delta queen riverboat cruises

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Delta Queen deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Delta Queen deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by River Cruises deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Delta Queen cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Delta Queen staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

MS Delta Queen (1927-built) is an authentic American stern paddlewheel steamboat. The ship cruises on Mississippi River and its tributaries, and mostly in Southern USA. The riverboat was docked in Chattanooga Tennessee, serving as a hotel ship until 2015 when was purchased by the newly established Delta Queen Steamboat Company. Riverboats that are similar in design (stern paddle-wheelers) can be found in the fleets of AQV-American Queen Voyages (fka AQSC) and ACL-American Cruise Lines .

Delta Queen cruise ship deck plans show a total of 88 staterooms (for 176 passengers), two bar lounges (Forward Cabin Lounge with Front Porch of America, and Texas Lounge with an open-air terrace/alfresco venue), Lobby Hall (Reception Desk/Purser, Gift Shop), Betty Blake Library (Reading Room / Cards Room), Orleans Room (Restaurant & Galley/kitchen), Engine Room Viewing (lounge with views of the stern paddlewheel).

Deck layouts

Deck 01 - main-restaurant, deck 02 - cabin-lobby, deck 03 - texas, deck 04 - sundeck-bridge.

Delta Queen deck plans are property of River Cruises . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Don’t miss the boat!

We appreciate your patience as the Delta Queen secures the necessary funds and resources to begin our extensive renovation process. We look forward to welcoming you aboard as soon as it’s possible to do so.

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Delta Queen Hotel

Best Riverboat In The States!

Delta Queen Riverboat Hotel

The Legendary Delta Queen now moored in Chattanooga, the last fully operational, overnight passenger steamboat in the country, is the newest landmark Chattanooga hotel . This grand lady had logged over two million miles, carried over half a million passengers and is the only boat to be inducted into the National Marine Hall of Fame while still in service. She has entertained Presidents, foreign dignitaries and a multitude of celebrities.

Chattanooga accommodations are right in the middle of the vibrant North Shore scene at Coolidge Park Landing. Plenty of self parking is located near our dock and available to the guests. The Delta Queen is a quick drive or an enjoyable walk (across the Pedestrian Bridge) to the Southside of the Tennessee River and the heart of downtown Chattanooga where many area attractions reside such as the Tennesee Aquarium and Hunter Museum of Art.

The Delta Queen offers an ideal base of operations for your exploration of Chattanooga attractions .  All aboard for a unique Chattanooga hotel experience…

So, if you’re looking for something extraordinary among the offerings of Chattanooga hotels, right in the middle of the action, with a bed rocking to the rhythm of the Tennessee River, the Delta Queen is your choice for an unforgettable stay in the Scenic City.

Former Cincinnati riverboat Delta Queen to offer overnight cruises again

by Christian Hauser, WKRC

CINCINNATI (WKRC)- An iconic riverboat that called Cincinnati home for several decades will get another chance to cruise the river.

The Delta Queen was granted an exemption that will allow the wooden vessel to carry passengers on overnight cruises once more. While the Delta Queen will not be based in Cincinnati, her first planned cruise trip will be to the Queen City.

Cornel Martin, president and CEO of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, said if everything goes right, we could see the ship on the Ohio River as soon as 2020.

Most recently, the Delta Queen had been a floating hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from 2009 until 2014. Tuesday, Congress passed an exemption for the 91-year-old wooden ship to return to overnight cruise service after a decade-long forced retirement.

In 2008, the Delta Queen was forced to retire from service when her congressional exemption from the 1966 Safety at Sea Act expired.

The law intended to prohibit ocean-bound vessels from carrying overnight passengers unless completely made of non-combustible materials included the Delta Queen, even though she was never more than several hundred yards from shore. Congress approved nine exemptions over four decades to allow the Delta Queen to continue operations until 2008. The exemption is mainly due to Rep. Steve Chabot.

"[Chabot] introduced that exemption bill in every Congress [from] 2008 until this current Congress," Martin said.

The boat needs extensive renovations and repairs though.

"While she's been well-maintained and while we've taken good care of her, we've got a lot of upgrades. We've got to replace the boilers that are almost 100 years old. They were built in 1919. We've got to replace all the generators, the main steam line, the HVAC systems," Martin said.

The Delta Queen is a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The steamboat is also included in the National Maritime Hall of Fame and was named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Martin said the vessel was built in 1927. It served from Sacramento to San Francisco between 1927 to 1940. He said once World War II started, the ship was painted battleship grey and ferried soldiers from ships anchored in the San Francisco Bay to the shore. He said it was then purchased by the Green family in Cincinnati.

"They towed her through the Panama Canal and up the Mississippi River to Cincinnati where she made her home port there from 1947 until about 1987. So, just over 40 years," Martin said.

Local riverboat Capt. Alan Bernstein , whose father Ben started BB Riverboats, currently in Newport, said the city should be excited about the iconic ship's future.

"Steamboats are very few now. There's just about a handful. I believe there's five total in the United States and there might not be many old steamers left in the world," Bernstein said.

Bernstein said he got his riverboat start on the Delta Queen out of high school.

“It was one of the things that contributed to the love and affection I have for the inland rivers and, in particular, the Ohio River,” Bernstein said. "I think everybody should be excited at the opportunity. It's a one-of-a-kind, now-unique vessel, that was a part of history in sort of the latter years of steamboating, but it gives you an indication of what people had to do to get from one city to another.”

Bernstein said steamboats, like the Delta Queen, were the mass transit of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

“It is what made the interior of our United States what it was, or what it is today. If you were in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and you wanted to get to St. Louis in the mid-1800s, if you couldn’t get on a steamboat, you had to [ride] horseback or you had to horse and buggy it. I mean, it is what opened up the interior of the United States,” Bernstein said.

The goal is 2020 but there’s no set date for the initial cruise of the Delta Queen.

"It's hard to nail down a date because, again, she's a boat that hasn't cruised [the river] in 10 years," Martin said. "We know that the inaugural cruise will be from Kimmswick, Missouri, to Cincinnati. So, hopefully that will be a big homecoming for the Queen.”

There’s more potential good news for the riverfront. A local group is working to put together an event similar to Tall Stacks that was held in the 1990s and 2000s.

• NKY COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The QUEEN, scheduled for New Orleans, was destined to tie up there and never run again carrying more than 50 passengers in the overnight cruise trade.

“Here, Benton, ring the bell for the last time,” I shouted to the young man who, with his doctor’s consent, had signed on as a porter for the last week the most famous steamboat in the world at that time would likely operate. The QUEEN, scheduled for New Orleans, was destined to tie up there and never run again carrying more than 50 passengers in the overnight cruise trade.

Benton Roblee Duhme, the scion of a local family famed for manufacturing quality footwear sold under the trade names Roblee, Buster Brown, and Mary Janes, preferred to be a steamboatman instead of a shoe company executive. This “Last Trip of the DELTA QUEEN,” however, would also be Benton’s final time on the Mississippi River because of a terminal illness. Besides, young Duhme loved the QUEEN so much he would do anything to be on board – even if that meant carrying heavy luggage, scrubbing pots and pans, and hustling overloaded trash containers when most people in his condition might be considering hospice care.

