommend taking only a drink (except for tea) and not forgetting something for snacks (fruits, cookies ...). As for dairy products, when buying a voucher, check if there is a refrigerator in the cabin (we had one).
On any ship for common use eat for free all the time hot water for tea and other things. I know that somewhere there is a microwave (you need to specify when buying a tour). But in any case, in a restaurant (only during its opening hours), if you need to, you can always ask to warm up your own for the child.

Entertaining children on the boat.

There are no problems with this at all. In addition to caring parents, who, of course, will take their favorite and always new (for distraction) toys, books, pencils, almost all ships have children's rooms and often with an animator. The schedule of all master classes, group games, competitions, discos are announced in advance - don't miss it. And taking a walk on the deck, looking at the shores and water is a self-evident entertainment :). I recommend not to forget your binoculars at home. By the way, I know that there are motor ships from which you can even fish.

Ask if I didn’t tell you about something that worries you. HAPPY SWIMMING!

With the arrival of spring, the river navigation season opens, and everyone has the opportunity to order tickets for a motor ship cruise. Parents are happy to take their children with them, because this is an active type of recreation, during which passengers learn a lot, see the sights of Russia, and have fun.

However, it must be remembered that the parents are responsible for the child. Do not forget about the constant companion of such travels - pitching (it rocks especially strongly on Ladoga and Lake Onega). If the son does not tolerate travel in a car or bus, then it is unlikely that he will feel good on board the ship. Another point is the brightness of impressions. It is unlikely that children under one year old will be interested in a river tour, but older ones may like it. In short, consider all these factors before booking tickets for a cruise with a small child, so that only good memories will remain in your memory.

River cruise selection

Most cruise lines offer free travel for children aged 3-5. But there is one "but" - food and a separate seat are not provided for the child. Accordingly, you need to solve two questions for yourself:
- where he will sleep;
- what will eat.

There is very little space in standard double cabins, and it is not very comfortable to sleep in the same narrow bed with a baby. The baby can be left in the stroller by placing it between the beds. Or you can book a luxury cabin with large double beds so that there is enough space for the whole family.

Meals on board

Store baby food in the refrigerator provided in every cabin. Use the microwave to warm up - you just need to find out where it is. Older children can eat at the bar or restaurant, but food for them will have to be purchased separately, as it is not included in the tour price.

The menu is quite varied:
- breakfast in the form buffet- sandwiches with butter, sausage, cheese, pancakes;
- lunch - first, second, salads;
- dinner is also in the form of a buffet table.

On some ships there are separate places for children, so there should be no problems with food.

Entertainment program

Each ship has a children's room, where animators or educators work. Toddlers can be safely left here, they will always be under control (check this issue separately). Toys, colored markers, coloring books are prepared for them.

Senior preschoolers and junior schoolchildren take part in various competitions, announced in advance. Topics can be very different: drawing or poetry reading competition, active team competitions. The animators will prepare plays and performances. Older students can attend any other events with you, they will be interested in having fun at parties.

The cultural program on the shore deserves special attention. Any tour includes:
- excursions to sights;
- "green stops" - beach vacation, visiting reserves and natural wonders, barbecue;
- cruises to Astrakhan or Rostov-on-Don include stops at tourist centers.

That is river cruise children will definitely like it, as they will not be bored throughout the entire route.

What to take with you on a cruise

You can take with you on a cruise everything that is not prohibited by the rules. First of all, consider the weather conditions and choose appropriate clothing. Nobody forbids taking a stroller, baby food, favorite toys. Be sure to bring your binoculars to enjoy the incredible scenery while cruising along the Volga with your kids.

Don't forget pills for pumping, indigestion, and any other medications you need. Naturally, you must have all the documents with you.

A cruise is a great opportunity to relax with the whole family, and be in complete confidence that your children will not be bored! Staying on board will become a real holiday for kids, full of vivid impressions and events!

On board the liners have a huge amount of entertainment for children! This is a water park with all sorts of water attractions, and a variety of educational and entertainment programs that will be of interest to children of all ages.

