Travel Russia Today

In my two seasons selling the Volga Dream the most frequently asked question has remained, “Is this boat really as deluxe as they say it is?”

In my personal opinion, the answer is yes. I loved the Volga Dream and had a wonderful experience floating lazily along the Volga River passing elderly men fishing and children throwing rocks along the banks. The sunsets are enough to take your breath away. The staff was tremendously friendly and attentive. The minute I sat down in a lounge chair on the Sun Deck a staff member was at my side asking if I needed a drink or a blanket.

The food was surprisingly tasty – a mix of traditional Russian and European cuisine. The rooms are small like all other Russian river cruisers, but very well appointed. I had my own private bathroom with a glassed in shower, blow dryer and deluxe toiletries. There was a flat screen TV on the wall showing BBC World, Animal Planet (oddly enough) and other global stations. The picture window allowed me to watch the coastline from the comfort of my room. (Main Deck Superior Cabins and above have full windows.)

The only downfall I experienced while onboard was the crowd at the buffet line. The dining room is not that big and tables are quiet close to each other making it slightly hard to navigate. The line at the buffet can get quite long and the close quarters can complicate things. Luckily most meals are plated, so you rarely have to deal with the buffet problem. The cruise operators are working to fix this problem now.

Another common complaint is the lack of activity onboard the ship. Everyone needs to keep in mind that this is not a Regent ship. It is a small vessel (carrying less than 115 passengers) built minimally to navigate through the narrow canals and locks along the Volga River. There is no casino or dance club, but there is a comfortable lounge to sit, socialize and drink as well as library with computers and books to occupy your time. I do not recommend this boat for the super active traveler, but for those who wish to relax and see all that Russia has to offer beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Volga Dream is definitely dreamy.