The Log Book of the Steamer DELTA QUEEN, dated Wednesday, October 28, 1970, barely 51 years ago this past week, noted: “Benton R. Duhme, St. Louis, rang two last bells.”

Benton Roblee Duhme preferred to be a steamboatman instead of a shoe company executive.

Immediately, following Benton’s signal, Pilot Charlie Fehlig blew the final departure whistle as the DELTA QUEEN backed away from the St. Louis levee at 9:35 AM… “one last time.”

By noon, the QUEEN passed Kennett’s Castle, Mile 247, Upper Mississippi River, averaging a speed of better than 12 ½ MPH. At 3:30, the DELTA QUEEN met the steam dredge U. S. KENNEDY at Potato Bend, Mile 97, and by watch change at 6 PM, the boat was at Shepherd’s Light, Mile 63.4, for a distance of 83.6 miles run since passing the Castle for an increased downstream speed of 13.9 MPH.

Forty-five minutes later, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, lay to the QUEEN’s starboard quarter. At 10:45, the venerable steamer arrived at Cairo Point, Mile 0.0, UMR, and entered the Lower Mississippi, Mile 953.8 AHP, with the Mouth of the Ohio River, Mile 981.5, abreast the port bow.

Shortly after midnight, Thursday, October 29, 1970, fog slowed the DELTA QUEEN after averaging almost 14 miles-an-hour, a racehorse-like speed for the elder steamboat. Eventually, decreasing visibility forced her to “choke a stump” half a mile below Milton Bell Light, Mile 907.5, until the pea-souper lifted close to 9 AM. Once the fog dissipated, Captain Harry Hamilton, the forward watch pilot, continued until noon to Cherokee Light, Mile 867.3, where Captain Fehlig regained control and landed at Caruthersville, Missouri, from 1:45 to 3:10 PM. There, a crowd of several thousand well-wishers waiting at the landing thrilled to see the DELTA QUEEN for “one more time.”

The steamboat DELTA QUEEN landed alongside the retired Steamer SPRAGUE, the largest steam, sternwheel towboat ever built.

Meanwhile, on the Main Deck, near the head of the boat, Benton, myself, and other crewmembers watched in fascination at the rousing reception given by the Caruthersville fans of the QUEEN.

Later that evening, around 9:15 PM, a passenger, Miss Blanch Watts, 86, staying in Room 208, died of an apparent heart attack. According to the Log, “Ship’s physician, Dr. M. J. Schneider, was called to the room. The victim died before she got there.” Apparently, the “ship’s doctor” was a woman, which may not raise an eyebrow at this writing 51 years after the fact, but though female doctors were not uncommon in 1970, it was unusual for one to be aboard the DELTA QUEEN, that I recall.

Generally, these days, overnight river passenger boats do not carry a physician of either sex on their cruises. Instead, they may employ trained EMTs or other crewmembers to tend to the medicinal needs of passengers and crew. (Please feel free to correct me if I err. Aboard the Casino Boats, there was always a Certified EMT on duty whenever passengers were on the vessels.)

What I do recall, though, were the frail remains of Ms. Watts wrapped in her stateroom blanket reposing within the wire Stoke’s Litter, commonly called the “dead basket,” upon the main Deck starboard life-preserver box with the lights of Beale Street at Memphis aglow beyond where the QUEEN landed to await an undertaker to carry the little lady ashore. All around Miss Watts, the boisterous crew eagerly and nosily anticipated their share of a 12-hour shorestop where Beale Street beckoned. Within less than an hour after landing, the hearse arrived and removed its somber consignment. No one seemed to miss the elderly lady from Room 208 who left behind the blanket tossed nonchalantly within the empty “dead basket” still resting atop the lifejacket locker.

For some strange reason, I was wearing tan coveralls and an odd-looking railroad cap while I helped with the lines. (Photo Joyce Sanders)

That following afternoon, at 5:50 PM, the paddlewheeler landed below the Helena, Arkansas Highway Bridge to “put off a NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photographer.” Though I cannot recall the photographer’s name, he had been aboard the DELTA QUEEN off and on all year to document what was likely the last year the steamboat would operate carrying more than 50 paying persons in the overnight river trade. In the usual GEOGRAPHY storytelling style, a central character is often selected as a focal person to move the story along and add human interest to an otherwise inanimate object – a steamboat in this particular case. In this instance, I was that intermediary individual. Had the DELTA QUEEN failed to acquire an exemption from the so-called “Safety at Sea” law before the end of 1970, I would have been the featured person in a documentary film recording the last year of the QUEEN.

Thankfully, a “rider” introduced to a bill in the U. S. Congress by Kentucky Senator Marlow Cook of Louisville saved the glorious steamboat at the last possible moment, so the GEOGRAPHIC film was never released. Nevertheless, with the passage of over a half-century, the footage shot during the “last year” should indeed have an intrinsic, historic value of its own. Perhaps the footage may still exist in some forgotten vault, but the chances are slim to none.

As the DELTA QUEEN made its final approach to the Poydras Street Wharf, a stiff wind blew the steamboat straight out into the river; perpendicular to the dock like a giant fish caught on a cable. (Photo New Orleans Picayune)

On Halloween Day, Saturday, October 31, at 9:20 in the morning, a small government boat, the M/V PAT II, “took Mr. Muster and another photographer off at Lake Providence to be picked up on a sandbar by a helicopter,” according to Captain Ernest E. Wagner’s handwriting. As all fans of the DELTA QUEEN know, Captain Wagner was the austere, though often genial Master of the QUEEN.

Around 1:30 that afternoon, the steamboat landed alongside the retired Steamer SPRAGUE, the largest steam, sternwheel towboat ever built, for a command performance of “Gold in Them Thar Hills,” a melodrama presented exclusively for those riding the DELTA QUEEN on its “last trip.” By 10:30 that evening, after the applause faded from the final performance aboard the SPRAGUE, the QUEEN once again entered the relentless torrent of the Mississippi River.

By 4:30 AM, Sunday, November 1, she was all-fast at Vidalia, Louisiana, across from historic Natchez, Mississippi, where several hundred well-wishers crowded the shores on both sides of the river to witness her 12:20 afternoon departure for “one last time.” Before midnight, Captain Hamilton skillfully guided the DELTA QUEEN through the crowded riverfront at Baton Rogue.

Captain Wagner supervising the landing of the DELTA QUEEN at New Orleans, Monday, November 2, 1970. (Photo Historic Images)

By midnight, Monday, November 2, 1970, Cap’n Harry turned the pilotage over to Cap’n Charlie at Plaquemine Bend Light, Mile 210.4, just 115 miles above the QUEEN’s final destination at Poydras Street Wharf in New Orleans. From midnight to 6 AM, the DELTA QUEEN ran on a “slow bell” for an early morning stop at Oak Alley Plantation. Finally, at 7 AM., the QUEEN nudged in at the plantation landing. I recall that I helped run the heavy mooring lines ashore and was the one who untied the boat “one last time” at 9:30 and, alone, muscled the lines to the water’s edge, where the crew pulled them onto the deck. According to photos, for some strange reason, I was wearing tan coveralls and an odd-looking railroad cap while I helped with the lines.