With little travelers specially trained animators will be engaged, who will give them maximum attention. Your children will be carried away by games, entertainment, will be supervised, but in no case will they feel close control over themselves.

Going on a cruise with babies in strollers, parents can also be calm, because modern cruise ships are equipped with wide decks and corridors, spacious elevators, which makes it easy and free to move around the ship.

It is worth noting that some cruise lines provide the opportunity to travel for children under 18 years old free of charge in a cabin with two adults.

Cruise companies offer free participation of all interested children in children's clubs... They are divided into age categories, where a special program is drawn up for each age group in order to offer children entertainment appropriate to their age and interests.

River cruises on the Volga

The number of motor ships of various classes, carrying out cruises on the Volga, is very large and varied, there are hundreds of them. The overwhelming majority of large Russian cruise companies carry out their cruises along the Volga. Their routes pass through almost all Russian regions and regions. During a river trip on a motor ship along the Volga, you can not only experience pleasure, enjoying natural beauties and landscapes of the Volga shores, but visit a number the most beautiful cities our country, such as Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd, Astrakhan and many others.

River cruises on the Volga are a successful combination cognitive rest with interesting excursions and outdoor recreation, as well as various entertainment program on a boat, which is very popular with travelers. The cost of a cruise on the Volga on a motor ship depends on the class of the ship, the season and the duration of the route. Tour operators and travel agencies, as well as the cruise companies themselves, provide tickets and vouchers for retirees with great discounts. Elderly tourists can take a cruise along the Volga on boarding ships with a program of wellness procedures that have a beneficial effect on the human body.

Tour operator Cruise House"MK" on its website offers cruises along the Volga with timetables and prices. Here you can also familiarize yourself with the characteristics of motor ships and easily choose the best cruise for yourself. For example, it is possible to find a tour along the Volga from Saratov or another city with special rates. River tours along the Volga are also notable for the fact that motor ships can enter ports, where it is much longer and more expensive to get there by land. In any case, visiting a large number of cities along the river is much more profitable economically than the same route on tourist bus or other means of transport. In addition, cruise companies often arrange seasonal discounts on river tours, as well as special offers. As a result, you can buy a cruise on the Volga much cheaper.

Since river cruises on the Volga can be either short or rather long, covering several more rivers in addition to the Volga, the number and variety of cities on the route makes the cruise unusually interesting, because each city is unique and has its own characteristics. For example, a lot of tourists go on river cruises along the Volga to Ples, since Ples is a very picturesque town with an original Russian spirit and a huge number of museums. And in the city of Myshkin there is the world's only museum of the mouse, which is the symbol of the city.

When to go on a tour of the Volga by boat

In winter, river navigation along the rivers of Russia is not carried out. The most successful period for a cruise on the Volga is the period from April to October. For cruises in Central Russia, it is preferable to take the hottest months. At this time, the climate is favorable both for swimming in the rivers and for visiting local tourist sites. From this point of view, a summer cruise on the Volga is preferable. In addition, it is in the summer that cruise companies offer the largest selection of tours for every taste and budget. For the southern regions, the most comfortable voyage is in October. For this time, one of the most popular routes is considered to be a cruise along the Volga to Astrakhan. In addition, the prices for a cruise on the Volga during this period are lower than in summer, which makes the trip profitable for the budget.

Motorboat tours along the Volga involve "Green Parking". The motor ship makes a stop outside the city limits, and tourists, going ashore, can spend time having barbecues, stroll through the forest, lie on the beach, swim in the river or just take a walk along the coast, breathing in the amazing river air, which, by the way, is very useful for health.

What cruise ships go along the Volga

Motor ships of almost all major Russian cruise companies carry out river cruises along the Volga from the cities located on it. The main criterion when choosing a motor ship of a particular company is its price and level of service. The port cities where the motor ships enter are usually the same for all cruise companies. The largest of them are Mosturflot, Infoflot and Vodokhod. They offer cruises along the Volga from Moscow, with a visit to Myshkin, Uglich, Kalyazin, cruises along the Volga from Nizhny Novgorod, with a call to Gorodets, Kozmodemyansk and Makaryev, as well as cruises along the Volga from Tver. Other cruise companies such as Orthodox, Gama, Rusich and Volga Volga also organize boat tours along the Volga.

