The trip was fabulous! We had many expectations and some anxiety regarding this trip to Russia, as we were all taught growing up about the struggles of the Russian population with communism. Upon experiencing Russia, we were amazed to how polite, inviting, open and interesting the people are, willing to discuss the dark days along with the revitalization. The architecture was amazing, how they restored the old buildings with the “onion” towers, the communist style “no frills”, and the modern apartment construction. We found the cities easy to maneuver with Uber and the Metro and the cleanest cities we have ever experienced. This was our fourth trip with Gate One (Egypt, China, Greece), and as expected the guides were excellent (Katya and Cristina). We had fun with them, learned from them, and truly enjoyed their company. They made us feel welcome and comfortable. While as a matter of philosophy, my wife and I do not return to the same place more than once (it’s a large world and we want to see it ALL), we highly recommend others to enjoy the history, elegance, and hospitality of Russia.

We had a great trip. We saw so much in each city and it was well organized. Egis, the tour director was amazing!!! We will continue to book Gate 1 travel for upcoming trips.

Great trip! Russia was more than expected. Beautiful and clean (no litter or graffiti at all anywhere). People were warm and very friendly as well. We would recommend the trip to anyone who is interested in a wonderful trip and learning more about Russia. Also, our trip manager Elena was fabulous, maybe the best we have ever had on a Gate 1 trip.

Our trip was outstanding and very memorable, everything we imagine and much more. We love everything including Galina, our tour guide (have to mention her because she did an exceptional job). This is our second trip with you and we are looking for a third one end of this year/beginning of next. Thanks again Gate 1!

The trip was amazing. Galina is fabulous. Fun and super knowable. So organized. The hotels were beautiful and beyond what we were expecting and the food was great.

Russia is one of the most beautiful countries we have visited. Definitely going back and will use Gate 1 again . The tour was very well organized, tour guides very knowledgeable. I love that we started from St. Petersburg and ended up in Moscow. It was getting better everyday and like a crescendo. All excursions were good. Will definitely recommend Gate 1 travel to friends.

On May 25th, we flew on Aeroflot and embarked on the 13 Day Russian River Cruise on the MS Kronshtadt. It was a very well planned trip thanks to Gate 1 and our tour guide, Tanya! ... Our room was impeccably clean, the Russian crew went out of their way to please us, and the food was presented beautifully and actually delightful ... We began in Moscow and finished in St. Petersburg. St. Basil's, the Kremlin, palaces, and more churches were just some of the highlights throughout our journey ... This was truly a trip of a lifetime, and we enjoyed it all! We look forward to another Gate 1 adventure.

We had a wonderful trip and the weather was nice & warm. The tour director, Tanya is a very experience and courteous lady. Everything was under her control professionally. This is our 1st time with Gate 1 and it'll be our agent from now on.

Our trip was wonderful. It was nice to be on a refurbished boat, very clean, nice bedding and towels ... There was always lots to eat and fresh salads. The dining room staff did not speak one word of English so it made communication very difficult. Tours were excellent and guides very knowledgeable and spoke English. We were both very impressed with Moscow. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone, great variation in locations that we were shown.

My trip was absolutely AMAZING. Our tour guide, Angelina, couldn’t have been more helpful, efficient and pleasant. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate her a 15!!

It was fantastic. We had a wonderful Gate 1 tour manager, Victoria. We didn't have high expectations regarding the ship but it turned out good. Russia is a beautiful country and we were glad to have gone.

It was absolutely fabulous! Galina is an exceptionally educated and organized tour guide. I loved the hotels and there locations. The itinerary and optional tours permitted me to explore the many wonders of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Fabulous! Best vacation I have had in years! So many wonderful places, people, food, and experiences. Thank you for the memories of a lifetime. My dream of visiting Russia was fulfilled; the trip exceeded my expectations.

It was a very interesting trip - great value for the money. Our guides were all outstanding - very knowledgeable, informative & helpful. Enjoyed the Russian classes on board which helped to decipher the Russian alphabet. Kudos to Gate 1.

Once again, Gate 1 provided an exceptional trip. Tanya, the tour guide, was fantastic, the local guides were knowledgeable, fun, spoke English excellently, kept thing moving on time, the crew was kind, professional and did a wonderful job keeping the ship clean and comfortable, and Russia and the Russian people, what can I say! My life is better for having visited there and met them. I am looking forward to my next Gate 1 adventure!