By 2 PM, the QUEEN steamed beneath the Huey P. Long Bridge and was no longer governed by the navigation rules of the Western Rivers but rather by the International set of the Rules of the Road. Fifteen minutes later, the U. S. Engineer Guage read “4 FT – S.” as the steamboat steamed by the government guage “a final time.”

At 2:30, my handwriting in the Log Book revealed, “Picked up photographers from a small launch alongside at Audubon Park, New Orleans.”

2:40 PM. “Passed Str. MATEUR at Harmony Street Wharf,” the same wharf where I first arrived in New Orleans as a young deckhand and a fill-in Night Watchman onboard the Steamer AVALON, eleven years earlier.

Benton Duhme, blue jacket, hard at doing what he loved best — being a steamboatman no matter how hard, dirty, or challenging the task.

As the DELTA QUEEN made its final approach to the Poydras Street Wharf shortly before 3 PM that afternoon, a single headline found its way ashore and onto a stout bollard before a stiff wind blew the steamboat straight out into the river; perpendicular to the dock like a giant fish caught on a cable. Thousands of spectators watched from the wharves as we slowly and surely reeled the QUEEN toward the wooden wharf structure.

Further toward the middle of the river, beyond the DELTA QUEEN, a pair of fireboats sprayed a welcoming watery archway for the retiring “Queen of the Western Rivers” until we nearly had the cantankerous steamboat under control and abreast the wharf at Poydras Street.

Once the DELTA QUEEN was landed and secured for the “last time,” I noticed Benton Duhme hard at doing what he loved best — being a steamboatman no matter how hard, dirty, or challenging the task.

The following day, Tuesday, November 3, 1970, soon after the DELTA QUEEN moved to a mooring on the Industrial Canal to await its inevitable fate, Captain Wagner’s last entry in the Log read simply…

“Tied off at Galvez Wharf. End of the Line. Amen.”

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Well written Captain Don. I could feel the emotion of the historical journey. Thanks very much.

Well Written; almost like being Aboard. Helps to have been close.

It was my pure pleasure to write, produce and present my DVD “Tested By Ti me to Become an American Legend, the Steamboat DeltaQueen. And on top of that, to be a program presenter on the final trip. Still miss this great steamboat so much! G. W. “Jerry ” Sutphin

Wonderful article about the Delta Queen. Thanks to my dad, my mother and I were privileged to board her in Nashville for a Civil War battlefields cruise in 2005. Prof. Bud Robertson of Virginia Tech was our host. Mom and I stayed in the forward portside stateroom and enjoyed every second of it. I love to read your river stories, Captain Don!

Great article. Did the Delta Queen winter in Cincinnati in 1972?

WOW guys get going she is setting in Houma La fading away forever GET GOING Who was last pilot? She is rotting away no one is doing a thing Carole Matthews — just me and Nori Muster trying to save her. Thanks for reading and please help save the great old riverboat before it is too late thanks

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The 7 best mississippi river cruises for 2024.

Explore the history, culture and cuisine of the U.S. while cruising along the Mighty Mississippi.

The Best Mississippi River Cruises

Courtesy of American Cruise Lines

The more than 2,300-mile Mississippi River invites travelers to discover its multifaceted heritage, with a vast range of deeply rooted culture, music and history. A cruise is a fantastic way to discover many of the riverfront cities on a single trip, from the comfort of your modern riverboat or traditional paddle-wheeler.

The following Mississippi River cruise itineraries can help you choose from cruises of various lengths and options for the Lower and Upper Mississippi. Note that all fares are listed as double occupancy (based on two people per cabin), and that they might not reflect taxes, port fees or gratuities. The itinerary availability listed is also subject to change.

American Cruise Lines

Courtesy of American Cruise Lines | www.AmericanCruiseLines.com

American Cruise Lines operates small ships accommodating between 90 and 180 passengers that are built, flagged and crewed in the U.S. – and it's the only company in the world operating a 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and cruise ships. ACL's itineraries traverse waterways across 35 states, with 11 itineraries dedicated to the Mississippi River. Cruisers can choose to sail on modern riverboats with a sleek interior design or while away their time aboard classic paddle-wheelers reminiscent of days gone by.

ACL offers variety as well as versatility: This line boasts both the longest and shortest sailings on this list with cruises ranging from eight to 60 days in length, including The Great United States. This inaugural 60-day voyage spans four major rivers and 20 states, making it the longest U.S. river cruise in history.

Complimentary hotel and transportation packages are available from every departure city before your cruise. You can book certain premium packages for added perks, such as two nights spent next door to Graceland in Memphis – with VIP tickets and a city tour included in the price.

Music Cities Cruise

Length: Eight days Price: Starts at $3,610 per person

Spend a week getting lost in the sounds of the Memphis blues, rock 'n' roll and country music legends on the seven-night Music Cities Cruise. A hotel stay the night before your sailing is included, but embarking in Memphis means you also have the chance to splurge on a two-night pre-cruise package near Elvis' former home Graceland .

Ports of call include Paducah, Kentucky; Dover, Tennessee; and Clarksville, Tennessee, with an overnight in Nashville and an included excursion to a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Two scenic sailing days feature picturesque views of America's Heartland along the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers as well as Lake Barkley.

2024 dates: In 2024, there are two available itineraries in September and November.

Grand Heartland Cruise: St. Paul to New Orleans

Length: 15 days Price: Starts at $9,455 per person

This 15-day voyage allows you to explore America's rich history in towns along the Upper and Lower Mississippi River. The immersive voyage covers six states and 12 cities including St. Paul, Minnesota ; Dubuque, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri ; Memphis, Tennessee; Natchez, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana ; and more.

Take a step back in time while visiting Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, exploring stately historic estates in Natchez and Civil War sites in Vicksburg. At the end of a busy day ashore, you'll have plenty to chat about with fellow passengers during the evening cocktail hour.

2024 dates: American Heritage – ACL's traditional paddle-wheeler – and three modern riverboats set off on this journey from August to October in 2024.

Complete Mississippi River Cruise: New Orleans to St. Paul

Length: 22 days Price: Starts at $14,935 per person

If you want to see the entire Mississippi in one shot, check out this multiweek sailing that begins in New Orleans and ends in St. Paul, Minnesota. Along the way, you'll sail 1,393 miles, visit 10 states and experience a staggering 20 ports of call as you tour Louisiana and then head northbound to Minnesota.

In the South, walk the battlefields of the Civil War and sample delicious Southern barbecue before listening to the rhythms of jazz, the blues and rock 'n' roll. Then, explore the small and larger cities along the upper parts of the river. Remember to take time to gaze out at the picturesque scenery and the rolling farmlands of America's Midwest before disembarking in St. Paul.