On the website of the company Cruise House "MK" you can find and book any of the most popular options for tours on the Volga, including cruises on the Volga from Saratov, cruises on the Volga from Kazan and many others. It is also possible to purchase not only a cruise, but also to issue a full cruise package with transfers, air travel and excursions. It is much more profitable and cheaper up to 15%, compared to choosing only one cruise service. All motor ships, regardless of class, provide everything you need for a comfortable and exciting stay on board. This is three meals a day, sightseeing tours, entertainment activities on the ship. For the sake of completeness, we recommend choosing the most comfortable cruise ships with a high level of service, such as the motor ship Princess Victoria, Alexander Green, Mikhail Sholokhov, Princess Anabella, Mikhail Bulgakov.

The most interesting ports visited on cruises along the Volga

Kazan

Kazan is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in our country. Here is one of the largest mosques in Europe, the Kul Sharif mosque, which is a real miracle of architecture and strikes with its beauty. Cruises from Moscow to Kazan or from another port are very popular among Volga cruises. The Kazan Kremlin has perfectly preserved ancient monuments, including the Syuyumbike Tower. The capital of Tatarstan is gorgeous. Many secular and religious buildings, museums, cafes and restaurants are concentrated here, and “singing fountains” deserve special mention, which are so pleasant to enjoy in the evening. A cruise along the Volga from Kazan offers a breathtaking view of the city's embankment.

Nizhny Novgorod

The city is the most important cultural and industrial center of Russia, in addition, it is one of the largest centers of river tourism, so cruises along the Volga from Nizhny Novgorod are very common. Also, the traditional routes include a cruise from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod and the opposite direction. Nizhny Novgorod also boasts important cultural and historical sites, including the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin and the famous Nizhny Novgorod Fair. The city has a huge number of museums and several theaters.

Samara

Cruises on the Volga from Samara are a very popular destination. The city's port is the largest in the entire Middle Volga region. In addition, Samara has the longest embankment of the Volga and in the same city the highest Train Station throughout Europe, as well as Kuibyshev Square, which is also the largest in Europe. The architecture of the city is represented by all possible architectural styles.

Uglich

The cozy little town of Uglich is not in vain included in the route of the "Golden Ring of Russia". There is a huge number of various sights here, the main of which is the Transfiguration Cathedral. The city also has a unique museum of myths and superstitions.

Yaroslavl

One of the oldest Russian cities, Yaroslavl, is now included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO. Historical buildings are very well combined with the environment, making the city very green and colorful. And the Yaroslavl embankment is rightfully considered the most impressive of all Russian cities. Cruises on the Volga from Yaroslavl will acquaint tourists with such cities as Ples, Kostroma and others.

Kostroma

Kostroma is also old town... This is the cradle of the Romanov dynasty. There are many notable museums here. One of them - "Kostromskaya Sloboda", is located directly under open air... Cruises on the Volga from Kostroma, as a rule, involve a visit to Yaroslavl and Ples.

Volgograd

Volgograd is primarily a city of military glory. It keeps the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, to which many monuments are dedicated in the city. Among them, first of all, it is worth noting Mamaev Kurgan and one of the tallest statues in the world "Motherland". It is best to take a cruise on the Volga from Volgograd in October, when it is not so hot and the climate is conducive to swimming, walking and sightseeing.

Astrakhan

The city embodies the largest cultural and industrial center of the Caspian region and the Lower Volga region. Thanks to its geographic location, the city has a huge number of bridges. In this way, Astrakhan is reminiscent of St. Petersburg. There are several museums and theaters in the city, as well as a large number of monuments of architecture. A cruise on the Volga from Astrakhan or a tour to Astrakhan is recommended in October. This is the most favorable period for travel in terms of climate.