Just wanted to say that the Russian River Cruise was fantastic and that the Gate 1 organisation exceeded expectations. Having done a "Pacific Ocean Cruise" my wife and I were hesitant about this adventure but we need not have been. The smaller group allowed passengers to get to know each other and the tour leader and guides could really focus on our needs and information about locations visited. Cabins were comfortable (if a bit small) and the ever changing view from the cabin window added to the experience. Russia was spectacular, exciting and full of history. This particular cruise provided such a great insight into the country and allowed us to visit small but historic locations ( Uglich, Kirillov ) as well as St Petersburg and Moscow. Would absolutely recommend this tour and Gate 1 as a tour company.

This trip to Russia was our 9th vacation with Gate 1 and has been one of the best we have taken. The organization was excellent and the guide, Nikita, was a superb leader. We were deeply impressed with the country, the people and their culture. We particularly enjoyed the spectacular old churches, traditional folk dances and the friendship of the people.

Fantastic, and so were all the guides and especially our tour manager, Kaysa. The river boat was very comfortable and our hotel accommodations were wonderful. Both my wife and I were pleasantly surprised how nice the Russian people were towards us.

We have come home in good shape. My wife and I enjoyed the Russian River Cruise very much. Russia and Russian people are simply beautiful. The tour manager Elena is fantastic. She is very helpful and looks after everything in great details. The two onboard guides and the ship's staff are friendly and courteous too. Thank you Gate 1 and we will come again.

Karen and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Russia. Your tour guide, Asya, is a wonderful ambassador for both Gate 1 and Russia. This was our fifth Gate 1 trip and, as always, Gate 1 came through for us providing a wonderful vacation.

OMG it was incredible! Tanya made the trip. She was everything and more. Lena was a quiet wonder. She made sure we were all accounted for a million times. There was not one local guide that was a slacker. They were all top notch and made sure we saw only the best at each place with as few crowds as possible. Best of all, each and every person told their personal stories along with the local lore. This was the first overseas trip my husband has made since the 1970's and I think we've created a traveling monster......where are we going next? Everyone felt so taken care of and we now love Russia. Who would have thought! Just FYI there was a single woman there who was making her 13th Gate 1 tour. That spoke volumes of your company. Thanks for asking!

We really enjoyed our trip to Russia!! We learned a lot, and every day was filled with new things. Gate 1 trips never disappoint!!

Great trip. Wonderfully arranged. Good boat and great crew. Will take another with Gate 1 soon.

We had a fantastic, relaxing and a memorable trip to Russia. Tour manager Asya and our coordinator Lina, were excellent and friendly. Thanks to both of them. They were always smiling and very helpful. They made our trip sail smooth.

We enjoyed our Russia and Eastern Europe trip very much. Lots of rain & cold weather in Romania which we were told was unusual for this time of year. All in all, everyone made the best of it. Best guide we have ever had on any trip was Radu. Most caring, knowledgeable, humorous and everyone just loved him!! He made the trip an event to remember!!

The trip was great -- good weather, good food generally and wonderful sights! The National Folk Show in Moscow was fantastic!!

Fabulous trip. I want to say that our tour guide, Tanya, was absolutely the finest tour guide I have ever encountered. She was so knowledgeable and personable and took such good care of everyone. She deserves a raise and a promotion!!! I will surely recommend the Russian tour to my friends. Thank you for all the help!!

The Russian River Cruise trip has absolutely highlighted the essence of Russia, introducing me to the country's history, beauty, and culture. The itinerary offered a great perspective in comparing and contrasting the uniqueness of Russia's major cities with the small villages/towns. The excursions, optional tours (especially the two folk dance shows: Bagatitsa in St. Petersburg and Kostroma in Moscow), and the special ship's activities (learning the country’s language, songs, and dance) have certainly been instrumental in authenticating the richness of the Russian culture. Furthermore, the local guides did a great job in giving tourists a detailed insight of their city/village--past and present. As for the MS Zosima Shashkov, the room was clean, the staff was friendly and accommodating, the food was fine, and the musicians were enjoyable, even though I felt that a variety of entertainment was needed. Hiring young on-board guides to assist the tour managers was a wonderful idea because these young personnel were personable, full of fun and energy, and established a positive rapport with the passengers. Overall, this trip was extremely educational and enjoyable. Thank you!