2024 dates: Three of ACL's modern riverboats sail this itinerary in May, June and August in 2024.

The Great United States

Length: 60 days Price: Starts at $51,000

This two-month long journey – the longest domestic itinerary ever created – will check all the boxes for U.S. history and Civil War buffs, music and nature lovers, culinary enthusiasts, and beer and distilled spirits aficionados alike as the ship traverses America's iconic waterways through 20 states and 50 ports of call.

This epic journey showcases the natural beauty and living history of the U.S. from sea to shining sea. The sailing embarks in Portland, Oregon , on the Pacific Coast before traveling east to the Atlantic shore along four major rivers that highlight some of the country's most stunning coastlines. Upon arrival in New York Harbor, guests will have an unforgettable view of one of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S.: the Statue of Liberty .

Passengers can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Snake and Columbia rivers; cruise along Ol' Man River in search of Mark Twain and Elvis; see the vibrant colors of fall during peak season on the Hudson River; and take in the coastal breezes (and fresh seafood) along New England's rocky coastline.

This curated adventure also includes two flights: Jackson, Wyoming , to New Orleans as well as St. Paul to Portland, Maine , plus a land package through Glacier , Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. All-inclusive pricing covers the pre-cruise hotel stay, all flights and hotels between cruise segments, an ACL jacket and gear pack, daily excursions, all meals and beverages, gratuities and port charges, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

2024 dates: The inaugural cruise sets sail on August 16, 2024.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Viking River Cruises

Courtesy of Viking

Viking is no stranger to sailing Europe's rivers; the brand is synonymous with river cruising worldwide aboard its dozens of ships. However, Viking River Cruises is a newcomer to U.S. rivers, with its purpose-built ship: the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Looking to carve out its own niche in the American river cruising category, Viking claims it has the region's "first truly modern cruise ship" with its distinct Scandinavian design and expansive top sun deck with an infinity plunge pool.

Viking's mostly all-inclusive fares include a complimentary excursion in each port, destination lectures and performances, beer and wine at meals, free Wi-Fi, specialty coffees and teas, and more. The line offers five itineraries ranging in length from eight to 22 days along the Mighty Mississippi. Pre- and post-cruise extensions can be added to all voyages for an additional expense.

New Orleans & Southern Charms: Round-trip from New Orleans

Length: Eight days Price: Starts at $3,999 per person

If you don't know which Viking Mississippi itinerary to choose, start here. A round-trip voyage from New Orleans is convenient for booking flights and offers an excellent opportunity to extend your stay in NOLA. Six guided tours are included across eight days, from the historic estates of Natchez to Vicksburg National Military Park. A stop in St. Francisville gives you the chance to marvel at some of the 140-plus buildings it has on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you extend your stay in New Orleans, plan to sample the local Creole cuisine and take in some of the city's nightly jazz entertainment. In the morning, grab a beignet and a steaming cup of chicory coffee au lait at the original Café du Monde in the French Market.

2024 dates: This itinerary is available on select dates in February, November and December.

Heart of the Delta: New Orleans to Memphis

Length: Nine days Price: Starts at $4,299 per person

Similar to its round-trip New Orleans Southern Charms itinerary, the Heart of the Delta cruise begins in New Orleans and calls on the same five ports, before sailing through the Lower Mississippi and disembarking in Memphis. Enjoy scenic views of the serpentine river route – perhaps with expert commentary or a local cooking demonstration – and then take time to explore the birthplace of the Memphis blues, which is also a center of civil rights history.

2024 dates: In 2024, this cruise is available in February, March, April, May, June and November.

America's Great River: St. Paul to New Orleans

Length: 15 days Price: Starts at $12,999 per person

This Viking voyage sails from St. Paul to New Orleans on a two-week trip that calls on 13 ports with one day of scenic sailing. This itinerary combines the best of Viking's other Mississippi sailings for an all-encompassing Midwestern and Southern experience with 12 guided tours.

Included in the fare is a tour of Graceland; a stroll through small-town Burlington, Iowa, to see Snake Alley, deemed the most crooked street in the world; and a visit to the National Eagle Center of Red Wing, among others. For an additional fee, hop on an airboat ride through the Atchafalaya Swamp in Baton Rouge or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery of St. Louis.

2024 dates: Viking has availability for this itinerary in July, September and October.

Want to cruise the Mississippi River? See the top cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

You may have seen riverboat gambling ships or are at least familiar with riverboat gambling along U.S. waterways. However, while high rolling on the river sounds like an exciting way to spend a night (or two, or more) while on your riverboat cruise, you'll have to jump ship to play the slots, roll the dice, spin the wheel or play a hand of Texas Hold 'em. Gambling on cruise ships sailing on internal waters is prohibited by U.S. law.

Gambling on boats in the U.S. is a complicated matter. While you will find some ships sailing along American waterways that are only set up for gambling, they are not carrying passengers from port to port. Most vessels that feature riverboat gambling are now moored, offering sports betting, table games, entertainment, live music and dancing while tethered to shore.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, paddle-wheelers on America's waterways, and an 18-stateroom river ship on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Most recently, she traveled on a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica and crossed the notorious Drake Passage twice. She covers the travel and culinary industries, specializing in cruises, for major publications including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top River Cruise Lines
• The Top All-Inclusive Cruises
• Cruise Packing List Essentials
• The Top Cruise Insurance Plans

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The Successors of St. Stephen of Perm

In memory of three holy hierarchs of perm.

Maria Marchenko

Here I am, O Lord, send me. Here I am, O God, in good time. And I shall glorify Thy Name, Here I am, O Lord, here I am.

Though the rays of Christ’s light did struggle through into the depths of the pagan forest, there were still many villages that, as before, had not yet heard the Gospel. Now, after the death of St. Stephen whom they hated, the pagan priests who were scattered across the Urals and had seemingly lost ground, hoped to get even with the newly-established Church of Perm. Among their plans were to bring their former flock back to the old beliefs, destroy the altars erected by St. Stephen, and resume their economic exploitation of the peace-loving Zyryans [“Zyryane”: the old-fashioned Russian name for the Komi—the people of what is now the Komi Autonomous Republic, belonging to the Finno-Ugric family.—Trans.]. Most of the shaman priests came from the Vogul people [“Voguly”: the obsolete name of the Mansi—the indigenous people living mainly in the Ob River basin in Western Siberia and related to the Finno-Ugric family; now most of them live in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous area within Russia’s Tyumen region.—Trans.] who converted to Orthodoxy very reluctantly.

The new diocese’s link to the Moscow Metropolis seemed (and was in many respects) nominal and illusory; in the late fourteenth century it was still extremely far from there to the Grand Prince (and the Metropolitan) of Moscow. The defenselessness of local clerics in the face of a hostile and often aggressive population frightened the newly-arrived priests and jeopardized the clergy who were Zyryan converts. Moreover, the new diocese needed not just priests but missionaries who were ready to put their lives at risk in open conflicts with the rebellious Ostyaks (the Khanty and the Mansi). It needed monks who were not bound to their families and children. This caused a shortage of clergy.

Another threat came from local government officials ( zemsky dyaks ) who as secular masters were gradually taking over the authority of bishops who governed the huge territory. This territory fell under the patronage of the Grand Prince of Moscow primarily under the auspices of the religious solidarity of Moscow and the newly-converted people of Perm, but the laws of the development of Muscovy demanded rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and sometimes these demands took cruel and even bloodthirsty forms.

The Archbishopric of Novgorod was indignant with Moscow, believing that the self-seeking Muscovites had lawlessly appropriated the territories that had belonged to the See of Novgorod from time immemorial 1 . Thus, some dishonest Church figures from among the ambitious lobbyists for Novgorod imperialism were ready to help the pagans who resisted the Muscovite expansion.

Thus St. Stephen’s work was threatened with serious danger. However, leaving the people of Perm physically, the holy hierarch had promised to remain with the Zyryans spiritually after his repose, provided they remain faithful Orthodoxy and keep their love for it. That is why after his repose, missionary work in his diocese was continued by three worthy successors: Sts. Gerasim, Pitirim and Jonah.

But Isaac, St. Stephen’s immediate successor in the diocese of Ust-Vym 2 , spent most his archpastoral ministry in Moscow, because being close to senior representatives of the Church hierarchy was his top priority as a hierarch. It is unknown whether his intercessions with the Metropolitan for the newly-converted Zyryans were successful; but what is known is that the name of Isaac was all but forgotten in the annals of Perm history, and his memory was almost erased and replaced by his immediate successors’ missionary exploits; because they preferred to share in the sorrows and joys of their flock in situ rather than send them exhortations from faraway Moscow.

St. Gerasim, the betrayed and murdered bishop

St. Gerasim’s self-sacrificing missionary endeavors, along with his consistent and energetic policy in the administrative sphere not only set the region’s development on the most progressive path but also provoked the envy of the less talented or charismatic functionaries of the state machine. The latter, wishing to get even with St. Gerasim who, in their view, exceeded his authority, decided to make use of the Vogul people’s deadly hatred for him. Officially, the local government officials who acted in collusion were right—St. Gerasim organized “groundwork at the bishop’s residence for the construction of a church” and entered into “conflict with the prince’s administration over disputed land ownership.” 5 In all probability, the bishop wanted to expand his estate (the bishop’s settlement [ vladychny gorodok .—Auth.] on the territory of which a bishop was equal to a feudal lord) without the secular authorities’ permission and get a part of the population involved in the work (compulsory but made to appear voluntary) on renovating a dilapidated church in Ust-Vym.

What made St. Gerasim firmly demand obedience to himself of the Prince of Moscow’s subjects in matters that were subject to Church jurisdiction? The fact is that the holy bishop presumed “in all fairness” Moscow government officials’ progress, along with cultural development and improvement in living conditions of inhabitants of humble Zyryan villages were the direct and immediate result of the success of Orthodox mission; and, therefore, there was nothing more important both for Moscow functionaries and local pastors than expanding the territory around the bishop’s residence and repairing the crumbling church.

But St. Gerasim’s opponents thought otherwise. Through slander they made a member of his household, a baptized Vogul, begin to hate him, and persuaded the man to murder the bishop for patriotic reasons, standing up for his people whom St. Gerasim supposedly persecuted. The most cynical thing about this treacherous murder was that it was committed by someone whom the saint had once taken into his home for care and for spiritual guidance. According to St. Gerasim’s plan, this Vogul would have eventually become a pastor and a missionary among his fellow-tribesmen.

On that fateful day, during a prayer service, the madman waited until St. German turned his back, grabbed his omophorion and strangled him with it. This is how the Vychegda-Vym Chronicle, written by the clergy of the Ust-Vym Monastery of the Archangel Michael in the late sixteenth century, recounts his tragic murder: “Bishop Gerasim of Perm has been murdered several stadia [an ancient measure of length, about 185 meters.—Trans.] from the bishop’s settlement, in the place called Mys 6 .”

St. Pitirim the Martyr

Chudov Monastery was known as the royal monastery, and its abbot would become a close advisor to the Grand Prince of Moscow. As abbot of Chudov Monastery St. Pitirim may have baptized the future Grand Prince Ivan III of Russia (1462—1505) in infancy, and after the news of the martyrdom of St. Gerasim of Ust-Vym had reached Moscow, the Metropolitan chose him as candidate, not without the influence of, or rather, on the initiative of the Grand Prince. St. Pitirim must have been shocked by St. Gerasim’s martyrdom; there was invisible warfare on the metropolia’s eastern frontiers, and representatives of the senior Moscow clergy were becoming its victims. By that time the fratricidal war between Princes Vasily II the Blind and appanage Prince Dmitry Shemyaka was already raging in Rus’. Its battlefront was precisely in Perm, and the bishopric couldn’t avoid “hostilities”. The future holy hierarch willy-nilly had to engage in bigtime politics. Well aware of this, he consciously and readily took the bishop’s duties on himself with humility and made his way to St. Gerasim’s bereaved flock.

In those first months, scrupulous analytical work to determine the strategy for future missionary work was carried out in the bishop’s office, St. Pitirim’s desk was covered with maps that he and his companions had drawn and marked. Long-time residents of the bishop’s quarters from among the clergy who had concelebrated with St. Gerasim reported to St. Pitirim what, when and how the people of Perm had been evangelized, in which districts of the region the inhabitants were the least enlightened by the missions of Sts. Stephen, Gerasim and their disciples, and where the pagan high priests whom St. Gerasim exposed had fled. It was finally decided to start a missionary campaign in the area of the Vashka basin, settled by the Udoren people. It was there, in the area called Udora, that the bastion of paganism (contemporary to St. Pitirim) was concentrated; it was there that the spiritual leaders of idol-worship and their followers had settled after being banished by St. Stephen several decades before.

By his personal example St. Pitirim instructed his priests how to find words that would reach the hearts of ordinary people. Those were the words of consolation and support, words that really staggered a populace who lived by the laws of vendetta and in the wildest pagan ways: “And he baptized and converted many, since those people were ignorant and notorious for their cruel customs; the blessed man enlightened and taught them in faith with great humility.” According to the Vychegda-Vym Chronicle, the success of the mission was full and unconditional: “Bishop Pitirim converted the Udoren people at the Vashka River to the holy faith, gave them abbots and priests, and erected holy churches there.”

Wandering across his diocese’s outlying districts, the holy bishop didn’t forget the people of Perm who made up the heart of his flock. St. Pitirim would often give targeted support to residents of Zyryan settlements, generously distribute alms from his private sources, and, most importantly, intercede with the Grand Prince to reduce the amount of tribute the people of Perm were obliged to pay.

Over his tenure the holy bishop visited Moscow several times to take part in the events that would be epoch-making for his contemporaries. The first of them was associated with the Synod of the Russian Bishop’s anathema of Prince Dmitry Shemyaka, who had blinded Grand Prince Vasily II of Moscow (1425–1462) in order to seize power and remove his most dangerous and legitimate rival from the political scene. It is remarkable with what unanimity Church figures (monks, like St. Gregory of Pelshem, as well as bishops) took Prince Vasily’s side in this political struggle.

Later, the modern historian Alexander Zimin (1920–1980) would say that Shemyaka fell victim to his own defeat. If the outcome of that conflict had been different, history with its historiographers would have taken his side 7 . However, the rigor of the hagiography’s heroes casts serious doubts on this hypothesis. The White Lake Monastery elders allowed Vasily to break his vow of not laying claim to Moscow, giving him full freedom to act. The Church hierarchs came to the capital occupied by Vasily to demonstrate their loyalty to him. One of the senior Church representatives of great authority who showed unconditional support for Vasily was Bishop Pitirim. He knew like no one else how much suffering Shemyaka’s ruinous campaigns had caused ordinary Russian people. Engaging the Perm Diocese’s most hardened enemies (the Vogul people and the inhabitants of Vyatka) for his purposes, Shemyaka scored repeated successes in his acts of banditry—blood was shed, and people in St. Pitirim’s flock were dying. Later Shemyaka took vengeance on the people of Perm by executing the Perm captains Emelka Luzkov and Euphemius Ezhvin for their willingness to fight on the side of the people of Veliky Ustyug, whose lands were being ravaged by his regiments 8 .

A few years later, Bishop Pitirim preached to the people of Vyatka who had cooperated with the rebellious prince’s excessive ambitions, and his words had a direct effect: Having laid siege to Ust-Vym in 1450, the Vyatchane’s army suddenly withdrew, leaving the town intact. The population of Perm remained indifferent to Dmitry’s calls. Everything seemed to indicate that the prince’s cherished ambitions were crumbling to dust, and the uncompromising and energetic Bishop Pitirim had largely contributed to that.

Shemyaka was determined to capture the bishop during one of his trips and by means of persuasion or promises force him to repeal the anathema against him. It remains unknown whether Dmitry hoped that psychological contact and mutual understanding might come during their talk tete-a-tete, or whether he believed in his own powers of persuasion, or had prepared some arguments which would justify his aggressive policy in the lands of Russia’s north, or perhaps meant to influence the bishop by threats and promises. 9 In any case, his main aim was to win St. Pitirim over.

This is how the Vychegda-Vym Chronicle describes this event: “In 6960 (1452) the cursed Shemyaka caught Bishop Pitirim on his way to Moscow, brought him to Ustyug, put him in jail and tortured him there; but the hierarch stood firm and did not repeal his anathema.” While in Ustyug in 1452, Dmitry followed all the movements of the Russian Church’s authoritative hierarch closely; and as soon as one of the prince’s spies reported St. Pitirim’s scheduled trip to Moscow, with the departure date and accompaniment (the bishop preferred to travel light, caring more about speed of travel than safety), Shemyaka didn’t fail to make use of such favorable circumstances.

St. Pitirim spent several months in confinement. Since the bishop yielded to no persuasion and flattering promises had no effect (Shemyaka saw in St. Pitirim a severe exposer of his heinous crimes, personal cruelty and dissoluteness), the prince’s arguments took another turn: he considered a prison cell, short rations, and threats of reprisal to be faster and safer means than heart-to-heart talks and attempts at self-justification. But that was in vain: St. Pitirim’s thoughts, words and deeds were only: “I am ready to die.” And St. Pitirim would have done his archpastoral duty and shown the cunning prince that he would not find the bishop to be a reed shaken with the wind (Lk. 7:24). However, this time God saved His servant’s life: The Muscovite army that was moving towards Uglich forced Dmitry to hastily retreat to Veliky Novgorod—the last bastion of anti-Moscow sentiment. St. Pitirim was released and resumed his archpastoral ministry with new enthusiasm.

The most important event St. Pitirim took part in was the Church Council of 1448 at which the Metropolitan of Moscow was elected and his appointment was confirmed without the Patriarch of Constantinople’s approval, for the first time in several centuries. In effect, the approval of the Synod of Russian Bishops of Bishop Jonah of Ryazan as the Metropolitan of Moscow meant the beginning of Russian autocephaly. This event seemed uncanonical to many hierarchs of the age, and the legitimacy of Jonah was questioned. Under the current circumstances (the falling away from Orthodoxy of Constantinople’s protégé Isidore, disorder in the Byzantine Empire) St. Pitirim couldn’t remain indifferent and expressed his stance with his characteristic straightforwardness and firmness: There shall be Russian autocephaly! With all the disadvantages that “breaking the cord” (connecting the Russian Church with Constantinople) entailed, now there was no alternative.

St. Pitirim’s life ended at the height of his archpastoral activity. Many years before, when he was being consecrated, standing by the gravestone of his predecessor in the Perm diocese St. Gerasim, St. Pitirim had been well aware that he could hardly expect a peaceful repose on his bed, surrounded by grateful disciples. The archpastoral ministry in a Perm that had not yet submitted to the Prince and the Metropolitan of Moscow was fraught with risks. On August 19, 1455, soon after a successful missionary journey to Great Perm and Cherdyn, after the end of the Sunday Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation in Ust-Vym, St. Pitirim together with other clergymen and parishioners headed for a field between the Vym and the Vychegda to hold a prayer service 10 . But several miles away the Vogul Prince Asyka and his son Yushman were lying in ambush. Perhaps they decided to get even with St. Pitirim for baptizing the Vogul people living along the Pechora River, or they just seized the opportunity to make short work of their long-time antagonist in the person of the Bishop of Perm during another raid: “They were angry with the holy father because, contrary to their wishes, he tried his best to convert pagans to Orthodox faith and baptize them 11 .”

According to one version, some of the Vogul people found out about St. Pitirim’s plans by making inquiries with someone from a group of “heathen” who “had sailed up the Vychegda for a certain undertaking… in five days’ walk distance, in the place called Yur 12 .” When the whole procession appeared in the field of vision of Asyka’s detachment, the heathen rushed towards the defenseless worshippers from their hiding. Seeing the enemy, the holy bishop instantly ordered his companions to escape, hoping at the cost of his life to cover their retreat to the fortifications of Ust-Vym. St. Pitirim realized that he was the main target of the heathen attack and it was unlikely that his flock would be pursued. The holy hierarch met his death without murmuring, without making any attempts to defend himself: “And, seizing the saint with fury, they took turns beating him, tormenting him and putting the innocent man to death.” 13 The bishop’s body, which lay unburied for forty days, remained incorrupt, and his relics were enshrined at the Church of the Annunciation in Ust-Vym to the left of St. Gerasim’s shrine.

St. Jonah, baptizer of Great Perm

Over the course of St. Jonah’s tenure in the bishopric of Perm the political situation in the region considerably improved: Moscow, in the person of Vasily the Blind and his heirs, completely crushed the opposition of local pagan princelings who would gather savage hordes to lay waste to peace-loving Zyryan towns and villages, along with the envious raiding bands of Novgorodians 15 (in fact no less pagan) who threatened the region’s development. The prayers of the holy men were answered, and St. Jonah died in advanced old age with a sense of accomplishment: The clouds that had been gathering over St. Stephen’s legacy were scattered by the labors and prayers of the holy men. “What lies in store for Perm?” the venerable elder Jonah asked himself on his deathbed in 1472. But the answer didn’t come immediately: New Christians would be born; they too would pray to Christ in this land and in the churches consecrated by him and his predecessors, after his death, after the death of his successor, and so on till the end of time. St. Jonah’s remains were laid to rest in the shrine containing the relics of Sts. Gerasim and Pitirim.

The the ministry of these three holy hierarchs of Perm who contributed to the enlightenment of the pagan tribes in northeastern Russia’s border regions in the fifteenth century is a story of how at the right time and place, there were men found in the Russian Church who fearlessly answered the Lord’s call, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?: Here am I; send me (Is. 6:8).

Maria Marchenko Translated by Dmitry Lapa

Pravoslavie.ru

1  In 1385, “the Bishop of Novgorod was very angry with Pimen: how dared he establish a diocese in Perm, the age-old dominion of Novgorod? And he sent soldiers to take the Perm Diocese by force of arms.”

2  The so-called “bishop’s settlement” at the confluence of the Vym and the Vychegda Rivers.

3  The Vychegda-Vym Chronicle, p. 25.

4  M.B. Rogachev. The Perm Diocese in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. P. 45.

5  The Vychegda-Vym Chronicle, p. 25.

6  Ibid.

7  A.A. Zimin. A Knight at the Crossroads: the Feudal War in Russia in the Fifteenth Century. Moscow, 1991.

8  It was the danger of war from Dmitry Shemyaka, threatening Great Perm, that caused Vasily the Blind to introduce the institution of “chief officer of the local administration” (namestnik) on that territory In 1452, Princes Ermolai and Vasily of Vereya became the first chief officers of the local administration.

9  You can always offer a metropolitan diocese to an unduly ambitious bishop.

10  According to another version, the assault took place on his way back from one of his missionary journeys: “The saint was seized during a journey like a defenseless lamb.”

11  The Tale of the Bishops of Perm. P. 72.

12  Ibid, p. 71.

13  Ibid, p. 73.

14  The Vychegda-Vym Chronicle. P. 26.

15  The Vychegda-Vym Chronicle in a solemn manner announces the military campaigns of Grand Prince Ivan III and the success of the military commander (voevoda) Prince Daniel of Kholm as an event that was directly related to the lives of the people of Perm // The Vychegda-Vym Chronicle, p. 26.

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Perm, Russia General info on the city of Perm A short intro... Perm is the most Eastern city of Europe, and therefore its province is often referred to as Eurasia. Having a population of 1 million, Perm' is one of the largest cities in Russia and the second largest in the Urals. The city was formerly called Molotov, after the minister of foreign affairs during Joseph Stalin's ruling. Perm stretches 65 km along the impressive Kama River - Europe's 4th largest river by length. The Perm province, "Permskiy Krai", or "Prikamye", is around two-third the size of the United Kingdom and covers a great area in the very heart of the Ural Mountains. Perm is internationally known as the name for the geological period (290 - 245 million years ago) in which the Ural Mountain Range was formed. In contrary to the Urals, Perm itself is rather young. Although the first settlement of Perm dates back to 16th century, officially it got its city status in 1723. Citizens still loudly celebrate Perm's birthday on 12th of June, with street parades, concerts and fireworks throughout the whole city! In spite of being a relatively young city, Perm played an important role in the history of Russia. Not the least part of this role was played by Ermak, who was from the Perm Province. Ermak, by order of the Stroganov family, gathered an army here and led it through the Urals, later to succesfully conquer Siberia for Russia. Afterwards, when a road was needed to connect Siberia with the west, construction was started in Perm, which was at that time the capital of the Ural region. The new road, together with the construction of the Trans Siberian Railroad, allowed development of the places east of the Urals - current big cities such as Ekaterinburg, Omsk and Novosibirsk, were merely peasant or miners' towns by that time. Nowadays, Perm basically owes its existence to two factors. Firstly the large amounts of natural resources (minerals, oil and timber) that are present in the region, and secondly (but not less important): its location. The mighty Kama River, the Great Trans Siberian Railroad and main motorways from Moscow/Kazan to Siberia all cross in Perm, making Perm a main Russian transportation hub. The city is the doorway from Europe to Asia and to Siberia in particular. During Soviet times, Perm was a proper fortress because of the huge military industry in its region. All artillery and rocket vehicles, as well as (intercontinental) ballistic rocket launching systems, engines for MiG jetfighters and canons of all ranges were (and in less proportions still are) produced in Perm. The Soviets did an excellent job in hiding Perm and keeping it secret. Most people from outside the Urals simply did not know of the existence of the - at that time - 1 million citizens of Perm. Until the end of the cold war, Perm did not appear on certain Soviet-made maps, nor did the roads towards it. Nowadays, Perm is obviously accessible to all. Actually, it currently is one of Russia's fastest growing cities because of its economical prosperity. Click here for specific information for visitors: Perm sightseeing / excursions and Perm hotels . Perm - 101% Russian, yet multicultural For Russian standards, Perm is one of the most multicultural places in the whole country; it is a home of many ethnic groups who have lived together in Perm ever since its existence. While taking a walk through Perm’s huge central bazaar one can easily distinguish Russians at the many typical small kiosks, Georgians and Armenians selling their original spicy kebabs and shoarmas straight from the barbecue and Tatars operating from most of the simple but colorful jewelry stands. Furthermore, Russian orthodox churches, a mosque, a synagogue and several Catholic churches (some dating from the 17th century) all exist next to each other in Perm. The multicultural character of Perm also shows in its dining possibilities; one does never have to go far to experience the Russian, Uzbek, Georgian or Caucasian cuisine. In spite of its multicultural character, Perm is “Russian till the bone”. Wide avenues, big squares and parks, many statues, dominant Soviet architecture, countless little kiosks, huge theatres and trolley busses everywhere - all make Perm as Russian as Russian can be. Being some 1400 kilometers away from the big influential cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Perm is a relaxed place, where people have kept the typical Russian way of life and traditions. The Perm opera and ballet theatre After St. Petersburg and Moscow, Perm is Russia's leading city for opera and ballet theatre. Not only has the city got a wide range of stages and theatres, its educational bodies like the Russian Academy of Theatre Art and Institute for Culture and Art as well as its many international relations in theatre performances and education still give Perm the name of theatre city. One of the most famous stages is the Chaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre Perm. Among its repertoire are internationally known performances (for example Romeo and Juliet, Cleopatra, Aida, Cinderella, Le Nozze di Figaro) as well as Russian ones: most works of Chaikovsky have been staged here. Since 1948 the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre has been on tours throughout the whole world, performing in countries such as UK, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Germany and China. During its history, the theatre has received numerous (inter)national prizes. Another leading stage is the Perm Academic Drama Theatre, founded in 1927. Like the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Acamedic Drama Theatre has staged the world’s most prestigious Drama plays (for instance Ostrovsky, Shakespeare, Gorky and Tolstoy) and has it won many prizes for its work. Museums The Perm Art Gallery boasts a large collection of arts. Apart from numerous paintings of Flemish, French and Italian masters, it also has modern art collections on exhibition. The museum's collection is among the very largest ones in Russia. The museum is located in a former cathedral, now a landmark of Perm in the centre of the city. For those who are interested in the history and the culture of the Urals, the Regional Museum of Local Studies and History (founded in 1890) is definitely worth to visit. The museum boasts a wide variety of armory, coinage, pottery, handicrafts, archeology and minerals. It also tells about the Permian period, the geological era in which the Urals were formed. The partly open-air artillery museum at the northern end of the city centre displays all generations of rocket and artillery (vehicles), as constructed in Perm, as well as a wide range of information of the history of the industry. Actually, the city is known for its large war industry ever since late 1800’s. All cannons and artillery of former Soviet Union as well as engines for Tupolev and MiG aircrafts were (and in less amounts still are) manufactured in Perm. The museum offers detailed information on its wide range of warfare. The outside part of the museum can be entered free of charge at any time. This museum is a part of our city excursion . “ Khokhlovka ” (Open-air museum of and Wooden Architecture and Ethnography) is in fact a collection of original structures as they existed in the 17th century. Inside the buildings, all kinds of tools, handicrafts and clothes of that time are exposed. The guide will take you around the museum, telling about the hard life 300 years ago. You will be amazed by the beauty of the site; Khokhlovka is located on a green hill and offers great views over the Kama river and nearby villages. Architecture As for architecture, most profound buildings are situated in the city centre. The heart of the city is very unlike what one can expect from a city of over one million inhabitants. It completely lacks the usual modern glass buildings and tall skyscrapers that make up for most big cities’ centres. In fact, Perm’s centre is mostly made up by colorful, classic 3-storied mansions of Soviet architecture, making the centre breath a rather relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Among the most prominent buildings in the city are the centrally located "Young people's theatre", the Feodalyevskaya Church and the Dyagiliev Mansion. Furthermore, the Perm I train station is worth a look, as it is proper ancient (17th century). In the provincial towns surrounding Perm, such as Kungur, Solikamsk, Usolye and Osa, architectural highlights are dominated by mansions and factories which were built by the Stroganovs and Demidovs in the 17th century. In similar style, a large number of remarkable churches and cathedrals can be found throughout the Perm Province. Famous people In spite of Perm being a relatively unknown city, the city and its region brought forward many famous people. Ballet impressario Sergei Dyaghilev was born in Perm and spent early years of his life here. He became a sensation in Europe during 2 decades of his "Ballets Russes". Dyaghilev's former mansion in the centre of Perm is now a museum. Chaikovsky, one of the greatest composers ever, was born in a small town just south of Perm. Furthermore, Perm was home of Popov, the inventor of radio, and of Boris Pasternak, who wrote Dr. Zhivago here. The Stroganovs, the Demidovs and Tatishchevs in Perm make up for Russia's famous industrials. Ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev wrote history when he produced the ballet sensation "The Rites of Spring" in Paris in the early years of the 20th century. Sports For those who are more into sports rather than theatre, Perm has many possibilities. Especially in weekends, the offer is large. Football games of Amkar (promoted to Russia’s premier league in 2003) and “Molot-Prikamiye” (see club logo on the right) ice hockey matches take place frequently. Click here for all matches of Perm sports teams. Shopping Shopping in Perm is an experience on its own. Like most other cities in Russia, Perm has not got obvious Western-style shopping streets, although the central “Komsomolsky Prospekt” is steadily developing into one. New and modern stores are appearing in and around this proper avenue at a fast rate, among which mostly fashion, jewelry and dining places. For daily needs, the huge central bazaar is the most popular place. For any tourist, a visit to this site of countless little stands, shops and kiosks simply cannot be missed. The whole city comes together here, making the bazaar probably the most vivid place in Perm. Fruits, vegetables, clothes, cleaning products, tools, audio, sunglasses, kebabs, carpets, almost ANYthing can be purchased here, and usually for very little money too. The large building in the centre of the bazaar is the place where all kinds of meat and milk products are sold. For those looking for cheap clothing, the Chinese-Vietnamese market is the place to go. Decent but cheap is the main subject among the mainly Chinese trade-people at the market. Furthermore, several smaller markets (“rinki”) can be found all over the city, mainly at the crossings of major streets. A number of shopping malls serve those who like to have everything in one building. The biggest one is “Univermag” on the corner of Lenina and Komsomolsky Prospekt. Just across the road are many bakeries, cafés and kebab stands for a short break and a quick snack. Public Transport Perm has an extensive public transport system, operated by busses, taxi busses, trolley busses and trams. They take you to wherever you want to go in the city, even to far outskirts. The standard fare for any means of public transport is 13 rubles, to be paid to the conductor on entrance. Taxi busses start around 6:30 am and stop at 21 pm. All the other transport starts at 5:30 am and goes until 0:30 am. Taxis, naturally, drive 24 hours. If you do not know the city well, it might be difficult for you to find your way through the complicated public transport network. The best thing you can do is to ask the hotel receptionists or your host family which bus or tram number you need. Just remember the name of the stop you departed from, so it will be easy for people to give you directions back, just in case you are not sure which one to take. It is also possible to buy a city transport map at any paper/magazine kiosk, they cost around 2 euro. Events in Perm Events in form of sports and theatre take place nearly every day, one shall not get bored! Most interesting performances of ballet, drama and opera are staged at the Drama Theatre, which is located on Lenina Street, at the central square. The Perm Academic Theatre offers all kinds of famous plays, both Russian and international, and has a full events calendar every day of the month. Matches of Molot Prikamye (ice hockey) take place at the Molot Stadium, which is loacated in the eastern part of Perm. Amkar plays Russian premier league football in stadium "Zvezda", which is in the city centre. Celebrations throughout the city often take place on Russian national holidays: December 31st, New Year January 7th, Orthodox Christmas February 23rd, Day of Defender of Motherland (fireworks) March 8th, Women's Day May 1st, Spring and Labour Day May 9th, Victory Day (military parades in city centre) June 12th, Independence Day and birthday Perm city! (huge fireworks at midnight) November 4th, National Accord Day Furthermore, several occasional as well as annual music, theatre, folklore and anniversary festivals take place in Perm and its region. There is always something to celebrate in Perm! Perm city map A map of Perm city centre, as well as a province map, you'll find on a seperate page. Click here for Perm city map . Perm Weather & Climate Russia is renowned for its long and cold winters. In case of Perm in particular, this is only partly true. Perm has a temperate continental climate: winters are by far not as harsh (average day temperature in January is -15C) when compared to the more eastern parts of the country. Summers are usually very sunny and warm, averagely +25C in July- and August day times. During those months, many citizens can be found sunbathing on the Kama beaches. Current weather:   -->

Park of History of River Chusovaya

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